UPDATED THERE IS A PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING (PDR) TO ADOPT THE ARRL HF BAND PLAN AS PART 97 RULES

NPRM 16-239 as ORIGINALLY petitioned for by the ARRL would have permitted wide band data in ALL of the RTTY/DATA/CW HF band segments.

THE NEW PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING (PDR) MOVES NPRM 16-239 FROM THE STUCK CONDITION THAT PERSISTED SINCE 2013.

THIS PETITION (PDR) NOW OFFERS A BAND PLAN FOR THE 21ST CENTURY THAT PROTECTS TRADITIONAL NARROW BAND ATTENDED OPERATIONS FOR WEAK SIGNAL AND EXPERIMENTAL WORK, BY PROHIBING AUTOMATIC & WIDE BAND MODES FROM THE LOWER 100 KHZ OF THE MAJOR HF BANDS.

• It brings all current FCC actions into a single comprehensive ruling.
• It separates wide band or automatic Free HF Global Email, reducing interference.
• It acknowledges the many previous NPRM 16-239 comments urging the FCC to keep incompatible wide band and Automatic Data ACDS out of the lower 100 Khz of 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Large amateur organizations such as CW Operators Club joined in comments with similar goals.
• It abolishes 97.221(c) to make that happen. RM-11831 also advocates that approach.
• It formalizes the ARRL HF Band Plan as Part 97 rules, not just a voluntary plan that many will ignore.
• It even addresses the spectrum usable by US amateurs who are operating outside Region 2.
• It finally modernizes the obsolete 300 baud limit with a reasonable band width specification of 2.8 Khz, which prevents any one user from monopolizing the entire subband.
  

OPEN A NEW TAB IN YOUR BROWSER. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO READ THIS PAGE WHILE YOU TYPE INTO THE FCC PAGE.
Enter into THE NEW TAB ON your browser the following url or right click on the link below and open in a new tab:

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/filings?limit=100&proceedings_name=16-239&sort=date_disseminated,DESC

1. Look along the top left of the displayed FCC 16-239 web page to find a box under FILTERS with a yellow line.
   At the bottom of that box, you will see:
     + New filing / + Express
   Click on + Express.
   It will take you to a web page that already has a form partially filled out with "16-239" in yellow in the "Proceedings" field.
   Do NOT delete or type over the 16-239 entry. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
   
2. Go down to the next field, where it says:
   *Required. Add filers. Press Enter after each entry, if there is more than one.
   Type in your name. Press Enter.
   IT WILL NOT TAKE YOUR NAME TIL YOU PRESS ENTER.
   Your name should now be in a yellow box inside the field.
3. Go down to the next field, where it says: email.
   Enter your full email address. Yourname@company.com or whatever.
   YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PRESS ENTER.
   IMPORTANT! The public will not see your email, unless you put it in your document.
   This only allows the FCC to send you a confirmation of receipt of your comments.
4. Go down to the next field, where it says: Address.
   Enter your street mailing address, like "1428 Elm St".
5. DO NOT CHECK THE BOX "INTERNATIONAL" This is only for non USA filers.
6. Go down to the next field, where it says: Address 2.
   Use this if you have a PO box or the street address includes apartment number or it won't all fit in the first box.
   Otherwise, skip this one.
7. Go down to the next field, where it says: CITY * REQUIRED.
   Type in your city.
8. Go down to the next field, where it says: STATE.
   CLICK ON THE ARROW ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE FIELD.
   You will get a drop down box of states.
   Click on your state and it enters it in the field.
9. Go down to the next field, where it says: ZIP * REQUIRED.
   Enter your zip code.
   The small box to the right of that one is for your ZIP + 4 digits, if you know them. Not required.
10. Before you upload in your comments,
    check the box at the bottom that says "email confirmation".
    This causes the FCC to send you an email at the address you entered above to confirm they got your comment.
11. ALMOST DONE! Be sure all blank areas on the form which have a "*" are filled in.
    The FCC system will NOT accept any filings that do not have that information.
    This is important if you are typing in live on line instead of a cut and paste from a .txt file generated in Notepad or Wordpad.
    If you don't have all the fields filled in properly, it will reject it and your live on line typing will be lost without a backup. Bummer.
12. You are now ready to type your comments into the "Brief Comments" window. That will be your comment filing.
    You can also cut and paste a .txt or plain text into that window so that you do not have to do it live online.
    IMPORTANT: Use polite respectful language that is brief and to the point. You are addressing the FCC here, not the filer.
    
     TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR FILING 
    IMPORTANT: Use polite respectful language that is brief and to the point.
    At the beginning of the filing, state:
    • Your name,
    • Your CALLSIGN (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT), and
    • if you are an ARRL member and if so, for how long.
      This identifies you as one with a legitimate interest in the filing, not some unlicensed person.
      
      TYPE THIS IN THE COMMENT BOX OR CUT AND PASTE THIS TEXT INTO THE COMMENT BOX:
      

      I REQUEST THAT THE FCC ADOPT THE ARRL HF BAND PLAN AS PART 97 REGULATION, AS DESCRIBED IN THE MARCH 24, 2021 PETIITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING BY CARSON, KOLARIK, MCVEY, AND WHITE. A "VOLUNTARY" BAND PLAN WILL NOT BE FOLLOWED BY ALL. THE ARRL HF BAND PLAN AS DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING REDUCES INTERFERENCE BY SEPARATING PEER TO PEER NARROWBAND MODES FROM AUTOMATIC WIDEBAND MODES. I OPPOSE THE PART OF THE ARRL HF BAND PLAN THAT GRANTS NEW DIGITAL AND VOICE PRIVILEGES TO NOVICES AND TECHNICIAN CLASS LICENSES (RM-11828)

      (OR YOUR OPINION ON THAT COMPONENT OF THE BAND PLAN).
      
      
    • Review your address etc, and your comment for spelling and accuracy.
      Then click the button on the bottom: "Continue to Review Screen".

One of two things happen.

• If you did not fill out all the address and contact information in the required fields, you bounce back to the beginning.
• IF all went well, you are now on "step 2" and the big yellow ball says that.
  Review your work, and click the button at the bottom, "Submit".

IF all went well, you are now on "step 3" and the big yellow ball says that.
You will see your confirmation number and so on. Print this if you want to. You will not need to print it, if you checked the "email confirmation" box.
Within ten minutes, you will see an automatic email in your inbox.

IMPORTANT! WAIT! The FCC system is digesting your information and checking it. Nothing will appear to be happening.
Do NOT file repeated duplicates of your filing.
IF you do not WAIT as directed, but keep repeatedly clicking on SUBMIT, multiple filings will result.
If you immediately check the FCC website, your comment WILL NOT BE THERE right away.
Your filing will appear on the FCC site within a couple days.

I am FOR use of amateur radio for legitimate emergency communications. I am AGAINST its exploitation for commercial or illegal use as a private radio network.

You are done! Thank you very much for your help.

73, Janis AB2RA