‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

The deadline is December 21 to file comments on the ARRLs Symbol
Rate Petition for Rule Making, or PRM. The ARRL filed the Petition
last month, and the FCC has put it on public notice for comment as
RM 11708. The League subsequently filed an Erratum to correct an
incorrect appendix included within the Petition. The Petition
already has attracted more than 70 comments.  The Petition can be
found on the web at, //apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/.  The ARRL has
asked the FCC to delete the symbol rate limit in Part 97.307f of its
Amateur Service rules and to replace it with a maximum data emission
bandwidth of 2.8 kHz on frequencies below 29.7 MHz. The ARRL
contends that the changes it proposes would relieve the Amateur
Service of outdated, 1980s era restrictions that presently hamper or
preclude Amateur Radio experimentation with modern high frequency
and other data transmission protocols and permit greater flexibility
in the choice of data emissions. Symbol rate represents the number
of times per second that a change of state occurs, not to be
confused with data, or bit, rate.  Current FCC rules limit digital
data emissions below 28 MHz to 300 baud, and between 28.0 and 28.3
MHz to 1200 baud. The Leagues petition points out that other radio
services use transmission protocols in which the symbol rate exceeds
the present limitations set forth in Part 97.307f, while staying
within the bandwidth of a typical HF single sideband channel of 3
kHz.  The symbol rate restrictions were created to suit digital
modes that are no longer in favor, the ARRL noted in its petition.
If the symbol rate is allowed to increase as technology develops and
the Amateur Service utilizes new data emission types, the efficiency
of amateur data communications will increase.  The ARRL Southeastern
Division will have a new Vice Director as well as a new Director on
January 1. Following balloting in November, Doug Rehman, K4AC, of
Mount Dora, Florida, was declared elected to a three year term as
Director, and incumbent Vice Director Jim Millsap, WB4NWS, an
appointee, was declared elected to a new term. A subsequent change
in Vice Director Millsaps job responsibilities has made it necessary
for him to resign, effective January 1.  In accordance with the ARRL
Articles of Association and after consultation with the Director
elect, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed Michael Lee,
AA6ML, of Palm Coast, Florida, to fill the Vice Director vacancy.
Lee currently serves as the Northern Florida Section Emergency
Coordinator.  The FCC has authorized the Maxim Memorial Station W1AW
to also use the call sign W100AW during 2014, the ARRLs centennial
year.  Contacts made from the Maxim Memorial Station in Newington,
from regional Centennial conventions, and during the IARU HF
Championship will use W100AW, with portable designators as
appropriate. The W1AW WAS operations throughout 2014 from each of
the 50 states will use W1AW, not W100AW.

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰