[Waverley ARS] ACMA rules Foundation licensees cannot use digital voicemodes

[vk2sob at box701.com]

> Believing it desirable that Foundation licensees embrace the new the modes 
> with the emergence of digital technologies, the WIA has sought 
> clarification fro the ACMA, requesting a number of changes to the 
> Foundation conditions.
>
> Schedule 3A of the Amateur Licence Conditions defines the modes that may 
> be used by Foundation licensees, and does not include the appropriate 
> emission mode designator for digital voice modes such as D-Star. D-Star 
> requires the callsign to be embedded in the transmission stream to use a 
> voice mode.
>
> The WIA formed the view that requiring the callsign to be embedded to 
> enable voice communication essentially no different from other permitted 
> voice modes was not a difference the should exclude Foundation licensees 
> from using these new modes, and did not change the character of the 
> licence as an entry-level licence. Accordingly, the WIA approached the 
> ACMA seeking a further amendment to the LCD to permit such use.
>
> The WIA argued that as the Foundation licensee can only use a transmitter 
> that has “been manufactured commercially” the programming of the necessary 
> identification is no more difficult a task than programming a mobile 
> phone, and that the additional information required for qualification was 
> minimal.
>
> The WIA proposed the addition of an appropriate emission mode designator 
> for Foundation licensees in the 144.000 to 148.000 MHz and 430 to 450 MHz 
> bands, with the additional provision in paragraph 29 of the LCD to permit, 
> if the emission mode was digital voice, any data necessary to enable the 
> use of the voice mode.
>
> ACMA has now responded to the WIA’s approach, rejecting the proposal.
>
> ACMA argues that the entry-level licence is meant to be easy to obtain, 
> the amendment proposed to permit digital voice mode “would require 
> expansion of the current syllabus and add a level of complexity to the 
> qualification.”
>
> http://www.wia.org.au/news/2007/20071021-01.php
>
>
>
> ACMA also contends that adding digital voice modes would erode the 
> difference between the Foundation and the other higher levels of licence, 
> and that the digital voice mode would require the transmission of digital 
> data, incompatible with the Foundation licence and finally, a further 
> amendment as requested would create further delay in the implementation of 
> the outcomes announced 2003.
>
> The WIA is surprised by the response from ACMA.
>
> Unfortunately, there will be no amendment at this time to Schedule 3A of 
> the LCD to permit digital voice modes by Foundation licensees.
>
> Wireless Institute of Australia -  http://www.wia.org.au
>