SB QST @ ARL $ARLB074 ARLB074 FCC seeks comments on Amateur Radio-related petitions ZCZC AG74 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 74 ARLB074 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT December 30, 2002 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB074 ARLB074 FCC seeks comments on Amateur Radio-related petitions The FCC is inviting comments on two Amateur Radio-related petitions for rule making. Both have been put on public notice and are available for public review and comment. In his petition, designated RM-10620, Dale Reich, K8AD, has asked the Commission to automatically upgrade Novice and Advanced license holders to the next license class if the licensee has 20 or more years of operating experience. Among other proposed changes in his ''merit and service upgrade'' schedule, Reich asks that Novice phone privileges in the 2-meter band be reinstated for those still holding that license. In his petition, Reich asserts that the proposed changes could augment public service abilities on the part of the affected licensees. In petition RM-10621, AMSAT-NA has asked the FCC to drop its presently required 27-month pre-space notification to the FCC's international branch for Amateur Satellite launches and substitute a pre-space notification within 30 days of a launch commitment. The comment deadline for both petitions is January 17, 2003. Interested parties may view the Reich and AMSAT petitions and file comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System on the web at, http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html . Commenters should include full name, US Postal Service mailing address and the applicable rulemaking number. NNNN /EX