The following is from the NTIA Web Site (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/aboutntia/aboutntia.htm) and explains what NTIA is:

"The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is the President's principal adviser on telecommunications and information policy issues, and in this role frequently works with other Executive Branch agencies to develop and present the Administration's position on these issues. Since its creation in 1978, NTIA has been at the cutting edge of critical issues. In addition to representing the Executive Branch in both domestic and international telecommunications and information policy activities, NTIA also manages the Federal use of spectrum; performs cutting-edge telecommunications research and engineering, including resolving technical telecommunications issues for the Federal government and private sector; and administers infrastructure and public telecommunications facilities grants."

One of NTIA's directives concerns reducing the bandwidth of RF signals across the spectrum as well as frequency stability, +/- 20Hz. The NTIA bandwidth for HF SSB is 2.8KHz instead of the 3KHz we are used to. This means 1.4KHz above and below the designated frequency. Most modern amateur radios come from the factory as bandwidth compliant and upgradeable to NTIA frequency stability compliance. January 1, 2008 is the so called "compliance rule sunset date." The "sunset" rule actually applies to VHF/UHF equipment, but MARS received a waiver from the NTIA to be in total compliance, HF, VHF and UHF, by January 1, 2008. Unfortunately the vast majority of amateur radios currently in use are not in compliance, but are "compliant ready."

Check this URL and see if your radio is compliant: https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/equipment.cfm. As you see most of the radios listed have the note: "Compliant only with XXXXXX installed." It's my understanding that all government radios sold/issued since the early or mid 1990's are NTIA compliant, such as the Harris series. What that is referring to is increasing the frequency stability of the transmitter by installing a Temperature Controlled Crystal Oscillator or TCXO. Currently more and more manufacturers of amateur radios are "out of the box" NTIA compliant. However, very few, if any, older off the shelf amateur radios came stock with a TCXO, they are nearly all add-on upgrades. Nearly all of the solid state amateur transmitters manufatured since the late 70's or early 80's claim a frequency stability and accuracy of plus or minus 10 ppm. One would think that should satisify the NTIA requirement of +/- 20Hz, but if we examine "+/- 10ppm," 10 ppm is ten parts per million, equal to 10 Hz at 1 mHz or 100 Hz at 10 mHz, 300 Hz at 30 mHz. Clearly, a 10 ppm accuracy is inadequate to meet NTIA standards (+/- 20 Hz) except below 2 mHz (not very useful). Our lowest frequency RA, would only guarentee +/- 33 hz and RC is +/- 73 Hz, both clearly out of tolerance. What is most distressing is that the older equipment, such as the IC-706 (not the MKII-G) no longer have TCXO's available, so they will have to be replaced for MARS frequency operation. TCXO's that are available run in the neighborhood of $100 to $300, depending on the radio, for instance the IC-736 TCXO module runs $129. Some radios require only that the TCXO be plugged into a socket already in place and others, like the IC-736, require the oscillator that is currently installed be replaced with the TCXO. So unless you are going to chance installing the unit yourself, you have to add the installation cost at some point. The long and short of this is you have two choices: replace your current rig or upgrade it, if it's not already compliant. If you upgrade don't wait to long because the TCXO may not be available later. If you replace be ready to spend more than a few dollars for a compliant radio. There is one other choice, start looking for an issue compliant radio from DoD resources. They are out there, presistance might pay big dividends.