Hi Roger,
ARRL was as confused as many other hams were by the new rules. That was understandable, considering how poorly written and self-contradictory they are. But, in the case of the 500Hz bandwidth limit, the FCC has already published guidelines in the R&O to aid us in interpretation of their new rules. If there is to be any argument about interpretation of the rules, it is probably best to bet on the side of what FCC intended: "19. ...To accommodate the concern raised by ARRL, however, we will revise our rules to clarify that the 500 Hz limitation applies only to the emission types we are adding to the definition of data when transmitted on amateur service frequencies below 30 MHz. By amending the rule in this manner, the 500 bandwidth limitation will not apply to other data emission types or amateur service bands in which a higher symbol rate or bandwidth currently is permitted." After reading the FCC's own words, you can now clearly see that FCC never intended to limit the fast data modes that hams have been using for many years. Their intent is to only limit images sent in the data subbands to 500Hz bandwidth. Nothing more. There is no deception. Pactor-3 is legal on HF, as it always has been. In fact, Pactor-1 can now be used to send photos in the data subband. 73---Bonnie KQ6XA > Is this topic header pretty deceptive? It appears to say that an FCC > clarification of the new regs decides Pactor III to be OK on HF. But > instead the author of this post is offering an opinion independent of > the FCC and at variance with the determination of the ARRL staff. > Opinions are OK, but not when presented as rulings when they are > no such thing. > > de Roger W6VZV >
