Subj : Congresswoman Lesko Reintroduces Bill to Replace Symbol Rate Limit with Bandwidth Limit
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Fri May 12 2023 07:53 pm

05/12/2023

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced The Amateur Radio Communications
Improvement Act (H.R. 3241) on May 11, 2023, to require that the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) eliminate the obsolete HF digital symbol rate
limit with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit.

After being petitioned by ARRL� The National Association for Amateur Radio� in
2013 (RM-11708) for the same relief, in 2016 the Commission issued a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (WT Docket No. 16-239) in which it agreed that the HF
symbol rate limit was outmoded, served no purpose, and hampered
experimentation. But the Commission questioned whether any bandwidth limit was
needed in its place. Most amateurs, including the ARRL, objected to there being
no signal bandwidth limit in the crowded HF bands given the possibility that
unreasonably wide bandwidth digital protocols could be developed. Since 2016
there has been no further FCC action.

Congresswoman Lesko introduced a similar bill (H.R. 9664) in the 117th Congress
in 2022. Read ARRL's coverage of that bill at this link[1].

Lesko has long demonstrated an interest in supporting Amateur Radio. Earlier in
2023, she spoke at a Hamfest in Phoenix, Arizona[2] where she met with and
praised the work of ARRL Volunteers in the state.

"Increased amounts of data can be put on the spectrum due to advances in modern
technology, so there is little need for the FCC to place limits on symbol
rates," said Congresswoman Lesko. "That is why I am proud to reintroduce this
important legislation to update the FCC's rules and increase the speed of
transmission so that amateur radio operators can more efficiently and
effectively transmit messages during times of crisis, such as natural
disasters."

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, hailed reintroduction of the bill, stating
that "the biggest effects of the FCC's delay in removing this outdated
restriction have been to require totally inefficient spectrum use on the
already-crowded amateur HF bands and to remove incentives for American amateurs
to innovate with new and better digital protocols. It also has necessitated
multiple requests for waivers by the ARRL to facilitate communications during
disasters, especially during hurricane season when corresponding amateur
stations in the Caribbean, some of which have received assistance from the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for disaster communications, use
faster protocols than currently allowed in the U.S. I hope that the Commission
will act to remove this harmful limitation without waiting for the bill to be
passed."

ARRL Legislative Advocacy Committee Chairman John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, added
that "the symbol rate limit hampers experimentation and development of more
efficient HF data protocols by U.S. amateurs. For all practical purposes the
field has been ceded to amateurs outside the U.S., where there is no comparable
limit. Removing the restriction not only will allow U.S. amateurs to use the
most efficient data protocol suitable for their purpose, but it also will
promote and incentivize U.S. amateurs to experiment with and develop even more
efficient protocols."

ARRL extends its deepest appreciation to Congresswoman Debbie Lesko for her
continued leadership on behalf of Amateur Radio licensees, and her supportive
actions on communications issues that impact her constituents and the nation,"
said The American Radio Relay League's (ARRL) Legislative Committee. "The
introduction of the Amateur Radio Communications Improvement Act by
Congresswoman Lesko to remove the long-outdated symbol rate limit restricting
the speed of amateur digital transmissions will substantially increase the
ability of amateur radio to provide more timely and efficient message handling
during natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and forest
fires. Congresswoman Lesko's foresight in introducing this legislation will
serve as a model for the elimination of regulatory barriers to more intensive
spectrum sharing."

A link to the full text of the bill will be provided on the ARRL website as
soon as it is available, which is usually several days after introduction. The
bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for
consideration.
�
About ARRL�

ARRL the National Association for Amateur Radio� was founded in 1914 as The
American Radio Relay League, as a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs.
ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio amateurs (or
"hams") in the U.S. and has a proud history of achievement as the
standard-bearer in promoting and protecting Amateur Radio. For more information
about ARRL and Amateur Radio, visit www.arrl.org[3].


[1] http://www.arrl.org/news/rep-lesko-introduces-bill-to-replace-symbol-rate-limit-with-bandwidth-limit
[2] https://www.arrl.org/news/congresswoman-debbie-lesko-speaks-at-devry-university-hamfest
[3] http://www.arrl.org/

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