Thanks to the FCC Report and Order issued November 18, 2011, amateurs will enjoy a number of new privileges on the 60 meter band beginning March 5, including a boost in effective radiated power from 50 to 100 W, as well as the ability to use CW and certain digital modes.

Late last year, the ARRL HF Band Planning committee surveyed 60 meter operators to gather opinions about how to best use the new privileges. On the subject of creating a specific band plan, the survey results indicated little consensus beyond the fact that 5403.5 kHz should retain its status as a de facto “DX channel.” On the other hand, survey respondents made a number of suggestions for general operating practices.

Based on the survey results and subsequent research, the committee declined to propose a specific band plan for 60 meters at this time. The committee instead created a “Recommended Practices” document that is now available for downloading from the ARRL Web. The 60 Meter pages on the ARRL Web will also be updated to reflect the changes brought about by the Report and Order.

The April issue of QST magazine will also include an article by ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, which offers a detailed discussion of the new 60 meter privileges and recommended operating practices.