Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu May 04 2023 18:05:54 Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2375, for Friday, May 5th, 2023 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2375, with a release date of Friday, May 5th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Hams in Australia have only another month to weigh in on a new class license. The FCC proposes changes to the 60 metre band -- and a controversial bill about RF emissions has hams in Maine worried. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2375, comes your way right now. ** BILLBOARD CART ** PLAN TO STUDY 5G IN MAINE WORRIES STATE'S AMATEURS JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to the state of Maine, where hams are expressing concern over a telecommunications bill that proposes a study on radio frequency emissions. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, has an update. ANDY: Ham radio operators in the state of Maine are keeping an eye on a bill in which lawmakers call for a study of radio frequency radiation emissions and the environmental impact of 5G technology. The bill is stalled for now in the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology but according to a recent story in the Maine Monitor, hams in the state are concerned that such a study of 5G holds the potential for unintended restrictions of frequencies shared by amateur radio operators. Phil Duggan, N1EP, the ARRL section manager for Maine, told Newsline in an email that amateurs are seeking wording to be added to the bill that exempts amateur radio and public safety communications. Phil said that ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, had advised hams to be on the alert as anti-5G bills are introduced in a number of state legislatures, with wording that could impact ham radio. The bill in Maine, introduced by Republican lawmaker Tracy Quint, targets the telecommunications industry specifically and its language does not mention amateur radio. Hams nonetheless have submitted written testimony protesting the bill, noting that hams are already required to conduct evaluations of their radio frequency radiation in compliance with FCC regulations that ensure safety. This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM. (NEWS CENTER MAINE, MAINE MONITOR) ** FCC PROPOSES CHANGES TO 60 METER BAND JIM/ANCHOR: The US Federal Communications Commission has changes planned for the 60m band and wants to hear from you. Patrick Clark, K8TAC, tells us more. PATRICK: Following the lead set at the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2015 and adopted most recently by Canadian regulators, the US Federal Communications Commission has proposed changes to the 60m band that would allocate 15 kHz of contiguous bandwidth between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz for amateur radio on a secondary basis. US General, Advanced and Extra Hams presently have five channels available to them between 5332 and 5405 kHz - also on a secondary basis - with an effective radiated power limit of 100 W PEP The proposed new bandwidth would set a limit of 15 watts EIRP. The FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was released on April 21st and aligns itself with terms advocated for by the ARRL. The band's primary user in the US is the federal government. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration favors adoption of the new proposed bandwidth, with hams losing the ability to use four of the five permitted channels. The remaining channel would be included within the new contiguous portion of the 60m band. The ARRL, however, previously asked the FCC to keep the four 60-meter channels that fall outside the new band and to retain the 100w power limit. The notice is to be published in the Federal Register in May and comments from the public are due no later than 60 days after the notice appears. This is Patrick Clark, K8TAC. (FCC, ARRL) ** AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR MOVES AHEAD ON NEW CLASS LICENSE JIM/ANCHOR: The Australian communications regulator is moving ahead with a proposed new class license. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us what's involved. GRAHAM: Amateurs with a VK license have until Thursday the 1st of June to have their say on proposed changes by the Australian Communications and Media Authority that would create a class license with considerations for a staged implementation of higher power authorization. The ACMA states on its website that intends to implement the proposed class licensing arrangements starting on the 1st of July and expects to give the amateur community ample notice before this change comes into effect. The ACMA also says that the revised class license proposal was created by incorporating suggestions from representative bodies, amateur radio clubs and individual amateurs. The Wireless Institute of Australia does not support this change, however, saying it could only support the change on a "no disadvantage" basis. On May 1st, the ACMA website published submissions from the public that were not made anonymously. This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB. JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur satellite and SHF enthusiasts in Australia can expect to lose all or part of the 9cm band under another proposal by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The regulator has been looking at the frequencies between 3.4 GHz and 3.6 GHz for possible use in long-term earth station protection zones. As with other ACMA proposals, the deadline for public comment to the regulator is July 1st. (ACMA) --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (454:1/33) .