SB QST @ ARL $ARLB019
ARLB019 Regulatory Matters Top ARRL Executive Committee Agenda

ZCZC AG19
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 19  ARLB019
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  April 14, 2000
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB019
ARLB019 Regulatory Matters Top ARRL Executive Committee Agenda

The ARRL Executive Committee heard reports on several regulatory
matters confronting or affecting Amateur Radio. The Committee met
April 1 in Irving, Texas. Meeting minutes were released this week.

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, told the Committee that two
petitions for partial reconsideration--one of them from the
ARRL--have been filed in the wake of the FCC's ''restructuring''
report and order, WT Docket 98-143. Neither petition has been placed
on public notice. Imlay noted that once public notice has been
given, interested parties may file opposition comments. The FCC does
not solicit supporting comments for such petitions, and it's under
no obligation to consider them.

A Petition for Rule Making that seeks to eliminate the Citizens Band
rule prohibiting communication over distances greater than 250 km
was among other items the committee discussed. The ARRL has
commented in opposition to the petition, RM-9807, filed by Popular
Communications Contributing Editor Alan Dixon, N3HOE.

The League's comments noted that long-distance communication is
contrary to the fundamental purpose of the CB Radio Service, and
that legalizing it would encourage the use of illegal power
amplifiers. The FCC is expected to dismiss the petition.

The Committee discussed encouraging additional PRB-1 legislation at
the state level on the assumption that local land-use authorities
would more likely be aware of state statutes than of federal
regulations. Ten states now have PRB-1 legislation in place.
Legislatures in several other states, including New York and
California, are considering PRB-1 bills.

Imlay also updated the Committee on the status of experimental
license applications in the Los Angeles area for airborne microwave
downlink video in the band 2402-2448 MHz. Separate petitions were
filed on behalf of the County and the City of Los Angeles. Imlay
said the City's application was granted, and the license WB2XEN
issued. The ARRL has filed a Petition for Reconsideration and
continues to object to the County's application.

ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, reported that
there are now 143 co-sponsors of HR 783, the Amateur Radio Spectrum
Protection Act. A companion bill, S 2183, has been introduced in the
Senate with five initial co-sponsors. Additional co-sponsors are
being sought.

The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be July 20 in
Hartford, Connecticut. The complete minutes of the April Executive
Committee meeting are available at
http://www.arrl.org/announce/ec_minutes_463.html.
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