In the
NPRM, the Commission discussed the current prohibition on CB communications between two stations located more than 250 kilometers apart. The rule,
Section 95.413(a)(9), is intended to discourage CB skywave communications. This rule, the
NPRM states, is necessary because of the need for frequency reuse (what the Commission refers to as a “commons” band regulatory structure). The ARRL supports the existing Part 95 rule against long-distance CB communication.
But, as the
NPRM acknowledges, it is exceptionally difficult to enforce the rule, given the 27 MHz location in the radio spectrum where the CB band was placed many years ago, and the regular occurrence of long-distance propagation. “The
Notice asks how to address this on a regulatory basis, and asks whether, for example, power reductions or prohibitions on the use of directional antennas should be implemented,” the ARRL said in its comments. “The presence of skywave propagation at 27 MHz has, as the Commission notes, enticed some to utilize unlawful linear amplifiers on CB transmitters, and to deliberately attempt to conduct long distance skywave communications despite the rule limiting path distance.”
In its comments, the ARRL suggests that there is not a good regulatory solution to the skywave communications issue in the HF CB service, “other than moving it to a more appropriate segment of the radio spectrum. A power reduction is not helpful because at 27 MHz, during periods of skywave propagation, even very low power transmissions are capable of exceptionally long distance communications. As to the use of directional antennas, it is quite clear that directional antennas in the CB service increase frequency reuse by creating nulls in the antenna pattern in azimuths other than on the desired communications path. Thus, the use of directional antennas in the CB service should be preserved as a means of encouraging frequency reuse.”
