“This
petition is
centered on the
premise that all
operating
interests and
emission types
enjoy equal status
in the amateur
service, with
emergency
communications
taking priority.
Operation of an
amateur station
includes a
“listen
before
transmit”
function that
involves searching
for a vacant spot
on the dial. Recognizing
that all
non-emergency
communications are
of a hobbyist and
experimental
nature, we propose
access to any
vacant frequency
for any amateur
activity within
the scope of
privileges granted
by license class.“
Who They Are
The Think Tank
is a small group
of amateurs,
mostly AM
operators, who
live around the
Midwest.
W8MW
WA3VJB
W8ER
WD8BIL
W9AD
W8LX
K3XF
What They
Want
The self-anointed
“Think
Tank”
is asking ALL FCC
regulations and
restrictions of
who-does-what-where,
within a license
class, be
removed!!!
Anywhere you
decide to set your
dial you would be
free to operate
any mode.
Now don’t get
me wrong, I love
Boatanchors and
enjoy some AM
operation. But the
fact is we
probably really
don’t want people
operating any rig
with any bandwidth
on any mode on any
frequency the
owner chooses.
They submitted
a petition for
rule making that
would deeply
affect all HF
operators even
though they freely
admit the
submission was
flawed and was not
completely thought
through.
What This All
Means
Imagine what
could happen if
someone decides to
start an AM or SSB
net on 3510,
70205, 14025, or
on a PSK
frequency?
Let’s consider
what anyone could
legally do as an
Extra class holder
if RM-11305 is
adopted as
written. The
following is the
result of RM11305
passing:
I like AM
phone, and I could
go on any mode
anywhere on any
amateur band.
There would be no
FCC restrictions.
What I do would be
up to my own good
nature and
judgment. It’s
early in the day,
the band is pretty
dead. I decide to
start talking to
my buddies 200
miles away on 7015
kHz AM. We get in
a 10 minute per
transmission
roundtable, and
the occupation of
the frequency
lasts well after
sunset. During
that time, my
Viking I driving
an amplifier is
occupying from
7000 to 7030 kHz
with a -50dBc or
stronger signal at
1500 watts PEP. I
now legally raise
the noise and QRM
floor
substantially for
anyone operating
between 7000 and
7030kHz or higher.
I have effectively
shut down the
entire useable 40M
long distance CW
portion. No one
can do anything
about it! I
was there first,
so the channel is
mine.
My friends want
to try a new mode.
We go to 14,035
KHz FM and operate
until daylight on
a puny band with
15kHz wide FM.
Since we were
there first, or at
least we thought
we were, we stay
long after the
band opens to
Asia. Even if we
knew better, we
could simply
pretend we were
there first and
deny all requests
to move. We could
take out 14,027 to
14,043 kHz over
much of the world
with 1500 watt FM
signals and be
legal.
If you are on
PSK working a PSK
station and I
can’t hear you or
recognize your
signal, I could
open right up with
1.5kW SSB or worse
yet with 1.5kW PEP
HiFi AM right on
top of you. It
would be up to you
to get my
attention and ask
me to move, and up
to me to be a
“nice
guy” and
move.
If I hear a SSB
station on 3500kHz
USB, and wanted to
work him….I
could. Never mind
that W3AAA is
trying to work a
European on 3505
and the IM3
products of my
transmitter at
-33dB PEP have
placed a 3/4 watt
SSB splatter on
3505.
In
my opinion, the
above scenarios
coupled with the
obvious attitude
of supporters
is what
makes this
proposal moronic.
No intelligent
thoughtful
considerate
amateur operator
would ever
think amateur
radio would
benefit or improve
by allowing any
operator to
operate any mode
on any frequency
within his class
of license, yet
this is what
RM-11305 asks for!
A west coast
amateur said it
best in the
following comment
from the Topband
Reflector:
“Any
self-appointed
group that has the
arrogance to call
themselves the
“Communications
Think Tank”
gives me the
shivers to start
with, but the
content of their
proposal lays
waste to even the
pretense of
intelligent
thought. I’m
not at all against
change in our
hobby, and I’m
willing to
accept the fact
that change might
come in the form
of regulations
that
negatively impact
my own operating
preferences.
I’m trying to keep
an
open mind on
RM-11306 from the
ARRL (band
allocations by
bandwidth), but
RM-11305 from the
“Communications
Think Tank”
is just plain
stupid.
Here’s an excerpt
from the filing:
“Our
proposal, if
approved, would
reduce potential
friction among
operators
when bands are in
heavy use and
congested,
especially during
contests.
Greater
flexibility in
selection of
operating
frequencies will
enhance
cooperation
between those who
choose to
participate in
organized
operating events
and those who do
not.”
What
kind of thought
process could come
up with that
conclusion?
RM-11305 goes on
to suggest that
the ARRL and the
Official Observer
system would
establish and
enforce new and
flexible voluntary
band/mode
plans … as if
any of that has
ever worked well
in the past.
WD8BIL
appears to be the
leader/spokesman
of the
“Communications
Think
Tank”, and
this quote from
him (per Amateur
Radio Newsline
Report 1455
dated July 1,
2005) might give
some insight into
the real intent of
the
petition:
“Under
heavy – for
example – phone
operation right
now,
particularly on
some of the lower
bands where
overcrowding in
the peak
hours is just
horrendous it
gives us the
opportunity to
spread out into
areas of the bands
that are under
utilized.“
RM-11305
is so silly I find
it difficult to
believe the FCC
would give
it serious
consideration, but
who knows these
days.”
