The ARRL has called on the FCC to disregard
off-topic comments received in response to its 2018 proposal for enhanced HF
privileges for Technician Class hams. In reply comments filed in late April,
the ARRL Letter reports that the
League noted that several comments related to other pending rulemaking proposals
or dealt with privileges for other license classes. The "sole subject and
intent" of its proposal, said the ARRL, is updating HF privileges for Technician
Class licensees. The League's petition calls for limited voice privileges as
well as RTTY/digital privileges for Techs on the 80, 40 and 15-meter bands,
where Technicians already have CW privileges.
The reply comments also dismissed concerns expressed
in some comments about increased interference potential due to an influx of
Techs on HF digital modes, noting that "(i)t is improbable that all, or
even a majority, of Technician licensees suddenly would develop a passion for
the same digital technology." It also notes that many newer digital modes,
such as FT8, are very spectrum-efficient and unlikely to result in broad-based
interference.