AG16
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 16  ARLB016
>From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  August 1, 2023
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB016
ARLB016 Filers Seek Extension on Shortwave Petition. ARRL to File
Comments.

Since May, ARRL has been reviewing the rules proposed in a petition
before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from the
'Shortwave Modernization Coalition' (SMC). The ARRL Laboratory has
been studying the petition out of concern for potential interference
to Amateur Radio communications.

Comments on the petition, RM-11953, were due to FCC by July 31, 2023
(see,
https://www.arrl.org/news/commercial-interests-petition-fcc-for-high-power-allocation-on-shortwave-spectrum
) . However, a 30-day extension of time was requested by both
Skywave Networks LLC and FlexRadio Systems.

The timely request from Skywave automatically triggered an extension
to the filing deadline. Under FCC rules, when a request for
extension is made within the appropriate timeframe, commenters may
file comments until a date set by FCC when it rules on the extension
request, or no earlier than two business days after the FCC
decision. On Monday, July 31, the FCC denied the request for
extension. Comments therefore may continue to be filed through
Wednesday, August 2.

In its petition, SMC, a group that appears to represent high-speed
stock trading interests, has proposed amending the FCC Part 90 rules
to allow introduction of high-power digital communications to the
shortwave spectrum that in many instances is immediately adjacent to
the amateur HF bands.

ARRL's comments on the matter will be based on the analysis by its
laboratory and guided by its experienced Washington, D.C. regulatory
affairs counsel. ARRL will use the extension to best represent the
interests of its members and the Amateur Radio Service.