The FCC announced this week that as of January 1, 1998, Amateur Radio applicants may only submit FCC Forms 610, 610 A and 610B that carry an edition date of September 1997. After the first of the new year, previous editions of Form 610 will not be accepted for filing by the FCC or by Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). Amateurs may begin using the new Form 610s now.

The major change on the new form is a certification that says the applicant has "read and will comply with Section 97.13(c) of the Commission's Rules" regarding RF radiation safety and the amateur service section of OST/OET Bulletin No 65, Evaluating Compliance with FCC-Specified Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields. But, Amateur Radio Supplement B of Bulletin 65, which has additional information on how to conduct a routine RF safety evaluation and explains other aspects of RF safety, is still in the draft stages and not yet available to the ham radio community.

ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, says the League is concerned that that the new Form 610 could be in the hands of hams before Amateur Radio Supplement B is complete. Sumner says it's essential that the FCC make Supplement B available in time for hams to complete their evaluations to meet the deadlines in the rules.

ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, who's been involved in reviewing the draft supplement, said he expects the FCC to release it sometime in November. The ARRL will release a book on the new RF safety regulations near the end of the year. "Above all, it is important that the required station evaluation be as easy as possible for hams," Hare said. "The FCC has pretty much met that goal. Additionally, most hams, by virtue of their power levels, will not need to do an evaluation at all."

Section 97.13(c) reads: Before causing or allowing an amateur station to transmit from any place where the operation of the station could cause human exposure to RF electromagnetic field levels in excess of those allowed under 1.1310 of this chapter, the licensee is required to take certain actions.

1. The licensee must perform the routine RF environmental evaluation prescribed by 1.1307(b) of this chapter, if the transmitter PEP exceeds the following limits: 160-40 meters, 500 W; 30 meters, 425 W (legal limit is 200 W--Ed); 20 meters, 225 W; 17 meters, 125 W; 15 meters, 100 W; 12 meters, 75 W; 10 meters, 50 W; VHF (all bands), 50 W; 70 cm, 70 W; 33 cm 150 W; 23 cm, 200 W, 13 cm 250 W, SHF/EHF (all bands) 250 W.
2. If the routine environmental evaluation indicates that the RF electromagnetic fields could exceed the limits contained in 1.1310 of this chapter in accessible areas, the licensee must take action to prevent human exposure to such RF electromagnetic fields. Further information on evaluating compliance with these limits can be found in the FCC's OET Bulletin 65, Evaluating Compliance with FCC-Specified Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields.

The new Forms 610 may be obtained from the FCC' Web site via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html, at ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms /or by fax at 202-418-0177 (request index, or for Form 610 use form code 000610, for Form 610A use form code 006101, for Form 610B use form code 006102). The FCC Forms Distribution Center will accept FCC forms orders by calling 800-418-3676.

ARRL VEs and VE teams will be able to obtain a supply of the new Forms 610 in mid to late November--once the ARRL/VEC has had time to obtain a supply of the new forms.

Individual amateurs may obtain a copy of the new Form 610 by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to: ARRL/VEC, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111. Include 32 cents postage for each Form 610 requested (this is a four page form).

For general information, contact the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245, or call the FCC's National Call Center at 888-225-5322 (CALL FCC).-FCC