https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-urges-comments-to-fcc-on-60-meter-band The FCC has extended the public comment period until 11/28/23 with replies to comments due 12/28/23. ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is asking that all radio amateurs urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue the existing use of the 60-meter band. A public comment period is open until November 28, 2023. Replies to comments are due December 28, 2023. ARRL encourages expressions of support to the FCC for the current 100 W ERP power limit (instead of reducing the power limit to 15 W EIRP) and continuing secondary access to the current channels. ARRL has assembled a web page with instructions on how to submit your comments, as well as background information on the issue: www.arrl.org/60-meter-band. To submit a filing of your comments for the FCC’s consideration in the rulemaking process, go to the FCC web page for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking’s (NPRM) Docket Number 23-120 at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/docket-detail/23-120. If you wish to directly enter your comments, select the button labeled SUBMIT AN EXPRESS FILING or if you are uploading a document that contains your comments, select SUBMIT A STANDARD FILING. When submitting your comments, be sure the correct proceeding’s docket number, 23-120, is included on the form. Your name and comments will be entered into the official public record of the proceedings and will be viewable by anyone who visits the docket web page. While radio amateurs are encouraged to include any comments they would like in their submissions, they’re especially encouraged to draw upon their personal experiences using the 60-meter band for public service purposes and for its location between the amateur 80- and 40-meter bands, which is critical to ensuring signal propagation to certain geographic areas during variations in time and the solar cycle. For example, ensuring radio amateurs have a continuum of communication capabilities across the 7 MHz, 5 MHz, and 3.5 MHz bands is valuable for emergency communications, especially between the US and Caribbean nations during hurricane season. Some of the main points to comment on for this NPRM are: Urging the FCC to keep the four existing channels allocated to amateur radio on a secondary basis. Urging the FCC to keep the 100 W power limit for the four existing channels and the new 15 kHz subband. ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager Sierra Harrop, W5DX, underscored the importance of commenting, urging members to speak up. “ARRL members make up the strongest voice in matters of amateur radio spectrum defense,” said Harrop. “Your membership and participation in the rulemaking process both ensure ARRL continues to make the difference when our band privileges are threatened. Please join us in effort to protect our 60-meter band privileges.” Donate to the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund: www.arrl.org/donate. Read more: Comment Deadlines Set on Proposed 60-Meter Band Changes ARRL News | 10/04/2023 ARRL Advocates for Radio Amateurs as FCC Proposes Changes to 60-Meter Band ARRL News | 04/28/2023 World Radiocommunication Conference Approves Global 60-Meter Allocation ARRL News | 11/18/2015 About Amateur Radio and ARRL Amateur Radio Service licensees use their training, skills, and equipment to practice radio communications and develop radio technology. Amateur Radio Operators volunteer their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in public service and during emergencies. Amateur Radio also provides a basis for hands-on STEM education and pathways to careers. ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® was founded in 1914 as The American Radio Relay League, and is a noncommercial organization of Radio Amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active Radio Amateurs (or “hams”) in the US and has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in promoting and protecting Amateur Radio. For more information about ARRL and Amateur Radio, visit www.arrl.org.
The 60 meter band is NOT going away. The FCC proposes a new allocation of frequencies to come in line with WRC-15. From the ARRL web site: "The FCC proposes to allocate 15 kHz of contiguous bandwidth between 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis with a maximum power of 15 W EIRP (equivalent to 9.15 W ERP). This allocation was adopted at the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15)." Who here has used 60 meters for public service?? Just curious. ...........Bob
Got on 60 meters way back when it was first authorized. Tried it, didn't like it, mostly because the ridiculous rules that we had to operate under. Never went back and probably never will. This new set of even more ridiculous rules just serves to confirm my dislike of 60. Not because I don't think it's a good place for a new ham band. Not that it's our FCC / NTIA with their stupid rules that the rest of the world does not have to put up with. 30 meters is almost as bad, but it's at least usable and a good ham band for narrow band activities.
Never used 60M, but I do have a Paragon II that is fully opened for TX.... we really need some serious international supporters beyond our own FCC and ARRL to protect our bands. But my question is really this: what happens to the money donated to the ARRL in behalf of spectrum defense? Is there a special lock box, or does it end up in their general fund and end up paving the parking lot?
I haven't even tried it. The juice doesn't seem to be worth the squeeze the way it sits right now, so I'd be hard pressed to write a letter urging maintenance of the status quo without being disingenuous. I love 30 meters.
Once I read the rules for the new 60m band, I knew I could never compete for one of the 5 channels allowed. So I'll never know what I was missing which means I won't care what happens.
That doesn't say anything about it going away. There's the number of threads already on QRZ about this, do a search. It's just open up for comments, which most of us made comments already the period for those comments have been expanded and the League supports band expansion and keeping existing channels.
60m Band I have been on 60m since it's inception To me it has always been a band of challenge In the early days of 60 the 50w ERP made working all states more exciting and on 5403.5 was non stop with DX from Europe Due to it being USB working aeronautical mobiles "commercial pilots who were Hams " was a routing occurrence. Then the FCC gave us 100 watts ERP and strangely activity dropped The novelty of the band wavered and now the new proposal may diminish activity more Lets face reality it has always been more difficulty working stations on 60m compared to 40 0r 80 with 1500 watts available to you on those bands. I hope the FCC takes another look at 60m maintaining 100 watts ERP is not asking for much Looking for 60m Contacts On A Daily Basis
Quite a lot actually, I have worked 42 countries including Europe and Scandinavia. I am particularly pleased with contacting JW4PUA Svalbard. Most of those countries if not all, including ZL operate under your proposed "new rules" that some think are ridiculous. Have also worked 17 states including states as far away as Maine and Rhode Island so WAS on 60m is definitely possible with 15w EIRP. Signal reports from U.S.A. were often similar both ways so 15w at my end and possibly 100w at the other station often made little difference, although sometimes it did. Mode was FT8 on 5357kHz. Antenna was 60m EFHW in inverted vee configuration with the centre about 10m high. SSB POTA type operation on 5363kHz was also popular in ZL for a while but not so much recently. Apart from POTA activity most activity is via greyline propagation.
I have worked the world during amazing conditions on 1 wattt and I am being serious 100mw on many bands. Unfortunately those conditions are rare in the days of Cycle 24 qnd 25 Unlike me few can install a 530 foot loop with number 10 wire and UV protected insulation at 75 feet in the air. 100 watts is reasonable and The FCC needs to ask why 15 watts is even on the table. Just my opinion.
We're certainly not losing 60m here in Britain ! I find it a really nice band for working other British stations during the day. Often 80m propagation isn't very good . . . and on 40m the skip is too long. But on 60m it's just right ! Another plus (for me) is that a 160m Dipole is a good match on 60m, as each leg is close to 3 quarter waves. Roger G3YRO
The joke is that The FCC would even ask The Ham Community to consider such a ridiculous proposal. Why not just ask us to use rubber duckies on all bands with ERP of 1 watt Who in their right mind would actually be ok with the new 60m restrictions The FCC is not in reality Any HAM would of said the same as The ARRL One more thing To even think that The FCC is worried about Community or Public Service is laughable This is 2024 not 1936
I was a user. I posted my observation that the digital guys would fire up right on top of you with massive signals.. I had hostile messages over that and these persons came right out and said because the FCC was not enforcing the rules meant that what they were doing was OK. I quit using 60 meters.
