SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS003
ARLS003 ARRL comments in support of AMSAT-NA petition

ZCZC AS03  
QST de W1AW  
Space Bulletin 003  ARLS003
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington, CT  January 30, 2003
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS003
ARLS003 ARRL comments in support of AMSAT-NA petition

The ARRL has commented in favor of an AMSAT-NA Petition for
Rulemaking that seeks to change an FCC rule regarding pre-space
notifications for Amateur Satellite Service stations. AMSAT-NA wants
the rule changed to require a single, written pre-space notification
(or information document) within 30 days after receiving a launch
commitment.

The current rule requires two pre-space notifications: the first at
27 months before initiating space station transmissions and the
second at five months prior, even if no information has changed. The
ARRL said that because finding affordable launch opportunities can
be difficult and often involves last-minute decisions, ''the 27-month
notice requirement imposes an unreasonable and practically
impossible compliance burden.''

AMSAT currently must seek a waiver of the requirement for
essentially every launch and the FCC has routinely granted such
waivers, the ARRL noted. AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH,
expressed his appreciation to ARRL for its support of its petition.
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