Message-ID: #2849.pnet51.gentech/ham-radio 3787 chars.
From: clifto@indep1.UUCP (Cliff Sharp)
Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio
Subject: Dangerous Congressional Bill being drafted
Date: 16 Aug 89 15:01:31 GMT
Reply-To: clifto@indep1.MCS.COM (Cliff Sharp)
Organization: as little as possible


*--*  Qmodem Capture File  07/23/89 08:23:09  *--*

[15095] B   BID: 15095_AF9M
Path: AF9M
Date: 23 Jul 89 04:33:04 Z
From: K9XI@AF9M
To: ALL@USA
Subject: DANGEROUS CONGRESSIONAL BILL DRAFT


      THE ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1989

        Apparently the land mobile industry has decided that going through
the FCC to steal Amateur Frequencies is costing them too much time and too
much money.  Therefore, they alledgedly intend to short circuit the process
and try to steal our spectra with the aid of the Congress.  We now know how
they intend to go about it.

        The office of the Subcommittee on Telecommmunications and Finance
is in the process of drafting a bill (no number yet) entitled "The
Engineering Communications Technology Act of 1989".  Though we do not have
the draft in hand, and the Congress isn't releasing it now, we understand
that under its provisions, the Congress is mandating that the NTIA or the
NCS (National Communications System), provide a list of spectra  which the
military and other government services are holding in reserve and either not
utilizing or underutilizing at the present time.  From what we are told this
includes everything from DC to about 10 GHz, and specifies that the list of
'available' frequencies be prepared by the end of one year from enactment.
From that, the Congress, or a committee appointed by the Congress, is
expected to choose some 200 MHz for reassignment to commercial interests
(read that 'the land mobile industry').

        Why we should be concerned:  What we suspect is that the frequencies
which will be opened up for such reallocation includes all ham bands above
two meters, since all of these are utilized by Amateur Radio on a shared
basis with NTIA, NCS, or both.  We suspect that this legislation can and
will lead to wholesale removal of all Amateur VHF and UHF specta above 2
meters (2 meters is the highest frequency on which we have as an exclusive,
non-shared allocation).
 
     If such occurs the losses would be staggering, and we would never be
able to operate above two meters again.  Even the so-called 'exclusive'
Satellite bands at 435-438, and at 1.2 GHz would be removed from service.
Novice Enhancement would be destroyed in the process.

        WHAT YOU CAN DO: The person to write regarding this proposed
legislation is Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA).  In your letter, please
SPECIFY that, when the  bill is introduced, it must EXEMPT the Amateur-
utilized spectra from being targetted for reassignment to commercial
interests. For now, this is the only way in which we can act on this issue,
and it is the best way, because if we don't get these assurances now, and
make SURE they stay in place through possible passage, the outcome of 87-14
will be moot, and it won't be just 220 we lose!

        Thanks to Kermit Carlson W9XA, and to Bill Courier of the
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance for their help in the
preparation of this article.  ---220 NOTES/Chicago

-- 
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|   Cliff Sharp  |      clifto@indep1.mcs.com  OR  clifto@indep1.uucp          |
|     WA9PDM     |                 Use whichever one works                     |
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