FCC Denies Request for SSB in VHF CW SubBands

QST de W1AW 
ARRL Bulletin 28  ARLB028
From ARRL Headquarters 
Newington CT  July 6, 2000
To all radio amateurs

FCC says ''no'' to SSB, digital modes in VHF CW subbands

The FCC has turned down a request asking it to permit SSB and
digital modes in the 6 and 2-meter CW-only subbands. The petition,
filed last August by the California Six Meter Club, was assigned
rulemaking number RM-9806 by the FCC.

The CSMC said it requested the additional emission types because its
survey of weak-signal operations indicated that the segments were
hardly used. The club said most DX and weak signal work took place
on frequencies above the CW subbands.

In denying the request, the FCC said it did not believe the
requested revisions were necessary or had support of the amateur
community. The FCC concluded that authorizing additional emission
types in the 6-meter and 2-meter CW subbands ''could have an adverse
impact on the operating activities of other licensees.''
Additionally, the FCC said, CSMC did not show that any improvement
in communications capabilities would result if the 100 kHz of
spectrum was opened up for other emission types, which the FCC said
were ''adequately accommodated'' under present rules.

The FCC said it was ''not persuaded that there is a lack of spectrum
in the 6 and 2-meter amateur service bands for transmission of data
and phone emission types'' and concluded that any changes to the
rules were unnecessary.

The FCC action was released June 28.

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