The ARRL Letter Vol. 14, No. 3 February 13, 1995 League president hospitalized ARRL President George S. Wilson, W4OYI, suffered a stroke on February 11 while in Washington, DC, on League business. At presstime, his condition was still being evaluated. His family is with him. Amateurs get 2400-MHz primary slots The FCC has reallocated 50 MHz of spectrum, including 2390 to 2400 and 2402 to 2417 MHz, from government use. The Commission made these segments available for unlicensed, low-power devices, including wireless local area networks. At the same time, the FCC elevated Amateur Radio's status in those segments from secondary to primary. This means that amateurs will not have to protect any other user of those bands, and amateur stations are entitled to protection against interference. The Commission made available (in ET Docket 94-32) 2390 to 2400 MHz for use by unlicensed Personal Communications Services (PCS), and provided for continued use of 2402 to 2417 MHz by traditional unlicensed "Part 15" electronic devices. The unlicensed PCS devices, which include wireless networking and data transfer devices, will be governed by the same rules that apply to PCS devices operating in the 1910 to 1920 MHz band. The FCC said it believes these allocations will provide for the continued development and implementation of a new generation of advanced communication devices and services, including a new "on ramp" to the information superhighway. The remainder of the 50 MHz of allocated spectrum is at 4660 to 4685 MHz, to fixed and mobile services, an allocation not directly affecting amateurs. Many and varied groups bid for 2390 to 2400 MHz, and a few sought allocations at 2402 to 2417 MHz. Only two services, In- Flight Phone and Apple Computer, tried to demonstrate that their proposed services (at 2390 to 2400 MHz) would be compatible with amateur use of the same segment. Apple proposed a wireless LAN- type service, which they called "data-PCS," an unlicensed form of PCS regulated under Part 15. It is a low power, wide bandwidth digital device authorization. The ARRL said that amateurs could coexist with data-PCS, if amateurs were elevated to primary in the entire 2390 to 2400 MHz segment, and as well from 2402 to 2417 MHz, and if we didn't have to protect data-PCS against interference. The Commission agreed to this plan, and thus amateurs have been given a primary allocation at 2390 to 2400 and 2402 to 2417 MHz. Unlicensed data-PCS is allowed in there also, under Part 15. This is an amendment of the domestic table of allocations only. The international table for Region 2 has not been changed, and amateurs remain secondary internationally. In its voluminous proposal last year, the FCC went to great length to cite the strenuous arguments by the ARRL against the FCC's original proposal, that would have allocated 2390 to 2400, 2402 to 2417 (both shared by amateurs), and 4660 to 4685 MHz, to the Fixed and Mobile Services. The FCC was required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to adopt rules for such reallocations by February 10, 1995. The FCC said that it believed several suggestions for use of the 2390 to 2400 MHz band were already adequately accommodated in other bands, and that parties supporting alternative proposals "should address the compatibility of the proposed service with the Amateur and other services." "The fight to protect amateur access to this band was noteworthy on several counts," said Steve Mansfield, N1MZA, ARRL's manager of legislative & public affairs. "First, it demonstrated the League's ability to mount a fairly complex advocacy effort that began with our getting language inserted in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. That victory provided the groundwork for our subsequent efforts. "In addition, the letters and public comments of ham groups from around the country made it clear to both the NTIA and the FCC that amateurs have a stake in the allocation process and are able to mount a strong defense of their interests. The League's work with government engineers, spectrum managers, and others, showed that we were able to draw on the positive relationships we've built over the years with the NTIA and the FCC to find mutually satisfactory solutions," Mansfield said. "And, finally, the fact that powerful commercial interests like In-Flight Phone and Apple Computer both recognized Amateur Radio and supported it speaks well for our ability to negotiate from a position of strength in spectrum matters." In both the text of the NPRM and in footnotes, the FCC acknowledged arguments from the Amateur Radio community, including the requirement of the Reconciliation Act to avoid excessive disruption of the amateur service and to determine the extent to which, in general, commercial users could share the frequency with Amateur Radio licensees. "We...solicit information," the FCC said, "on the degree of disruption to the Amateur service that would result if all or part of this spectrum was removed from the amateur service." The FCC noted the League's argument that were amateurs to lose the spectrum in question, along with 2300 to 2310 MHz, which was also threatened, the remaining 35 MHz would be insufficient for amateur satellite operations, would prevent full-duplex point- to-point operations in the 13-cm band, would eliminate weak signal operations carried out in that band, and would crowd Amateur Service operations in the 13-cm band into the least desirable spectrum near the center of the ISM band at 2450 MHz. The FCC also noted comments about the difficulty of sharing between commercial licensees and the Amateur Radio Service, and that "the Commission has used the continued availability to Amateurs of the 13 cm band to justify reallocating Amateur spectrum in lower bands to commercial services [ie, 220 to 222 MHz] and that it would therefore be unjust for the Commission to now allocate this spectrum for commercial uses." New service to use 902-MHz band The FCC has adopted rules for the future licensing and continued development of a number of services, including Amateur Radio, in the 902 to 928 MHz band (FCC report and order in PR Docket 93-61). The new rules set standards for what had previously been called automatic vehicle monitoring systems but which the Commission now refers to as the Location and Monitoring Service (LMS). Amateurs will continue to have access to 902 to 928 MHz, on a secondary basis, to the new LMS systems; to industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) systems; and to government users. Unlicensed low power "Part 15" users are on a secondary basis to all the above, including amateurs. The FCC said it would adopt a plan to afford both amateurs and Part 15 users "a greater degree of protection to their operations" (from interference from other services). It also said it would clarify what constitutes harmful interference to LMS licensees by Part 15 devices and by amateurs. "Operational restrictions should be imposed to maintain the coexistence of the many varied users of the band," the Commission said. The FCC also said it would use a "negative definition" to clearly establish the parameters under which amateurs and Part 15 users may operate without risk of being considered sources of interference to services with a higher allocation status. In a petition in January 1994 the ARRL requested primary allocations for amateurs from 902 to 904 and from 912 to 918 MHz, with certain geographic limitations. The FCC accepted this petition as comments in its AVM proceeding but denied it, saying that insufficient "quantitative support" for the petition had been shown. More information was in March 1994 QST, page 94. The ARRL petition also said that in the decade since the 902 to 928 MHz band was made available to amateurs in most of the US in 1985, its use has grown, particularly for weak-signal work and television; the two primary segments sought by the League would be aimed at those users. The League argued that the proposal to expand AVM systems in the band were a departure from the US position at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference, at which amateur access to the band was first addressed, and that the FCC had considered the availability of 902 to 928 MHz to amateurs in its decision to take 220 to 222 MHz away from them. TEXAS GROUP'S BALLOON WORKS TO PERFECTION On the second try on February 4, 1995, the North Texas Balloon Project, sponsored by the Lockheed Radio Club in Fort Worth, launched its sixth high-altitude balloon experiment carrying Amateur Radio, said Doug Howard, KG5OA. The first attempt was foiled by the balloon tie-off, leading to the launch of a weather balloon with no payload attached. The group then successfully lofted its spare balloon. All equipment performed flawlessly throughout the mission, Howard said. The package reached 93,000 feet, about 4,000 feet higher than expected at launch time. "The crossband [144 to 445 MHz] repeater was as popular as ever," Howard said, "and sounded like a typical pass of an Oscar satellite over the US. Folks worked through the repeater from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. The telemetry was copied from the same states and I continue to receive disks and printouts full of flight data. "The ATV video was nothing short of spectacular," Howard said. "The highlight of the video downlink was the bursting of the balloon, as we had the camera pointed up to catch the extraordinary event. The skin of the balloon seemed to disintegrate into millions of little pieces and fly away from the center of the balloon as though it were a fireworks display." During this misson, the NTBP gained the active support of another local radio club, the Rockwell ARC, Howard said, thanking them for their contribution to the project. "We look forward to working with the Rockwell ARC on future NTBP missions." Former FCC Chief Bill Grenfell, W4GF, Dies William S. Grenfell, W4GF, a former chief of the FCC's Amateur Branch and former chief of the Amateur Service Section, died January 27, 1995, in Vienna, Virginia. He was 82 years old. Grenfell worked for the FCC from 1940 until retiring in 1971, except for several years in the US Navy during World War II. After graduating from Oregon State College with a BS degree in electrical engineering in 1935, he worked for the State of Oregon until joining the FCC's Seattle office as an assistant monitoring officer in the FCC Radio Intelligence Division in 1940. Following the war, Grenfell returned to the FCC as a radio engineer. In 1952 he became chief of the Amateur Branch and Amateur Service Section; from 1962 until 1966 he was chief of the FCC Rules and Standards Branch of the Amateur and Citizens Division; and he was chief of the Rules and Legal Branch of the Amateur and Citizens Division from 1966 until retiring in 1971. A 1971 FCC news release announcing Bill Grenfell's retirement called him "a practicing (amateur) operator for almost 41 years" (he was first licensed in high school) and cited his contesting achievements. After retiring he wrote columns for the Washington, DC-area Amateur Radio publication Auto-Call and also for WorldRadio. W4GF's memberships and awards are nearly too numerous to list. He was an ARRL life member, a Quarter Century Wireless Association life member, a fellow of the Radio Club of America, and a member and former president of the Potomac Valley Radio Club. He was a licensed pilot and regularly flew his plane to the Dayton HamVention. Bill Grenfell died after an illness of several years. His wife, Bernece, died earlier, and he leaves no close survivors. 150 HAMS SUPPORT TOWER AT TOWN HEARING IN NY On January 25, 1995, more than 150 amateurs turned out in support of an amateur's right to a tower. The town of Hempstead, New York, on Long Island, heard the case for Mark Nadel, NK2T, who has been in a long battle to keep his 55-foot tower. Nadel said the hearing, which lasted about two hours, saw one neighbor oppose his tower, because of claimed radio frequency interference, and a "very complete and convincing" presentation by Nadel's lawyer, Peter Mineo. Also speaking on Nadel's behalf were Norman Wesler, K2YEW; Dick Knadle, K2RIW; Howard Liebman, W2QUV; and Frank Fallon, N2FF, members of a support group called the Radio Amateurs Defense and Information Organization (RADIO). In December, Ralph Haller, then chief of the Federal Communications Commission's Private Radio Bureau, told the town of Hempstead in a letter that it was wrong in trying to restrict an antenna installation on the basis of electromagnetic interference because there is "no reasonable connection" between the two, and that, in any event, the FCC has exclusive jurisdiction over interference matters. The Hempstead zoning board is expected to make a decision within 30 days, Nadel said. More information was in December 1994 QST, page 88, and January 1995 QST, page 89. FCC ORDERS A HEARING IN LICENSE RENEWAL The FCC on January 18, 1995, designated for a hearing the application for renewal of an Amateur Extra Class operator's license and station license. Herbert L. Schoenbohm, KV4FZ, of Kingshill, US Virgin Islands, has applied for renewal of his operator and station licensees. The FCC designated a hearing, saying that "it appears that Mr. Schoenbohm lacks the requisite qualifications for a renewal" of his licenses. Schoenbohm has requested a hearing, and it is scheduled for June 13, 1995, in Washington, DC, before Administrative Law Judge Edward Luton. A prehearing conference was ordered for March 30, 1995. In 1992 Schoenbohm was convicted in US District Court of the fraudulent use of a counterfeit long-distance telephone access device, and was sentenced to a (suspended) two-month prison term, as well as placed on two years' probation. The FCC said that Schoenbohm's conviction "is relevant to evaluating the likelihood that he will comply with the Commission's Rules as a licensee in the amateur service." The FCC said issues to be addressed at a hearing would be Schoenbohm's qualification to renew his amateur licenses and whether such renewal "would serve the public interest, convenience and necessity." The burden of proof "shall be upon (Schoenbohm) as to all issues," the FCC said. AMATEURS' HELP SOUGHT FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS Amateur Radio will play an important role in the 1995 Special Olympics World Games this summer and amateurs around the world are asked to help. The World Games, to be held June 28 to July 9 in New Haven, Connecticut, are expected to draw more than 10,000 athletes and their delegations from 140 countries, in addition to 45,000 volunteers, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of spectators and many celebrities. Brian Battles, WS1O, Amateur Radio Liaison for the event, said ''This is likely to be one of the largest public service communication support opportunities most US amateurs will ever see.'' Battles said amateurs will help by operating a special- event station, W1SO (for Special Olympics), originating free radiogram greeting traffic on behalf of Special Athletes and spectators, and in other areas as needed. All amateurs in Connecticut and nearby are invited to assist, and hams outside Connecticut are asked to be prepared to relay and deliver National Traffic System radiograms, and to make contacts with W1SO. For more information, send mail to Brian Battles, in care of ARRL HQ, via packet to WS1OW1EDH.CT.USA.NOAM, or via e-mail to bbattlesarrl.org. BRIEFS * The Foundation for Amateur Radio will administer 56 scholarships for the 1995-96 academic year, to assist licensed amateurs who are students. The awards, from $500 to $2000, are available to full-time college students, including those who have been accepted for 1995. FAR, composed of more than 75 Washington, DC, area Amateur Radio clubs, fully funds five scholarships with the income from grants and its annual hamfest in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The remaining 51 scholarships are administered by the foundation without cost to the various donors. For more information or application forms, contact FAR Scholarships, 6903 Rhode Island Ave, College Park, MD 20740, before April 30. * The 1988 Radio Society of Great Britain President, Sir Richard Davies, G2XM, died last weekend. He was President during the Society's 75th Anniversary year and was active on the air until recently. * Harry A. Turner, W9YZE, died December 21, 1994, in Alton, Illinois. He was 88 years old. While in the service in 1942, OM Turner was clocked at 35 wpm using a hand telegraph key, said William J. Garrett, KB8NTE, of the Morst Telegraph Club, a record still standing and recorded in the current Guinness Book of Records. According to a 73 Magazine article in 1976, Turner in 1964 applied to the Signal Corps for certification of his code speed record, which had been witnessed by General Ben Lear, and got it. Turner said he handled code under "business" conditions and learned to concentrate accordingly. Among Turner's survivors are his wife, Edith. * The ARRL DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) has voted, 8-to-7, to reject a petition to add Pratas Island to the DXCC Countries List based on Point 2(a), separation by water. Pratas Island is off the coast of China. Some of those voting against cited concerns over the possibility of intervening rocks. Others cited what they perceived as disputed ownership of the island. *EOF