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ARLB032 Call to action on LMCC

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ARRL Bulletin 32  ARLB032
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 13, 1998
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB032
ARLB032 Call to action on LMCC

League calls members to action on 70 cm petition

The ARRL says the recent Land Mobile Communications Council petition
seeking access to 70 cm is ''incompatible with continued amateur use
of the band'' and urges members to comment in opposition--not only to
the FCC but to the LMCC's members. The LMCC has petitioned the FCC
for immediate reallocation of 420 to 430 MHz and 440 to 450 MHz from
the federal government to the Private Mobile Radio Service. Amateur
Radio enjoys the use of 70 cm on a secondary basis. The LMCC has
proposed to share the two subbands with Amateur Radio, but has not
said how sharing would be possible. The LMCC also seeks additional
UHF reallocations in the intermediate and long term.

For those planning to file comments, specific information and
recommendations plus a copy of the LMCC petition and a list of LMCC
members are available on the ARRLWeb page at
http://www.arrl.org/news/bandthreat.

Commenters should explain how the loss of access to 420 to 430 and
440 to 450 MHz would affect them personally and how it would affect
the ability of hams to provide needed public service. ''Even if you
do not use these segments yourself, it is likely that loss of access
would result in more crowding and interference in the part of the
band, or in another band, that you do use,'' said ARRL Executive Vice
President David Sumner, K1ZZ. ''Don't overlook the fact that if you
use linked voice or packet systems, it is quite likely that some of
the links you rely on are in either or both of these segments.''

Amateurs involved in public service communication can ask the
government and nongovernment agencies they assist for written
statements of support. Hams also should urge Amateur Radio
organizations, especially those with interests in the 420 to 450 MHz
band, to comment as well.

The LMCC, a nonprofit association, includes several well-known
organizations such as the American Automobile Association, the
American Petroleum Institute, the International Association of Fire
Chiefs, and the Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials-International (APCO), a frequent Amateur Radio supporter.
The League suggests that ARRL members who also belong to one of the
LMCC member organizations consider writing to inform the
organization that the LMCC is acting contrary to your interests and
requesting them to disavow the LMCC petition insofar as it affects
Amateur Radio.

Sumner said ARRL members should not complain to members of Congress
nor write angry letters to the FCC. ''The LMCC petition is a
private-sector initiative, not a government proposal,'' he said. ''By
law, the FCC has to put the petition on public notice and invite
comment. That's all the FCC has done with it.'' Sumner says that
criticizing the FCC at this stage would be ''inappropriate and
counterproductive.''

The primary occupant of the bands in question is military
radiolocation (radar). ''Before the FCC can take the next step to
reallocate this spectrum, it must get the federal government to
agree,'' Sumner explained. Then, the FCC would have to issue a Notice
of Proposed Rule Making and solicit public comments on its proposal.
''In other words, nothing is going to happen overnight, and there
will be at least one more opportunity for public comment.''

The FCC is accepting only written comments in response to RM-9267.
Comments are due by June 1, and reply comments are due by June 15.
Address comments to RM-9267, Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 1919 M St NW, Washington, DC 20554. Formal comments must
be submitted in quadruplicate.
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