You may already be aware of the two current FCC proposals to reallocate part 97 use of the 3.4 and 5.8 GHz spectrum. If not, the first proposal would eliminate part 97 use of 3.3-3.5 GHz with no clear remedy for reassignment, although one suggestion would be to move part 97 to 3.1-3.3 GHz. Many users around the country are using modified WISP equipment that has hardware limitations preventing it from tuning lower than 3.37 GHz, eliminating the possibility of using this spectrum. The other FCC proposal involves opening up 5.850-5.925 GHz to shared part 97 use with unlicensed users. Just look at 2.4-2.45 GHz to see how well that works! Many groups around the country like ours have wide-area mesh network systems that use these two bands to provide emergency communication services to area EOCs and other government and non-government entities. Eliminating these bands would curtail or even eliminate our ability to provide these services. Of course, many other hams also use these frequencies with other modes of communication. What is needed is for every ham to take a minute and file a comment to the FCC in opposition to these two proposals. In your comment, state specifically how you and/or your group or agency would be negatively impacted by the reallocation of these two bands. There is an “express” filing option for shorter comments and an “ordinary” option that allows up to five attached documents. We don't have much time, probably sometime in mid-January, before the window of opportunity for filing comments closes. PLEASE forward this to anyone and everyone you know who uses these frequencies, or anyone who would be affected by the reallocation of them. Here's some associated links: Filing comments to the FCC (Only the required fields need to be filled in): https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings FCC proposal to reallocate 3.4 GHz (Docket 19-348): https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-360941A1.pdf FCC proposal to reallocate 5.8 GHz (Docket 19-138): https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-360940A1.pdf [ARRL] FCC Formally Adopts Proposals to Remove Amateur 3-GHz Band, Invites Comments: http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-formally-adopts-proposals-to-remove-amateur-3-ghz-band-invites-comments From the FCC page you file your comments on, you can also do a “Filings and Proceedings” search to see what other comments have been filed by searching the proceeding number – 19-348 for the 3.4 GHz proposal, 19-138 for the 5.8 GHz proposal. Your involvement in helping preserve ham radio spectrum is needed and appreciated! David, KB5UGF on behalf of the Mansfield-Johnson Amateur Radio Service
