FCC Grants 60-day Waiver Permitting
Pactor 4 Use for Disaster Relief
September 17, 2020 -- The FCC has granted ARRL's request for a temporary waiver to
permit amateur data transmissions at a higher symbol rate than currently permitted by section 97.307(f) of the FCC amateur
service rules. The FCC acted to facilitate
hurricane and wildfire relief
communications within the US and its territories.
ARRL sought the waiver for amateur
radio licensees directly involved with
hurricane and wildfire relief via HF using
PACTOR 4 modems for communication within the US and its territories, relative to several impending hurricane situations and wildfires in the western US. ARRL's petition noted that Section 97.307(f) of the amateur rules prevents the use of PACTOR 4, a data protocol that permits relatively high-speed data
transmission. ARRL also noted that past FCC temporary waivers have allowed this protocol during similar
events. The waiver is limited to 60 days and is for use by amateurs involved in
communications in support of US western wildfire relief and hurricane recovery