[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 16, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26000-26001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11978]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 97

[PR Docket No. 94-59; FCC 95-163]


HF Digital Communications in the Amateur Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the rules for the amateur service to 
authorize automatic control of stations transmitting digital emission 
types on the High Frequency (HF) amateur service bands. This amendment 
was necessary because, except for temporary authority the Commission 
issued to permit a feasibility study, automatic control has not been 
authorized on the HF bands. The intended effect of the final rule is to 
authorize automatic control of amateur stations transmitting digital 
emissions subject to two conditions: 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [[Page 26001]] 
William T. Cross, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Private Wireless Division, Washington, DC 
20554, (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report 
and Order, adopted April 17, 1995, and released April 27, 1995. The 
complete text of this action is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours at the FCC, Room 239, 1919 M Street, NW., 
Washington, DC. The complete text of this action, including the rule 
amendments, may also be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, ITS, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Summary of Report and Order

    1. The rules for the amateur service have been amended 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.
    2. The amateur service community stated that it generally 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. We are amending the rules, therefore, to permit 
stations in the amateur service to transmit a digital emission on the 
HF bands under automatic control. Such operation will result in greater 
flexibility in experimentation and development of digital 
communications. The Commission recognized the concerns of those who 
oppose the proposal on the basis of potential interference, and in 
response to these concerns it limited 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, the Commission 
designated subbands to which transmissions between two automatically 
controlled stations must be confined.
    3. The rules are set forth at the end of this document.
    4. The rules contained herein have been analyzed with respect to 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and found 
to contain no new or modified form, information collection and/or 
record keeping, labeling, disclosure, or record retention requirements 
and will not increase or decrease burden hours imposed on the public.
    5. This Report and Order is issued under the authority of sections 
4(i), and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 97

    Digital communications, Radio.

    Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.

Rule Changes

    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: 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:


Sec. 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 Sec. 97.221 is added to subpart C to read as follows:


Sec. 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.

[FR Doc. 95-11978 Filed 5-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M