Radio services, special: Miscellaneous amendments,

[Federal Register: June 14, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 115)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 40898-40907]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr14jn02-37]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 2 and 97

[ET Docket No. 02-98 ; FCC 02-136]

Amateur Radio Service Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend the Commission's Rules to add a new secondary allocation to the 135.7-137.8 kHz band for the amateur service for experimentation in the low frequency (``LF'') region of the spectrum; add a new secondary allocation to the 5250-5400 kHz band for the amateur service to facilitate high frequency (``HF'') amateur service operations; and to upgrade the amateur service allocation from secondary status to primary status and add a primary allocation for the amateur-satellite service in the 2400-2402 MHz band. The proposed changes to the Rules would enhance the ability of the amateur service to conduct technical experiments with LF propagation and antenna design; allow amateurs to communicate at 5250 kHz when propagation conditions do not permit communication at 3500 kHz or 7000 kHz; and provide protected status for the amateur-satellite service now using the 2400-2402 MHz band.

DATES: Written comments are due July 29, 2002, and reply comments are due August 13, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathyrn Medley, Office of Engineering and Technology, (202) 418-1211, TTY (202) 418-2989, e-mail: kmedley@fcc.gov.

ADDRESSES: All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand- delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ET Docket 02-98, FCC 02-136, adopted May 2, 2002, and released May 15, 2002. The full text of this document is available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text of this document also may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International, 445 12th Street, SW., Room, CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may also be downloaded at: www.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 or TTY (202) 418-7365.

Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before July 29, 2002, and reply comments on or before August 13, 2002. Comments may be filedusing the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, ``get form