Time is running out to take a stand in the effort to protect amateur allocations on the 60-meter band. At the time of writing, nearly 1,500 comments have been filed, many of them being from radio amateurs urging the FCC to protect our access to this critical band. The FCC proposal would take away several of the discreet channels and reduce power output from the current 100 W to less than 10 W.
ARRL asks that all amateurs file comments during the public comment period, which is open until October 30, 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, that also includes background information on the issue: www.arrl.org/60-meter-band.
To submit 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.
The urgency of this matter is being seen around the amateur community. In a message to ARRL members in the Roanoke Division, Director Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, and Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, issued a call to action, stating:
“Even if you are not currently active on 60 meters, the proposed reduction in power from 100 W to an equivalent of less than 10 W is the most sweeping reduction of HF privileges in decades. If amateur radio opposition to this proposed change is weak and the FCC goes through with the change, will a lackluster response from the Amateur Radio community embolden the FCC to remove or modify more HF privileges?
With just days left in the public comment period, ARRL hopes to see the docket filled with comments in support of keeping 60 meters as the vital resource it is.
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