A public advocate for increased access to radio spectrum by U.S. citizens has requested that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) create a new 8-meter Amateur Radio spectrum allocation on a secondary basis.
According to a Petition for Rulemaking submitted to the FCC, REC Networks and its founder Michelle Bradley are requesting that the Commission “considers a new allocation to the Amateur Radio Service within a portion of the 40-41 MHz spectrum…to foster experimentation into the propagation characteristics of this band located mid-way between the 10 and 6 meter bands.”
“REC perceives this spectrum can be used for weak signal experimentation and eventually general amateur use,” the Petition says. “As no radios are mass-produced for this band at this time, this opens up new opportunities for ‘makers’ to construct transmitters, receivers, and antenna systems that can be used in this spectrum.”
Equally important, according to Bradley, “REC feels that the time is right for the Commission to open a Notice of Inquiry…to spark the next generation of ‘makers’ in the fields of science, technology, education and math (STEM), especially women and girls. The more opportunities we give to make things, the more opportunities we have to build a pool of experts in STEM, right here at home.”
Read an ARRL article about the Petition for Rulemaking filed by REC Networks and Michelle Bradley.
