NOTICE ********************************************************* NOTICE ********************************************************* This document was originally prepared in Word Perfect. If the original document contained-- * Footnotes * Boldface & Italics --this information is missing in this version The document format (spacing, margins, tabs, etc.) is changed too. If you need the complete document, download the Word Perfect version. For information about downloading documents (FTP) see file pnmc5021. File pnmc5021 (.txt & .wp) is in directory \pub\Public_Notices\Miscellaneous. ***************************************************************** ******** $//R&O,HF Amateur Digital Comm,PR Dck 94-59,FCC 95-163//$ $/97.109 Station control/$ $/97.221 Automatically controlled digital station/$ Before the 95-163 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of ) PR Docket No. 94-59 ) Amendment of Part 97 of the ) RM-8218 Commission's Rules Concerning ) RM-8280 HF Digital Communications in the ) Amateur Service. ) REPORT AND ORDER Adopted: April 17, 1995 Released: April 27, 1995 By the Commission: I. INTRODUCTION 1. On June 13, 1994, we adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (Notice) in the above-captioned proceeding. In the Notice, we proposed to authorize automatic control of stations transmitting digital emission types on the High Frequency (HF) amateur service bands, subject to two conditions for such operation. The automatically controlled station must either be connected to another station that is under manual control, or the automatically controlled station must transmit within a subband designated for this purpose. In this Report and Order, we adopt the proposed rules. II. DISCUSSION 2. In response to the Notice, we received nineteen comments and one reply comment. The comments ranged from recommending that automatic control not be authorized under any condition to recommending that automatic control be authorized unconditionally. They confirmed generally that the amateur service has a need for stations to transmit digital emission types on the HF bands while under automatic control. The comments also established that there is concern that such transmissions could cause interference to other communications. The comments, however, generally agree that the conditions proposed will provide the necessary degree of protection against such interference. They indicated, moreover, that the desired communications can be carried out under the conditions proposed. 3. Except for temporary authority we issued to permit a feasibility study directed by The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL), automatic control has not been authorized on the HF bands. Heretofore we have considered immediate action by the station control operator as necessary to avoid causing interference to the communications of other amateur stations transmitting on an HF band. A station transmitting on an HF band usually demands greater attention by its control operator than does a station transmitting on Very-High Frequency (VHF) and higher frequency bands because HF radio wave propagation is long range and changes often. The comments, however, indicated that such operation is practical on the HF bands when the automatically controlled station is simply responding to interrogation by a station having the control operator at its control point or when the station is transmitting on a channel located within a small subband designated for that purpose. 4. The ARRL supports the proposal. It states that absent consensus in the comments, we should take the compromise approach reflected in the rules as proposed. It contends that authorization of automatic control will result in greater flexibility in experimentation and development of digital communications as well as facilitate adaption of existing digital technologies to practical use. In another comment that strongly supported automatic control, however, Colby states that establishing and maintaining communications on a shared HF channel is no different than it is on a shared VHF channel, and opposes any conditions on automatically controlled amateur stations beyond those now required in the VHF bands. The ARRL argues that additional conditions proposed are necessary because any automatically controlled station transmitting in a crowded shared HF band involves a substantially increased risk of interference. Other comments also express concern with an increased risk of interference. Further, they oppose the establishment of subbands as a solution to the interference concern because subbands would significantly reduce the available spectrum for stations transmitting other emission types. 5. Automatic control of stations transmitting digital emission types enables amateur operators to utilize high-speed computer-based message technology for the rapid and accurate relaying of messages and data. For this reason, we conclude that there has been demonstrated a need for stations in the amateur service to transmit on the HF bands under automatic control. Such operation will result in greater flexibility in experimentation and development of digital communications. 6. We do recognize the concerns of those who oppose the proposal on the basis of potential interference, and in response to these concerns we are limiting when automatic control can be employed. First, the control operator of the station that is connected to the automatically controlled station must prevent the automatically controlled station from causing interference. Second, we are designating subbands to which transmissions between two automatically controlled stations are confined. These subbands are a small portion of the spectrum otherwise available for digital emission types. We also are confident in the ability of the amateur service community to respond, as it has in the past, to the challenge of minimizing interference with novel technical and operational approaches to the use of shared frequency bands. 7. Requiring automatically controlled stations to transmit only in the designated subbands when communicating with another automatically controlled station, furthermore, will not reduce the HF spectrum available for other emission types. The bandwidth of the transmissions of an automatically controlled station will occupy no more than 500 Hz, and the subbands represent only 3.8 percent of the HF spectrum authorized to the amateur service. Other than Morse telegraphy, only digital emission types are currently authorized for the specified subbands. Nothing in the rules that we are adopting prohibits other stations from continuing to share these subbands. III. CONCLUSION 8. In summary, we are amending the amateur service rules to authorize automatic control of amateur stations. To lessen the possibility of inadvertent interference, the automatically controlled station either must be connected to another station that is under manual control, or the automatically controlled station must transmit only within a subband designated for communications between automatically controlled stations. We believe these rule changes will allow the amateur service community to contribute to communication technology and to advance its communication and technical skills consistent with Section 97.1 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  97.1. We see this action as fundamental to our commitment to provide maximum flexibility to the amateur service community. Therefore, we will amend the amateur service rules as set forth in the attached Appendix. IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 9. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that effective July 1, 1995, Part 97 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. Part 97, IS AMENDED as set forth in the Appendix hereto. Authority for this action is found in Section 4(i) and 303(r)of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i) and 303(r). 10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this proceeding IS TERMINATED. 11. For further information, contact William T. Cross of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Private Wireless Division, (202) 418-0680. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION William F. Caton Acting Secretary APPENDIX Part 97 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows: Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service 1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows: Authority citation: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C.  154, 303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C.  151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted. 2. Section 97.109 is amended by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows:  97.109 Station control. * * * * * (d) When a station is being automatically controlled, the control operator need not be at the control point. Only stations specifically designated elsewhere in this Part may be automatically controlled. Automatic control must cease upon notification by an EIC that the station is transmitting improperly or causing harmful interference to other stations. Automatic control must not be resumed without prior approval of the EIC. (e) No station may be automatically controlled while transmitting third party communications, except a station transmitting a RTTY or data emission. All messages that are retransmitted must originate at a station that is being locally or remotely controlled. 3. A new Section 97.221 is added to Subpart C To read as follows:  97.221 Automatically controlled digital station. (a) This rule section does not apply to an auxiliary station, a beacon station, a repeater station, an earth station, a space station, or a space telecommand station. (b) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting a RTTY or data emission on the 6 m or shorter wavelength bands, and on the 28.120-28.189 MHz, 24.925-24.930 MHz, 21.090-21.100 MHz, 18.105-18.110 MHz, 14.0950-14.0995 MHz, 14.1005-14.112 MHz, 10.140-10.150 MHz, 7.100-7.105 MHz, or 3.620- 3.635 MHz segments. (c) A station may be automatically controlled while transmitting a RTTY or data emission on any other frequency authorized for such emission types provided that: (1) The station is responding to interrogation by a station under local or remote control; and (2) No transmission from the automatically controlled station occupies a bandwidth of more than 500 Hz.