New Rules for 5 MHz (60 Meters) To Go Into Effect March 5
On November 18, the FCC
released a Report and Order (R&O),
defining new rules for the 60 meter (5 MHz) band. These rules are in
response to a Petition for Rulemaking (PRM)
filed by the ARRL more than five years ago and a June 2010 Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
In the
February 3 edition of the Federal Register,
the FCC
announced that these new rules will go into effect on
March 5, 2012.
In summarizing the new rules, the FCC explained that the new rules amend
the current rules to facilitate more efficient and effective use by the
Amateur Radio Service of five channels in the 5330.5-5406.4 kHz band (the
60 meter band): “Specifically, and consistent with our proposals in the
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding, the Commission
replaces one of the channels with a less encumbered one, increases the
maximum authorized power amateur stations may transmit in this band and
authorizes amateur stations to transmit three additional emission
designators. The Commission also adopts an additional operational rule
that prohibits the use of automatically controlled digital stations and
makes editorial revisions to the relevant portions of the Table of
Frequency Allocations and our service rules.”
The Amateur Radio Service in the United States has a secondary allocation
on 60 meters. Only those amateurs who hold General, Advanced or Amateur
Extra class licenses may operate on this band. Amateur stations must not
cause harmful interference to -- and must accept interference from --
stations authorized by any administration in the fixed service, as well as
mobile (except aeronautical mobile) stations authorized by the
administrations of other countries.