SB QST @ ARL $ARLB008
ARLB008 FCC affirms 219-220 MHz

ZCZC AG87
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 8  ARLB008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 31, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB008
ARLB008 FCC affirms 219-220 MHz

The FCC has affirmed the secondary allocation of 219-220 MHz for
Amateur Radio.  The action, for the most part, denies a Petition for
Reconsideration filed by Orion Telecom, an Automated Maritime
Telecommunications System licensee.  Orion had argued to rescind the
decision to allocate 219-220 MHz to ham radio saying the 50-mile
exclusion distance between AMTS and amateur operations was
insufficient to protect primary AMTS operations from harmful
interference.  Orion asserted that a 575-mile exclusion distance was
necessary, which would have precluded Amateur Radio operation in
many areas.  AMTS coast stations use 219-220 MHz to receive, and
217-218 MHz to transmit.

The FCC did agree with Orion's concern that the amateur rules do not
adequately specify the frequency range of AMTS operations.  The FCC
amended its rules to specifically call attention to the fact that
one must look at 217-218 MHz assignments to know what AMTS coast
stations are operating in a given area.

ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, says the League is
pleased that the FCC reaffirmed its commitment to provide some
relief to the Amateur Service at 219-220 MHz to offset the loss of
access to 220-222 MHz.  He says the ARRL has a procedure in place to
ensure that amateurs planning to use 219-220 MHz are aware of their
obligations to avoid harmful interference to other services.
NNNN
/EX