From the ARRL:  On Monday, October 20, the ARRL filed a Petition for Modification or Cancellation of Experimental Authorization (Petition) with the FCC with respect to WE2XRH. According to the FCC, this experimental license — issued to Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART) — proposes to “test digital transmissions in 4.50-5.10 MHz, 7.10-7.60 MHz and 9.25-9.95 MHz for a terrestrial digital radio service to the citizens of Alaska.”

The League’s Petition states that DART’s hopes that this experimentation “will lead to a terrestrial, high-frequency (HF) digital aural (domestic broadcast) service in Alaska. Ostensibly to study the operation of this ‘shortwave’ system at high latitudes, and apparently in order to roll out this domestic broadcast service, DART specifies exceptionally high power operation in various segments of the HF spectrum. ARRL’s interest in this matter is limited to the fact that the experimental license includes the band 7.1 -7.3 MHz…allocated domestically exclusively to the Amateur Radio Service.”

“It is astonishing that the FCC would grant this experimental license for operation at such a high power level in a band that is allocated exclusively to a service with which such operation is clearly incompatible,” said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. “The only possible explanation is that it was an error; the only reasonable step for the FCC to take is to correct its error immediately, either by cancelling the license or by amending the frequency ranges to delete 7.1 -7.3 MHz.”

It is the ARRL’s view that “Simply stated, there is a 100 percent certainty of severe, continuous, harmful interference from operation of the DART facilities as authorized by the Commission to ongoing Amateur Radio operation at 7.1 to 7.3 MHz. This authorization must be modified immediately (if not cancelled completely), so as to delete the band 7.1-7.3 MHz” from DART’s experimental license application.

The ARRL ascertains that DART has been permitted operation in the 7.1-7.6 MHz band using a 20 kHz bandwidth digital emission at a transmitter output power of 100 kW and an ERP of 660 kW within a radius of 1500 kilometers of Delta Junction, Alaska. In the Petition, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, points out that while DART says it will coordinate with the High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC), “[i]t does not propose any coordination with any individual or entity in the Amateur Service. There is no showing whatsoever how DART proposes to avoid interference to Amateur Radio operation at 7.1-7.3 MHz. In fact, there is no indication that DART is even aware of the allocation.”

Calling the 40 meter band “perhaps the most heavily-utilized Amateur HF band in the United States,” the ARRL states that it can see “no compatible use that DART can make of this band in any state or territory of the United States, at any time of the day or night” and will cause “preclusive interference” to amateurs using that portion of the band. “The entire 7.0 – 7.3 MHz band is used heavily within Alaska, especially by radio amateurs located in its remotest areas, at all times. It is particularly critical in times of emergency due to its daytime and nighttime propagation characteristics. The band is also used at all times of the day and night for worldwide communications by radio amateurs.”

The League’s Petition points out that the FCC’s Rules at Section 5.83(b) state that experimental license grants are subject to change or cancellation by the Commission at any time without hearing if in the Commission’s discretion the need for such action arises: “ARRL submits that this application should never have been granted as applied for in the first place, and there is an urgent need to prohibit operation of the DART high power transmitters in the entirety of the 7.1-7.3 MHz band. It is likely that DART has been under a misapprehension that the band is among the international broadcast allocations, because, in ITU Regions 1 and 3, the band is allocated to that Service. However, in Region 2, in Alaska, it is not.” After March 29, 2009, 7.1-7.2 MHz will not be available for broadcasting anywhere.

The League goes on to say that Section 5.85 of the Commission’s Rules governs the selection and use of frequencies by holders of experimental authorizations and adamantly states that “there is no justification submitted by DART for the use of the frequency bands requested, particularly with respect to 7.1-7.3 MHz. It is unclear why such large segments of spectrum were specified by DART, given its stated course of experimentation, and given its narrow occupied bandwidth” and notes that DART “should have been required to conduct its frequency coordination efforts in advance of the filing of its application.”

The ARRL contends that DART’s proposed facility cannot meet the FCC’s requirements, as outlined in the Commission’s Rules, Section 5.111(a)(2), “and there is no showing that the transmitter power is the lowest practical value consistent with the program of experimentation. Nor has it even taken Amateur Radio operation into account.” This portion of the Rules state that when transmitting, the experimental licensee “must use every precaution to ensure that the radio frequency energy emitted will not cause harmful interference to the services carried on by stations operating in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations of part 2 of this chapter and, further, that the power radiated is reduced to the lowest practical value consistent with the program of experimentation for which the station authorization is granted. If harmful interference to an established radio service develops, the licensee shall cease transmissions and such transmissions shall not be resumed until it is certain that harmful interference will not be caused.”

Calling for DART’s WE2XRH experimental license to “be cancelled entirely, or at least modified so as to delete the reference to any Amateur HF allocation,” the ARRL reminded the FCC that DART failed to make any showing as to how it would avoid interference to Amateur radio operation at 7.1-7.3 MHz: “ARRL submits that such a showing could not be made in any case.”

When Scouts want to meet young people from another country, they usually think of attending a quadrennial World Jamboree. But each year, more than 400,000 Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA). This year, JOTA celebrates its 51st anniversary. JOTA follows a 48 hour schedule beginning at 0000 local time on Saturday, October 18, continuing through 2400 local time on Sunday, October 19.

JOTA is an annual event where Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur Radio. Since the first Jamboree-on-the-Air was held in 1958, millions of Scouts have met each other through this event. Many contacts made during JOTA have resulted in pen pals and links between Scout troops that have lasted many years. With no restrictions on age or on the number of participants, JOTA allows Scouts to contact each other via ham radio. Many Scouts and leaders hold licenses and have their own stations, but the most participate in JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs.

There are many resources available on the ARRL’s JOTA Web site for Scouts to use as they prepare for JOTA. Scout leaders can also access the ARRL’s Scouting Web pages that list resources to help teach the Radio Merit Badge, conduct a foxhunt, build an antenna or provide other activities to explore the excitement of Amateur Radio.

Last year, the ARRL introduced a JOTA feature that proved to be such a success that the League is bringing it back for this year’s event. The JOTA Storyboard is a place where Scouts from all over the world can post stories and pictures on how they participated in their JOTA activities. Let other Scouts read your stories and catch the excitement of Amateur Radio and Scouting.

Stations that participate in JOTA should call “CQ Jamboree,” or answer stations doing so. Any authorized frequency may be used. The World Scout Bureau recommends that stations use the agreed World Scout Frequencies:

• 80 meters — 3.690 and 3.940 MHz (SSB), 3.570 MHz (CW)
• 40 meters — 7.090 and 7.190 MHz (SSB), 7.030 MHz (CW)
• 20 meters — 14.290 MHz (SSB), 14.060 MHz (CW)
• 17 meters — 18.140 MHz (SSB), 18.080 MHz (CW)
• 15 meters — 21.360 MHz (SSB), 21.140 MHz (CW)
• 12 meters — 24.960 MHz (SSB), 24.910 MHz (CW)
• 10 meters — 28.390 MHz (SSB), 28.180 MHz (CW)
• 6 meters — 50.160 MHz (SSB), 50.160 MHz (CW)

In addition to local Scouts getting on the air for JOTA, national Scouting associations around the world fire up their rigs for the event, too. National organizations that have participated in JOTA in recent years include:

• HB9S — World Scout Bureau, Geneva Switzerland
• K2BSA — Boy Scouts of America National Office, Dallas, Texas
• JA1YSS — Boy Scouts of Nippon National Office, Tokyo, Japan
• PA6JAM — Scouting Nederland National Station, Sassenheim, Netherlands
• 5Z4KSA — The Kenya Scouts Association, Paxtu Station, Nyeri, Kenya
• VK1BP — The Scout Association of Australia National Station, Canberra, Australia
• GB2GP — The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, London, United Kingdom
• XE1ASM — Boy Scouts of Mexico
• DX1BSP — Boy Scouts of the Philippines
• TF3JAM — Scouts of Iceland

JOTA is not a contest; the idea is not to contact as many stations as possible during the weekend. Radio operators run their stations in accordance with their national licensing regulations. Check the ARRL Web site for a review of control operator rules.

All groups participating in JOTA are asked to send a report of their activities to their National JOTA Organizer (NJO) and to the ARRL JOTA Desk after the event (find the name and e-mail address of your NJO here). NJOs then forward their national JOTA reports to the World Scout Bureau for the World JOTA Report, published by the World Scout Bureau.

Although the worldwide JOTA is organized in October, Scouts can meet on the air at other times during the year. Regular Scout nets (a pre-arranged time and frequency when operators meet) are organized nationally or regionally. An updated list of these nets can always be found in the latest World JOTA Report.

AO-51 to be Used for JOTA

AMSAT-NA has announced that they are again supporting JOTA by dedicating AO-51 operation to the event. According to AMSAT Vice President for Operations Drew Glassbrenner, KO4MA, the satellite will be configured as a single channel V/U repeater. He asks that users limit QSOs to those between or involving at least one JOTA station during this weekend. The frequencies used for this weekend will be 145.880 FM uplink, and 435.300 FM downlink, no PL tone required. The mode change should occur at  around 0000 UTC on the 18th (Friday evening in the US) and run for approximately 48 hours.

JOTA DX Stations On the Air

Bernie McClenny, W3UR, of The Daily DX, reports that the following DX stations will be on the air for JOTA:

• The Tunisian Scout Amateur Association (CAST) will be on the air with the following stations on October17-19: 3V8SM (Djerba Island AF-083); 3V8CB; 3V8SQ, Monastir, and 3V8ST, Tunis. QSL via the bureau. Do not send dollars or other money.
• David Hutchinson, GI4FUM/EI4DJ, is expected to begin in Swaziland as 3DA0DJ on October 17, with activity until the October 27. He will use 3DA0SS (Swazi Scouts) during JOTA. He will be operating from a station in Hawane.
• The Yongsan US Military Garrison, HL9BSA, in South Korea, will be on from Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea during JOTA. McClenny said they will be on 10-40 meters on CW, SSB and limited satellite operations (and possibly RTTY). Both American and Korean hams plan to operate. Send QSLs via Harry Rudolph, WX8C, or direct.
• In Egypt, hams will be using special call SU8JOTA at the Cairo International Scout Centre. Activity will be on the HF bands on CW and SSB, including 160 meters and their VHF network to EchoLink. Send QSLs via Said Kamel, SU1SK.

US Boy and Girl Scouts who participate in JOTA may purchase a JOTA patch to wear on their uniforms. These patches are available from the respective Scouting organizations, not the ARRL. Information on purchasing the patches can, however, be found on the ARRL’s JOTA Web page.