Novice Spectrum Survey Drawing Heavy Response

From the ARRL...



NEWINGTON, CT, Jul 17, 2001--More than 1500 ARRL members have expressed their opinions on possible ways to optimize use of the present Novice and Technician Plus allocations on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters. Survey results ultimately might form the basis of an ARRL petition for rule making before the FCC.



The Novice Spectrum Study Committee--chaired by ARRL International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD--has been examining the status and usage of the present Novice HF bands with an eye toward determining what changes might be needed now that the FCC no longer issues new Novice licenses.



"The written comments for the most part have been thoughtful and reasoned and are highly appreciated by the committee," said Dave Patton, NT1N, who's serving as headquarters staff liaison for the panel. The Novice Spectrum Study survey is available to ARRL members on the Web. Members may complete and submit the survey only once.



In addition to the 1553 survey responses tallied so far, Patton said that more than 70 comments were filed via e-mail to novicesurvey@arrl.org by members and non-members alike.



"If you haven't filled out your survey yet, please take a few minutes and do so," Patton urged. "Please make sure to read the entire text of the survey to help understand some of the assumptions made by the committee regarding what questions to ask and what band segments and modes to offer as predefined options."



Generally speaking, the committee's predefined options propose retaining Extra class CW subbands on the affected bands, setting aside expanded CW reserves for all license classes except Technicians who have not passed Element 1, and dividing the remaining spectrum into expanded phone segments for General, Advanced and Extra class operators.



Many have offered separate opinions on the process. "Although I operate and prefer CW over phone, I welcome the expansion of the phone bands for Extra class operations, especially on 75 meters," one member wrote. "And I am glad to see that Extra class CW bands remain in place on those bands where they existed before. The choices given all seem logical. Good work."



As another respondent put it: "Since 5 WPM now is enough for the Extra class, it seems logical to me to give full CW privileges down to .025 on all bands to anyone who has passed 5 WPM. This gives the Novice/Tech Plus operators space to practice and improve, as well as the ability to operate where there is more activity."



Another member suggested specific subbands dedicated to digital modes, such as PSK31, and an expansion of the 'phone subbands to allow more space for SSB and for SSTV. Still other commenters urged SSB privileges for Technician-class operators on HF, although proposals along these lines are considered outside the scope of the committee's mandate from the Board of Directors.



Other comments recommended no change or expansion in privileges for Novice or Technician Plus operators on the affected bands--an option that the survey provides. "By handing Novices significant amounts of additional bandwidth 'free of charge' you remove one of the key motivators to upgrading, namely access to additional bandwidth!" one commenter said about the predefined choices. "To a lesser extent I see you giving similar handouts to Generals and Advanced class operators."



The Novice Spectrum Committee has said it wants to encourage greater utilization of the current Novice/Tech Plus spectrum without decreasing the privileges of any licensee. No license class would lose privileges under any of the proposed refarming schemes. The Committee has suggested that Novice/Tech Plus CW band restrictions on 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters be changed to match those of the General class CW/RTTY/data band segments, with the caveat that Novice/Tech Plus operators only run CW on 80, 40, and 15 at up to 200 W. Novices already may operate RTTY and data on 10 meters.



ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, points out that one of the reasons for Novice refarming is to restore full privileges to higher-class operators in the 80, 40, and 15-meter Novice bands, where everyone--not just Novices and Tech Plus ops--is limited to 200 W output.



ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, appointed the Novice Spectrum Study Committee as a result of action taken during the January meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors. The membership survey is part of the ARRL Board's mandate to the committee. The panel will present an interim report at the July ARRL Board meeting, and a final report at the annual meeting next January.



In addition to Stafford, committee members are Vice President John Kanode, N4MM; Hudson Division Vice Director Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML; Dakota Division Vice Director Twila Greenheck, N0JPH; Midwest Division Vice Director Bruce Frahm, K0BJ; and New England Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF.