Bill Overview
Title: Amateur Radio Communications Improvement Act
Description: This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change certain data emission limits that apply to amateur radio operators. Specifically, the FCC must replace the current symbol rate limit with a maximum bandwidth limit.
Sponsors: Rep. Lesko, Debbie [R-AZ-8]
Target Audience
Population: Licensed amateur radio operators
Estimated Size: 700000
- Amateur radio operators globally make up the primary group affected by changes in emission limits.
- The International Amateur Radio Union represents over 160 countries with various numbers of licensed operators per country.
- Estimated global numbers of licensed amateur radio operators exceed 3 million individuals.
Reasoning
- The primary target group are amateur radio operators in the U.S., estimated to be around 700,000 individuals.
- Those who strictly adhere to current symbol rate limitations may experience the most immediate changes, either positively or negatively.
- People who use amateur radio communication as a hobby may be less impacted initially, while those using it for emergency preparedness or technical experimentation may see significant benefits.
- Some amateur radio operators might not notice any changes at all, especially those focused on voice communication rather than digital modes impacted by the new bandwidth limits.
- The policy budget is quite limited compared to the large population size, suggesting high-impact individuals will be less common, but their influence within this community can be significant.
- Operators with technical expertise might quickly adapt to any changes, seeing medium to high impacts while others may benefit less or remain neutral.
- Cost effectiveness may be reflected in the long-term wellbeing of the target group that adapts and utilizes changes effectively for community benefits.
Simulated Interviews
retired engineer (Texas)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a positive change. Switching to bandwidth limits allows for more modern digital communication modes.
- I've been waiting for something like this to better use the new digital technologies in the amateur radio world.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
IT professional (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might not notice much initially, but I see this opening more opportunities to reconnect.
- The community might thrive with more modern capabilities. It's promising for emergency preparedness as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
radio operator (New York)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could modernize our practices significantly in club operations.
- We've been constrained by old limits; having bandwidth flexibility is exactly what we need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
graduate student (Oregon)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds beneficial and relevant to current technological trends.
- It will likely make my research more applicable and impactful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
retired military (Florida)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These changes might improve reliability and flexibility during emergencies.
- Could be crucial for maintaining communication during storms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
amateur radio club coordinator (Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It should increase engagement within our club with newer enthusiasts.
- Adapting will be key, but the prospects look good for educational purposes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
retired teacher (Ohio)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As long as it doesn't complicate my current setup, I don't expect any major changes.
- Seeing younger folks more involved could be nice though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
software developer (Massachusetts)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This opens doors for new digital modes and techniques I've read about.
- It's exciting to potentially push the technical envelope a bit more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
emergency services coordinator (Illinois)
Age: 44 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This should enhance effectiveness of our communication plans during incidents.
- Could improve coordination across multiple regions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
technical analyst (Arizona)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I probably won't notice much practical change day-to-day.
- It's good for the community though, allowing more with less regulation constraints.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- This bill is primarily regulatory and affects a niche demographic.
- Potential legal challenges or prolonged implementation periods could increase costs.
- Coordination between international amateur radio communities may be necessary for harmonization purposes.