Topband: ARLB028: FCC proposes two new amateur bands!

[Bill Tippett]

Excerpts from ARRL Bulletin regarding the new 136 kHz band.
Maybe we'll have to stop calling 160 the Top Band!  

                                73,  Bill  W4ZV

ZCZC AG28
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 28  ARLB028
>From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  May 10, 2002
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB028
ARLB028 FCC proposes two new amateur bands!

Good news for ham radio this week! FCC has proposed going along with
ARRL's request for a new domestic (US-only), secondary HF allocation
at 5.25 to 5.4 MHz. The FCC also is ready to permit operation on a
136-kHz ''sliver band'' in the low-frequency (LF) region. And, in
response to a third ARRL request, the FCC has proposed elevating
Amateur Radio to primary status at 2400 to 2402 MHz.

''I'm just as tickled as I can be,'' ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
said upon hearing the news. ''This is a classic example of our ARRL
at work.''

The FCC voted unanimously May 2 to adopt the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking in ET Docket 02-98. The Commission released a Public
Notice May 9, and the NPRM is expected to be released soon. A
comment deadline will be announced as soon as it's available.

The ARRL asked the FCC for two LF allocations in October 1998--135.7
to 137.8 kHz and 160 to 190 kHz. The FCC said its action on one part
of that LF request proposes changes that would enhance the ability
of amateur radio operators to conduct technical experiments,
including propagation and antenna design experiments, in the 'low
frequency' (LF) range of the radio spectrum.''

Several countries in Europe and elsewhere already have 136-kHz
amateur allocations. The first amateur transatlantic contact on the
band was recorded in February 2001.

Hams would be secondary to the Fixed and Maritime Mobile services in
the 136-kHz allocation. The League said its engineering surveys
suggest that hams could operate without causing problems to power
line carrier (PLC) systems already active in that vicinity or to
government assignments. Unallocated Part 15 PLC systems are used by
electric utilities to send control signals, data and voice.