by For some reasonFfree Agent does not let me straighten this out.
Every time I have seen one of these notices come down there has been
some action in the next 60 days or so. Wonder who they are mad at
now, or are they planning to clip the ability for amateur transceivers
to transmit on other frequencies to make the new montoring system from
Maryland easier. It should be an interesting summer.
Gary
PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055462882
News media information 202/418-0500.
Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/418-2222.
May 13, 1996
Extended Coverage High Frequency Transceivers
The purpose of this Public Notice is to clarify the
Commission's Rules regarding equipment
that is intended to operate in various radio services in the high
frequency radio spectrum, including
"10-Meter" Amateur Radio Service (ARS) equipment.
The Commission has noted that a number of transceivers imported
as ARS equipment are
also capable of transmitting and are being operated in nearby
frequency bands allocated to other
radio services such as the Private Land Mobile Radio Services,
Maritime Services, Auxiliary
Broadcast Services, International Broadcasting Services, the Citizens
Band Radio Service, and the
U.S. Government. Operation of this equipment causes interference to
the authorized users of
these frequencies. Some of these transceivers are capable of using
output powers or emission
types which are not permitted for the radio services listed above and
some are capable of
transmitting in the radio astronomy band where no two-way
radiocommunication is permitted.
Some manufacturers are promoting the sale of conversion kits, or have
designed their transceivers
such that they can easily be modified by the users, to extend the
operating frequency range into
the frequency bands listed above. In addition, so called "export"
radios which are deliberately
designed to facilitate this capability are also being imported and
marketed.
Manufacturers, importers, vendors and users of these
transceivers are reminded that
transmitters intended for operation on frequencies allocated to any of
the FCC authorized radio
services listed above, except the ARS, must be type accepted by the
Commission for the particular
radio service(s) in which they are intended to operate prior to their
importation, marketing or use.
The Commission considers that the transceivers discussed above are
intended to be operated on
frequencies where the use of type accepted equipment is required,
because of the simplicity of
modifying them to extend their operating frequency range.
Transmitters designed and intended for
use only in the ARS must comply with the applicable technical
standards contained in Part 97 of
the Commission's Rules but are not required to be type accepted.
It is a violation of the Commission's regulations to: (1) import
or market a transmitter that is
designed or intended to operate on frequencies outside of the ARS
bands, if it has not been issued
a grant of equipment authorization for the radio service(s) in which
the transmitter is capable of
operating; (2) import, market or operate a transmitter that requires a
grant of equipment
authorization but for which no grant has been issued; or, (3) transmit
on a frequency allocated to a
licensed radio service without the appropriate Commission-issued
station license. Violation of the
Commission's regulations will subject manufacturers, importers,
vendors and users of this
equipment to appropriate criminal penalties as provided for by federal
law(s), including fines and/or
imprisonment. In addition, the equipment described above can be
seized by, and forfeited to, the
government.
For further information concerning this Public Notice, contact
Gary Hendrickson at the FCC
Laboratory, 7435-A Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, Md. 21046, (301)
725-1585, Extension 223, or