Report No. PR-96           PRIVATE RADIO ACTION              April 29, 1994


        FCC AFFIRMS DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF RULES GOVERNING
            TRANSMITTER POWER STANDARDS IN THE AMATEUR SERVICE

     The FCC has affirmed the Chief, Private Radio Bureau's denial
of a request by Dale Gagnon for a waiver of the Commission's rules
governing transmitter power standards in the Amateur Service. 
Gagnon requested permission for his amateur station to transmit at
power levels greater than the 1,500 watts authorized by the
Commission's rules.

     Gagnon requested the need for higher power in order to engage
in long-distance communications.  Gagnon also sought to avoid the
cost of bringing his vintage transmitters into compliance.

     Affirming the Bureau's decision, the Commission said that
Gagnon had not submitted any compelling arguments why his station
should be given preferential treatment over other amateur stations
operated by licensees of the same license class.  The Commission
said also that there is no basis for permitting Gagnon's station to
use greater power than other amateur stations, and to do otherwise,
would be unfair to other amateur station licensees who must comply
with the power requirement.

     Action by the Commission April 26, 1994, by Memorandum Opinion
and Order (FCC 94-109).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello and
Barrett.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 632-5050.
     Private Radio Bureau contact: Maurice J. DePont at (202) 632-
4964.