Last week we told you about the Federal Communications Commission in the United States who appear to be in the process of banning all uncertified radios capable of transmitting outside amateur bands for all users including radio amateurs. The ARRL states that:
The ARRL is in ongoing discussion with the FCC. On 28 September, the Radio Spectrum Management, that is, the regulator in New Zealand issued a prohibition notice that at first glance says the same thing as the notice issued by the FCC. However, on closer inspection it's worded in such a way that radio amateurs are specifically not affected by this notice. The New Zealand prohibition notice states that:
There is further clarifying language about land mobile and fixed services, but in essence unrestricted radios are permitted for use by radio amateurs in New Zealand. The New Zealand prohibition notice comes into effect on 18 October 2018 and there are provisions for getting an endorsement on your amateur license to import and sell unrestricted two way radio devices. So while both the FCC and RSM are attempting to solve the same problem, they're going about it in completely different ways. It will be interesting to see which route the ACMA takes on this when and if they proceed down this path. Suffice to say that this is an ongoing discussion that we'll cover as it unfolds. You can find links to the FCC, ARRL and RSM documents on the vk6.net website.
|