FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
	
PRESS RELEASE
Washington, D . C.	 (42924)
ORDER NO. 73-A, AFFECTING AMATEURS, CLARIFIED
August 27, 1940
There has been unnecessary confusion in some minds regarding
Federal Communications Commission Order No . 73 as amended by Order No . 73-A,
restricting the use of portable and portable-mobile radio equipment by
amateurs.
Order No . 73-A does not in any sense rescind the original order
No . 73, but merely makes it possible for amateurs to continue the development
and testing of equipment designed and built for the sole purpose of
emergency use . This relaxation of Order 73 does not, and was not intended
to, authorize the use of emergency equipment for routine amateurcommunications . It was :made in the realizationthat effective emergency communication
can only be based on prior experience, including personnel and equipment,
all thoroughly coordinated into a ccnmunication network . Any extension of
Order 73-A to cover the use of regular portable or portable-mobile equipment
under the guise of "testing for emergency purposes" is an unwarranted and
unauthorized stretching of the letter of the order .
The Commission's press release of June 11, authorizing the moving
of amateur stations from one fixed location to another, is not intended to
permit short-period operation from a location other than that noted in the
station license . It is difficult to draw an absolute dividing line between
what is considered a "summer residence" and what is not, but week-ends or
short vacation periods do not constitute "summer residence ." On the other
hand, a move to a summer cottage for a four-month period could be considered
a "summer residence ."
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The announcement of June 11 was a convenience to permit amateurs to
continue operation even though they might move from one fixed location to
another in routine civil life . It was not contemplated as a means whereby
amateurs could operate their stations from week-end vacation locations, or
similar situations definitely restricted under Order No . 73 .
-FCC-