[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 17569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7381]



[[Page 17569]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 97

[WT Docket No. 10-62; FCC 11-22]


Amateur Service Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document revises the Amateur Radio Service rules to amend 
and clarify the rules with respect to amateur stations transmitting 
spread spectrum emissions. The rule amendments are necessary to 
eliminate the requirement that an amateur station use automatic power 
control to reduce transmitter power when the station transmits a spread 
spectrum emission, and to reduce the maximum allowed transmitter output 
power for an amateur station transmitting a spread spectrum emission. 
The effect of this action is to eliminate the automatic power control 
provision which has proven to be virtually impossible to implement, and 
to encourage amateur stations to experiment with spread spectrum 
communications technologies.

DATES: Effective April 29, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William T. Cross, Mobility Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0680, or TTY (202) 
418-7233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report 
and Order (R&O), adopted February 22, 2011, and released March 4, 2011. 
The full text of this document is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be purchased 
from the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 
445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text 
may also be downloaded at: http://www.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are 
available to persons with disabilities by sending an e-mail to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ff9fcfcaaafabdff9fcfcb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d0b0e0e585d592d0b0e0e430a021b">[email protected]</span></a> or by calling the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 
at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
    1. By this action, the Commission amends the amateur service rules 
to eliminate the requirement that an amateur station use automatic 
power control (APC) to reduce transmitter power when the station 
transmits a spread spectrum emission using more than 1 watt transmitter 
power.
    2. Also, by this action, the Commission limits the transmitter 
power that amateur stations may transmit to 10 watts when the station 
is transmitting a spread spectrum emission.
    3. The rules that the Commission adopted in this R&O apply to the 
control operator and station licensee of an amateur station, none of 
which may be small entities. The Commission certifies that no 
regulatory flexibility analysis is necessary here because, even if a 
substantial number of small entities, namely, amateur radio clubs, were 
affected by the rules, there would not be a significant economic impact 
on those entities. The rules we are adopting do not impose economic 
requirements. Instead, they relate to rules for the amateur radio 
service. Therefore, we certify that the rule changes adopted in this 
R&O will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities.
    4. This R&O and the rule amendments are issued under the authority 
contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(r), and 403.
    7. The Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 
Reference Information Center, shall send a copy of this Report and 
Order, including the Final Regulatory Flexibility Certifications, to 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 97

    Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 97 as follows:

PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

0
1. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  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.


Sec.  97.311  [Amended]

0
2. Section 97.311 is amended by removing paragraph (d).

0
3. Section 97.313 is amended by adding paragraph (j) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  97.313  Transmitter power standards.

* * * * *
    (j) No station may transmit with a transmitter output exceeding 10 
W PEP when the station is transmitting a SS emission type.

[FR Doc. 2011-7381 Filed 3-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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