ARLB036 Wind profiler NPRM
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 36  ARLB036
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 3, 1993
To all radio amateurs

The FCC on April 1 issued its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and
Notice of Inquiry on the subject of wind profiler radars (ET Docket
93-59).

The FCC proposes to allocate the 448-450 MHz band on a primary
basis to wind profiler radar systems (wind profilers) and requests
comment on whether wind profilers also should be accommodated on a
secondary basis in the 915 MHz band, as proposed by Radian
Corporation, or in some other frequency band.

Based on a study by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), the FCC calls for comment on whether
potential interference between 449-MHz amateur and wind profiler
operations could be alleviated by using RF screens or by altering
repeater antenna radiation patterns.

The FCC also says it will consider zones around wind profilers in
which amateur transmitters would be prohibited.  The FCC says that
since 449-MHz wind profilers are planned primarily for rural areas,
it expects few amateur operations to be disrupted.

And the FCC says it is not proposing to change amateurs' secondary
status in the 448-450 MHz range, since amateurs already are
required to protect against interference to government services
with which it already shares that spectrum.

As for the inquiry into 915 MHz wind profilers, the FCC calls for
technical information and says it will consider the proposal
"with other existing and proposed uses."

Comment date is June 15, 1993.  Reply comment date is July 15, 1993.
/EX