[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16882]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 97

[PR Docket No. 94-59; FCC 94-171]

 

Automatic Control on High Frequency Amateur Service Bands

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to authorize the use of automatic control 
for amateur stations transmitting a digital emission on the High 
Frequency (HF) amateur service bands. The proposed rules are necessary 
so that amateur operators can engage in automated digital 
communications on the HF bands based upon the packet radio protocol 
used generally by amateur stations on other amateur service bands. This 
proposal would give better service to members of the amateur community 
because it would allow them to use automatic control on additional 
amateur service frequencies, and to take advantage of the propagation 
characteristics of the HF bands to communicate with other amateur 
stations, particularly with those in other countries.

DATES: Comments are due on or before October 1, 1994. Reply comments 
are due on or before November 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William T. Cross, Federal Communications Commission, Private Radio 
Bureau, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 632-4964.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, adopted June 13, 1994, and released June 23, 
1994. The complete text of this Commission action, including the 
proposed rule amendments, is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 230), 
1919 M Street NW., Washington, DC. The complete text of this Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking, including the proposed rule amendments, may also 
be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Services, Inc., (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 
140, Washington, DC 20037.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    1. The variables affecting communications in the HF bands are 
highly complex. Establishing and maintaining a HF communications link, 
therefore, presents operating demands not encountered on the Very-High 
Frequency (VHF) and higher frequency bands above 30 MHz. To maintain 
the communications link and avoid causing interference to the 
communications of other amateur stations, the control operator 
constantly monitors the activity on the channel being used and adjusts 
the station's transmitting parameters as needed. Because the presence 
of the control operator has been imperative for proper operation on the 
HF bands, automatic control of an amateur station that is transmitting 
on these bands has not been authorized.
    2. In 1986, the Commission indicated an interest in authorizing 
automatic control of amateur stations transmitting digital 
communications in the HF band. In this regard, the Commission noted 
that a feasibility study planned by The American Radio Relay League, 
Inc. (ARRL) would be helpful in determining if any rule changes were 
necessary to prevent interference to and from other amateur service 
communication.
    3. The proposed rules allow an amateur service licensee to use 
automatic control of amateur stations in the HF bands, with the 
safeguards recommended by the petitioners. This proposal would make the 
transmission of data and RTTY emission types practical and effective.
    4. It also proposed to authorize automatic control for stations 
transmitting data and RTTY emission types on specific subbands, and it 
proposed to authorize communications between a locally or remotely 
controlled station and an automatically controlled station on any 
frequency where data and RTTY emission types are otherwise authorized.
    5. These proposed rules are intended to facilitate the development 
of digital communications on the HF amateur service bands. Comments are 
invited on the entire proposal.
    6. The proposed rules are set forth at the end of this document.
    7. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rulemaking 
proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the 
Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as specified in the 
Commission's Rules. See generally 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203, and 1.1206(a).
    8. In accordance with Section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act of 1980, 5 USC Sec. 605(b), the Commission certifies that the 
proposed rules would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small business entities because the 
amateur stations that are the subject of this proceeding would not be 
authorized to transmit any communications where the station licensee or 
control operator has a pecuniary interest. See Sec. 97.113(a)(3).
    9. This Notice of Proposed Rule Making and the proposed rule 
amendments are issued under the authority of Sections 4(i) and 303(r) 
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC Secs. 154(i) and 
303(r).
    10. A copy of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be forwarded 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 97

    Automatic control, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
LaVera F. Marshall,
Acting Secretary.

Proposed Rules

    Part 97 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

    1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303. 
Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 
U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Section 97.109 is amended by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 97.109  Station control.

* * * * *
    (d) When a station is being automatically controlled, the control 
operator need not be at the control point. Only stations specifically 
designated elsewhere in this Part may be automatically controlled. 
Automatic control must cease upon notification by an EIC that the 
station is transmitting improperly or causing harmful interference to 
other stations. Automatic control must not be resumed without prior 
approval of the EIC.
    (e) No station may be automatically controlled while transmitting 
third party communications, except a station transmitting a RTTY or 
data emission. All messages that are retransmitted must originate at a 
station that is being locally or remotely controlled.
    3. New Sec. 97.221 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 97.221  Automatically controlled digital station.

    (a) This rule section does not apply to an auxiliary station, a 
beacon station, a repeater station, an earth station, a space station, 
or space telecommand station.
    (b) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting 
RTTY or data emissions on the 6 m or shorter wavelength bands, and on 
the 28.120-18.189 MHz, 24.925-24.930 MHz, 21.090-100 MHz, 18.105-18.110 
MHz, 14.0950-14.0995 MHz, 14.1005-14-112 MHz, 10.140-10.150 MHz, 7.100-
7.105 MHz, or 3.620-3.635 MHz segments.
    (c) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting A 
RTTY or data emission on any other frequency authorized for such 
emission types provided that:
    (1) The station is responding to interrogation by a station under 
local or remote control; and
    (2) No transmission from the automatically controlled station 
occupies a bandwidth of more than 500 Hz.

[FR Doc. 94-16882 Filed 7-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M