I am an amateur radio operator, Ki7NHK.

	The automatic station can only be automatic when the station is responding to interrogation by a station under local or remote control, AND no transmission from the automatically controlled station occupies a bandwidth of more than 500 Hz.  In other words, the station is not truly automatic, but only replying to a non-automatic query properly initiated by a station with a control operator.  There already appear to be sufficient safeguards already in place.   However, if further control is required, use of Busy Channel Lock Out (BCLO) would prevent any possible interference.

In response to open monitoring and interference – proposed language change to 97.309(a)(4)

This request bears no merit, as anyone using the same technology radio equipment can easily and directly understand and monitor the radio traffic.  There is a significant difference between a transmission being encrypted, and a transmission being digitally encoded.  All of the currently used amateur radio digital protocols can be directly monitored by another station utilizing equipment compatible to that being used for the transmission.   Requiring a method by which any unencrypted digital protocol could be monitored by 3rd parties with freely available open source software (while the digital protocol CAN be monitored by any 3rd party desiring to do so by simply using compatible digital equipment) is a totally unnecessary overly burdensome and restrictive requirement which would have a significant impact on both the growth and interest in amateur radio communications, as well as the experimental nature of amateur radio in developing new and unique means of making better use of limited spectrum.  Further, a great many amateur groups directly supporting emergency management entities are utilizing digital protocols which make more efficient use of the amateur spectrum, and provide more reliable communications than standard analog.  This proposed rule would remove this capability, providing a direct, adverse, impact on the ability of the volunteer emergency communicator to provide the support and capabilities many emergency managers have come to rely on.

Respectfully,
Paul Garcia, Ki7NHK