From ARRL:<\/p>\n
SB QST ARL ARLB045
\nARLB045 FCC Denies Expert Linears’ Request for Waiver of 15 dB Rule,
\nPetition Pending<\/p>\n
The FCC has denied a request by Expert Linears America LLC to waive
\nPart 97.317(a)(2) of the Amateur Service rules limiting amplifier
\ngain. Expert, of Magnolia, Texas, distributes linears manufactured
\nby SPE in Italy. Its waiver request, filed in June, would have
\nallowed Expert to import an amplifier capable of exceeding the
\ncurrent 15 dB gain limitation as it awaits FCC action on its April
\npetition (RM-11767) to revise the same Amateur Service rules. That
\npetition remains pending. Expert has asserted that there should be
\nno gain limitation on amplifiers sold or used in the Amateur
\nService. Most commenters supported Expert’s waiver request, but a
\ncouple of commenters – including FlexRadio – demurred.<\/p>\n
“In light of the conflicting comments regarding the desirability of
\neliminating the 15 dB limitation, we conclude that waiving the
\nlimitation at this stage of the rulemaking proceeding would
\nprejudice the rulemaking proceeding and prematurely dispose of
\ncommenters’ concerns,” the FCC said in denying the waiver.
\n“Moreover, we agree with FlexRadio that granting Expert’s waiver
\nrequest while the rulemaking petition remains pending would provide
\nan unfair market advantage for one equipment model over other
\nmanufacturers’ RF power amplifiers that would still be limited by
\n[the existing rules].”<\/p>\n
The FCC said it would rather give full consideration to “the pending
\nissues” and apply the result of the rulemaking proceeding to all
\nAmateur Radio Service equipment. The Commission said rule waivers
\n“generally” are not warranted “merely to accommodate technical
\nparameters that are based solely on harmonization with the
\nmanufacturer’s products available abroad.”<\/p>\n
The FCC said a minority of those commenting on the waiver request
\nexpressed concern that eliminating the 15 dB limitation would lead
\nto an overall increase in power levels, “including transmissions
\nthat intentionally or unintentionally exceed the maximum power
\nlimit.”<\/p>\n
In its April rulemaking petition, Expert maintained that the 15 dB
\ngain limitation is an unneeded holdover from the days when
\namplifiers were less efficient and the FCC was attempting to rein in
\nthe use of Amateur Service amplifiers by Citizens Band operators.<\/p>\n
Although the FCC had proposed in 2004 to delete the requirement that
\namplifiers be designed to use a minimum of 50 W of drive power – and
\nsubsequently did so – it did not further discuss the 15 dB limit in
\nthe subsequent Report and Order in that proceeding.<\/p>\n
Expert has pointed to its Model 1.3K FA amplifier as an example of a
\nlinear “inherently capable of considerably more than 15 dB of
\namplification,” which would make it a suitable match for low-power
\ntransceivers now on the market.<\/p>\n
The full Report and Order can be found on the web in PDF format at, From ARRL: SB QST ARL ARLB045 ARLB045 FCC Denies Expert Linears’ Request for Waiver of 15 dB Rule, Petition Pending The FCC has denied a request by Expert Linears America LLC to waive Part 97.317(a)(2) of the Amateur Service rules…<\/span><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/apps.fcc.gov\/edocs_<\/span>