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AIRED AT THE JULY ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS ENDORSING ADDITIONAL HF
DIGITAL PRIVILEGES FOR TECHNICIANS AND REFERRED TO THE EC FOR STUDY CAME IN
FOR CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION DURING THE MEMPHIS MEETING.  THE ORIGINAL
MOTION BY ARRL SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION DIRECTOR DOUG REHMAN, K4AC, SOUGHT A
PETITION FOR RULE MAKING TO THE FCC SEEKING DIGITAL PRIVILEGES FOR
TECHNICIANS ON NARROW SEGMENTS OF 80, 40, AND 15 METERS.  AFTER DISCUSSING
THE PROPOSALS PROS AND CONS, THE EC PUT THE BALL BACK INTO THE BOARDS COURT
IN A MODIFIED FORM THE EC RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER SOLICITING
INPUT FROM THE MEMBERSHIP ON ADDING DATA PRIVILEGES FOR NOVICES AND
TECHNICIANS WITHIN THEIR EXISTING 15 METER SUBBAND.  THIS IS NOT A PROPOSAL
THAT THE BOARD ADOPT DATA PRIVILEGES FOR TECHS AND NOVICES ON 15 METERS AS
AN OBJECTIVE, AND IT IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT AN ARRL PROPOSAL TO THE FCC,
STRESSED ARRL CEO DAVID SUMNER, K1ZZ, A NON VOTING MEMBER OF THE EC.  THAT
WOULD COME LATER, IF AT ALL, AFTER THE BOARD HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
WEIGH MEMBERSHIP INPUT.  IN OTHER BUSINESS, ARRL GENERAL COUNSEL CHRIS
IMLAY, W3KD, TOLD THE EC TO EXPECT AN FCC NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING IN
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