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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 49
December 17, 2004
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +ARRL asks public utilities commissioner to temper her BPL enthusiasm
* +League urges FCC to act in ongoing interference case
* +Canadian PM's wife witnesses ARISS school group QSO
* +BPL industry reacts to major ISP's BPL report to FCC
* +NASA puts ISS crew on a diet
* +Ham club tips FCC to illegal telephone
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
     Emergency communications seminar set for Louisiana State Convention
    +ARRL VEC exam session application fee to change
     ARRL ham equipment insurance plan has new claims administrator
     Don Allen, W9CW, named CQ, CQ VHF ad manager

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================
NOTE: ARRL Headquarters will be closed Friday, December 24, and Friday,
December 31. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions
on either day. The final editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News
for 2004 will be distributed one day early, on Thursday, December 23, and
there will be no editions of The ARRL Letter or ARRL Audio News on Friday,
December 31. Following the Christmas weekend, ARRL Headquarters will
reopen Monday, December 27, at 8 AM EST. Following New Year's weekend,
ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, January 3, at 8 AM. The ARRL Letter
and ARRL Audio News will return Friday, January 7. We wish a safe and
enjoyable holiday season to all!
===========================================================

==>ARRL AIMS TO DAMPEN CALIFORNIA UTILITY COMMISSIONER'S ENTHUSIASM FOR
BPL

Citing its accumulated experience in dealing with Broadband over Power
Line (BPL) issues, the ARRL has suggested that California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) member Susan P. Kennedy temper her "excessively
optimistic" view of the technology. Speaking recently about BPL with Marc
Strassman of California Politics Today, Kennedy contended that it's
"criminal that California does not have a major BPL pilot project or
commercial project under way." Kennedy said she intends to see the CPUC do
everything possible to change that. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, wrote
Kennedy December 10 to raise the caution flag and offer the League's BPL
expertise.

"It has yet to be demonstrated that BPL systems can be deployed without
polluting the radio spectrum," Sumner said. "Until this issue is resolved,
we respectfully suggest that public statements that paint an excessively
optimistic picture of BPL are inadvisable." Even the CPUC acknowledged the
BPL interference issue in its reply comments in the FCC's BPL proceeding,
ET Docket 04-37, Sumner noted. Citing BPL's status as "a nascent service"
and the "significant disagreement" over the level of interference, the
CPUC suggested the FCC "ensure that adequate testing is performed and
industry standards are developed before any deployment takes place."

Sumner told Kennedy that BPL's interference potential is "not surprising"
since it uses unshielded power lines. "The fact that they radiate radio
frequency energy is simply a matter of physics," he pointed out.
California is home to some 100,000 Amateur Radio licensees--about 14
percent of the nation's total.

This fall, a BPL field trial in Menlo Park, California, where FCC Chairman
Michael K. Powell had extolled the technology's virtues earlier this year,
was aborted before getting very far off the ground. The demonstration of
BPL technology was co-sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
and AT&T, which decided to direct its business energies elsewhere. PG&E
said that without a telecommunication partner in the venture, it didn't
make sense to continue the trial.

California Politics Today article noted the apparent lack of interest on
the part of California utilities in getting involved in BPL. Sumner said
there are "a number of good reasons why BPL is not moving forward very
fast," including the interference "caused by virtually all BPL systems to
nearby radio receivers."

Nonetheless, Kennedy told Strassman that she'd be surprised if California
could not get "something substantial" under way in the BPL area by the
middle of next year. She suggested she'd like to pave the way for BPL at
the state level in much the same way that the FCC has done at the federal
level. On October 14, the FCC adopted a Report and Order (R&O) spelling
out Part 15 rules specifically aimed at enabling the rollout of BPL
technology. At the same time, the new rules impose certain regulatory
requirements aimed at mitigating interference.

Sumner said radio amateurs were not alone in their concern. He pointed to
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's BPL
study, which concluded that interference to low to moderate radio signals
was likely from BPL systems 75 meters from land mobile stations and 460
meters from fixed stations. The FCC cited the NTIA's findings in its
decision to prohibit BPL systems from using Aeronautical Radio Service
frequencies, he said.

"The ARRL is continuing its efforts to persuade the FCC that in order to
conform to international agreements and the Communications Act, other
radio services must be afforded the same protection," Sumner told Kennedy.
"We at the ARRL would be pleased to work with you and your staff to answer
any questions you may have," he concluded, directing Kennedy's attention
to the BPL information available on the League's Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/bpl>.

The California Politics Today interview is available on the Web
<http://www.etopiamedia.net/empnn/pages/cpt-emnn/cpt-emnn222-5551212.html>
.

==>ARRL URGES ACTION IN GERRITSEN CASE

In a strongly worded letter to FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief David Solomon,
the ARRL has called on the FCC to intervene with the US Attorney's office
in the case of former amateur licensee Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell,
California. The FCC already has affirmed a $10,000 fine against Gerritsen
for interfering with Amateur Radio communications and recently proposed
imposing another $21,000 fine for additional, similar violations.
Gerritsen, who erroneously claims he's still licensed, allegedly has been
bombarding numerous Los Angeles-area repeaters with verbal tirades for
many months, often identifying with his now-deleted amateur call sign.

"It is urgent that the United States Attorney's office be brought into
this matter without delay, and that procedures other than monetary
forfeitures be brought to bear," ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD,
wrote on the League's behalf in a December 13 letter to Solomon. Imlay
asked Solomon to intervene "in this one instance, so that this matter is
resolved without further delay." He suggested the time for gathering
additional evidence was past, since the malicious interference continues.

Things were comparatively quiet on LA-area repeaters while Gerritsen was
said to have been out of the US for about three weeks. When he returned to
California on or about December 9, the transmissions resumed "with a
vengeance," Imlay said. Repeater owners shut down their machines "to avoid
the constant barrage of malicious interference," he added.

In his letter, which also was e-mailed to Solomon's office, Imlay
recounted some of the history of the Gerritsen case. In 2001, the FCC's
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) rescinded Gerritsen's Amateur
Radio license grant after it learned of his earlier state conviction for
interfering with police communications. As a result of the conviction,
which he's appealed, Gerritsen ultimately spent some time in jail. He
continues to maintain that the FCC can't take away his operating
privileges without a hearing.

Gerritsen's now-pending Amateur Radio application remains in the hands of
the WTB, which also will decide the fate of his General Mobile Radio
Service (GMRS) license. The FCC set aside that grant last fall because of
the allegations of continued unlicensed operation and deliberate
interference. A Hearing Designation Order for Gerritsen is said to be
working its way through the FCC. But, Imlay noted, the slow pace of the
case has angered and frustrated the Amateur Radio community, which has
begun to view the FCC as powerless to halt the interference.

"Deterrence is critical to this effort," Imlay said, adding that the
Commission's perceived inability to stop violations of Sections 301 and
333 of the Communications Act of 1934 and numerous Part 97 regulations
"stands to quickly evaporate the years-long effort that has been so
successful." Suggesting that the FCC will have a tough time collecting the
fines it's imposed or proposed to levy on Gerritsen, Imlay said further
delay will totally erode the Commission's excellent track record--in
particular the work of FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth.

"Time is very much of the essence in preserving the sense of deterrence
that exists generally in the Amateur Service," Imlay concluded.

The FCC's Los Angeles District Office, under District Director Catherine
Deaton--not Hollingsworth--has primary enforcement responsibility over the
Gerritsen case. Agents from that office already have tracked interfering
transmissions to Gerritsen's residence and issued oral warnings that by
all evidence have been ignored. The FCC has said that Gerritsen refused to
let Commission agents inspect his radio transmitting equipment.

Deaton's office issued the FCC's recent Notice of Apparent Liability,
proposing the $21,000 fine for Gerritsen's "unauthorized willful and
malicious interfering radio operations." Imlay said the interference
extends beyond California, since the repeaters are linked throughout the
US Southwest, and the interference has disrupted "not only regular ongoing
Amateur Radio communications but emergency communications as well."

Imlay said several hundred ARRL members have "repeatedly and with ample
justification" complained to the League about Gerritsen's alleged
activities. He called on Solomon and the FCC to "arrange for appropriate
proceedings to be initiated to cause the incessant and damaging malicious
interference to cease."

FCC Enforcement Bureau Assistant Chief George R. Dillon acknowledged the
ARRL's letter December 14. "We are treating the allegations contained in
your letter and the complaints we have received regarding his actions very
seriously," Dillon said.

Imlay thanked Dillon for his "very prompt and encouraging response." But,
he re-emphasized, "the Amateur Radio interference simply has to be made to
stop without further delay."

==>PRIME MINISTER'S WIFE ON HAND FOR ARISS SCHOOL GROUP QSO

Sheila Martin, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin topped the
list of VIPs on hand when youngsters at Manordale Public School in Ottawa
spoke via ham radio with International Space Station Expedition 10
Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW. The December 9 contact was arranged via the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station--or ARISS--program. Chiao
answered 11 of the kids' questions, including one asking how the ISS is
making life better on Earth. In addition to general technological spin
offs from the space program, Chiao cited some ongoing biomedical research.

"There are some experiments on board where we're developing some protein
crystals that pharmaceutical companies can use to hopefully make vaccines
and things like that for diseases such as AIDS," he explained.

Chiao also told the youngsters--who ranged from pre-kindergartners to
sixth graders--that he's "very comfortable being in space" and has not had
any problems adjusting to zero gravity or with sleeping in space. The
44-year-old astronaut told another youngster that while life in space can
be very challenging, he had not seen anything unusual or frightening.
Recounting that the Expedition 10 crew had to override automatic controls
and dock manually with the ISS, Chiao said the experience was "kind of
exciting, but I wouldn't say it was scary."

There's no TV or Internet aboard the space station, he told another
youngster. "Sometimes we miss those things, and it makes you wonder how we
ever got along without them, doesn't it?"

Back on Earth, Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD, served as the ARISS mentor, while
Steve Regan, VA3MGY, and Geoff Johnson, VE3KID, provided the Earth
station, for which Johnson loaned his call sign.

"The PM's wife was thrilled with this," McFarlane said, describing Sheila
Martin's reaction to the youngsters' enthusiasm and excitement and the
contact's success. McFarlane's wife Lori, a teacher, assisted with this
QSO. Having earned a reputation among the Ottawa news media as "the space
lady," she has helped out with earlier ARISS contacts in Merivale,
Ontario, and Iqaluit, Nunavut.

As the Manordale ARISS contact ended, Chiao remained on frequency and made
several casual contacts. Glenn Graff, KB1GUE, in Bedford, Massachusetts,
west of Boston reports he listened in on most of the Canadian school
contact, then jumped in to make one of his own, calling NA1SS on the
144.49 MHz uplink frequency. Graff said Chiao told him that it was his
first non-school amateur contact and that he would try to get on the air
during his off time.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an educational outreach with US
participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>MAJOR ISP TELLS FCC BPL NOT A "COMMERCIALLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE" TO
CABLE, DSL

Officials of Internet service provider EarthLink told the FCC that
broadband over power line (BPL) cannot compete with the dominant cable or
DSL technology today or in the near future. A BPL industry spokesperson
subsequently criticized the ARRL apparently for reporting the company's
statements. EarthLink President and CEO Garry Betty and other company
officials met November 16 with FCC Chairman Michael Powell and Commission
attorney Aaron Goldberger to deliver an ex parte presentation on several
Wireline Competition Bureau and Common Carrier Bureau proceedings.

"EarthLink discussed that it has invested in and is in trials with several
potential 'third wire' broadband transmission paths to the home, including
WiFi, WiMax, MMDS and broadband over power lines," EarthLink Counsel Mark
J. O'Connor informed FCC Secretary Marlene Dortch in a November 17 letter.
"However, EarthLink pointed out that cable and DSL still account for
virtually all consumer broadband connections and that none of these
alternative technologies offer a commercially viable alternative today or
in the near future."

An EarthLink analysis indicated that BPL is the most expensive of the
broadband technologies it evaluated. In a chart titled "Next generation
broadband," EarthLink said that wireless and BPL "are not likely to be
competitive in cost and performance with cable and DSL over the last mile
to the home."

EarthLink judged as "not successful" one unspecified BPL technical trial
using Amperion equipment in a "wireless/BPL combo." In discussing other
trials using Ambient and Current Technologies equipment--in one of which
EarthLink had invested--the ISP's assessment was that the high cost per
household passed--$125 in both instances--would require a better than 15
percent market penetration to attain a competitive cost.

EarthLink said its assessment determined that ADSL2+ technology is the
"best option" and can offer VoIP as well as high-speed broadband (at 6 to
10 Mbps) and video over copper wire and using on-premise consumer
equipment. The company also indicated that it plans to invest in ADSL2+
technology. The company's ex parte submission is available on the FCC Web
site
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_docu
ment=6516883843>.

ARRL's reporting of EarthLink's submission to the FCC apparently struck a
nerve at Ambient, with which EarthLink has a business relationship. In a
classic case of shooting the messenger, Ambient CEO John J. Joyce took the
League to task on behalf of the BPL industry in a statement posted via
Market Wire on the CBS MarketWatch.com Web site
<http://cbs.marketwatch.com/tools/quotes/newsarticle.asp?guid={ABFA5879-0D
B7-43C3-BA02-94071FAECC3D}&siteid=mktw&dist=nbs&symb=>. Joyce seemed to
suggest that the League itself had provided the EarthLink information and
was spinning the company's remarks to advantage.

"The release by the ARRL clearly takes the statements of EarthLink's
attorney out of context and conveniently ignores many developments in the
industry that contradict ARRL's conclusions," Joyce said, adding that 2005
promises to be "the year of BPL."

Among other things, Joyce said that "the ARRL perception of BPL's
economics fails to consider that consumer broadband is only one
application for a BPL-enabled utility system." he said there are other
industrial applications that may augur in BPL's economic favor. He also
emphasized that the projects with which his company and EarthLink have
collaborated were demonstrations "never intended to be competitive
installations" and are "in no way representative of BPL economics."

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League stands by its account, which
Joyce characterized as a "claim" on the ARRL's part. "ARRL's report on the
document was accurate in every way, and we stand by our report," he said.
"The conclusions given are not ours, but EarthLink's. Anyone who wishes to
do so can read the submission for themselves."

==>NASA ASKS ISS CREW TO TRIM CALORIES

NASA has asked ISS Expedition 10 crew members Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, and
Salizhan Sharipov to push themselves away from the galley table a bit
sooner than they have been. According to the Associated Press, NASA
managers want the crew members to cut 300 calories from their typical
daily 3000 calorie intake to keep food supplies aboard the spacecraft from
running dangerously low before a Russian Progress supply rocket arrives
Christmas Day.

"The spacecraft will bring 2.5 tons of food, fuel, clothing and other
supplies to the complex," NASA said this week. "Almost 70 food containers
have been added to the craft's manifest to replenish onboard supplies."
The supply rocket also will bear Christmas gifts and other personal items
for Chiao and Sharipov.

Now some two months into their six-month mission, the crew completed
audits of onboard food and computer hardware earlier this month as mission
managers were finalizing the manifest for the cargo craft. Surprised to
learn that the crew already was digging into its food reserves, NASA
managers worried that if anything were to go awry with the Progress
spacecraft, the crew could be forced to abandon ship--an unprecedented
move, but one for which NASA and Russian Space Agency officials are said
to be preparing for, just in case.

NASA said its early-December audit confirmed "fewer rations available to
the crew than previously thought," but that Chiao and Sharipov have
sufficient food to last "one or two weeks beyond the arrival of the
Progress." NASA said nutritionists on the ground have been working with
the crew to make sure onboard food supplies "can be safely rationed."

Russian Progress rockets have been the sole resupply vehicles for the ISS
since NASA grounded its shuttle fleet following the February 1, 2003,
Columbia tragedy.

==>FCC ACTS ON LONG-RANGE CORDLESS TELEPHONE COMPLAINT

The FCC in November responded to a complaint from the Holmesburg
(Pennsylvania) Amateur Radio Club about interference on 2 meters from a
high-powered so-called long-range cordless telephone. FCC Special Counsel
Riley Hollingsworth forwarded information from the club to the FCC
Philadelphia District Office on November 22.

The club claimed that the cordless telephone system was causing
interference on its repeater's 146.080 MHz input frequency. On November
27, an agent from the Philadelphia District Office investigated the
complaint and determined that a resident of Glassboro, New Jersey, was
operating a "Senao High Quality Cordless Telephone," model SN-358. The
base unit appeared to operate on 146.080 MHz, while the handset appeared
to operate on 228.960 MHz (specifications listed on Senao's Web site
indicate the model SN-358 handset operates on 268 MHz and the base on 394
MHz).

During an on-site inspection, the telephone's owner voluntarily
surrendered the unit to the FCC agent. The telephone owner asserted that
he'd purchased the system, which reportedly did not display an FCC
certification notice, from an eBay advertiser.

The FCC's Philadelphia District Office is continuing to investigate.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sunspot seeker Tad "Shining Star" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: The seven-day averages for solar flux and sunspot numbers
declined this week, while the averages for the geomagnetic A index rose.
The average daily sunspot number declined more than 19 points to 26.9, and
average solar flux was down more than 8 points to 88.7. Sunspot counts
have been quite low and will continue their retreat for about two more
years.

The most active day in terms of geomagnetic indices over the past week was
Monday, December 12, when a robust solar wind stream drove the
mid-latitude A index to 24, the planetary A index to 36, and Alaska's
college A index to 48. The quiet period this week was on December 14-15
when the mid-latitude A index was 4 and 3.

Earth now is passing through a solar wind stream from a coronal hole. For
Friday, December 17 the predicted planetary A index is 20, followed by 15,
8 and 5 for Saturday through Monday. We may expect slightly higher solar
flux (which is somewhat related to sunspot counts) with this weekend's
flux value around 90. This is expected to rise to around 105 by December
23.

Sunspot numbers for December 9 through 15 were 39, 39, 16, 26, 22, 18 and
28, with a mean of 26.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 87.4, 84.8, 89.8, 90.5,
89.7, 89.3 and 89.3, with a mean of 88.7. Estimated planetary A indices
were 8, 10, 15, 36, 11, 7 and 6, with a mean of 13.3. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 7, 8, 11, 24, 8, 4 and 3, with a mean of 9.3.
__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The Russian 160-Meter Contest is December 17.
The OK DX RTTY Contest and the RAC Winter Contest are December 18. The
MDXA PSK DeathMatch, the Croatian CW Contest, the Stew Perry Topband
Challenge and the International Naval Contest are the weekend of December
18-19. The RAEM Contest and the DARC Christmas Contest are December 26.
ARRL Straight Key Night is January 1, 2005 (UTC). See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) and Radio Propagation
(EC-011) on-line courses remains open through Sunday, December 19. Classes
begin Friday December 31. This course is an excellent way to learn the ins
and outs of computerized antenna modeling. Antenna modeling expert and
noted author L.B. Cebik, W4RNL, has combined the expertise of his long
career as a college professor with his love and antennas and antenna
modeling to offer a comprehensive, yet practical, course of study. Radio
Propagation students will study the science of RF propagation and various
propagation modes. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and
Continuing Education <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page or contact the
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program Department,
<cce@arrl.org>;.

* Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line
course (EC-003) opens Monday, December 20, at 1201 AM EST and will remain
open until all available seats have been filled or through the December
25-26 weekend. Radio amateurs 55 and up are strongly encouraged to
participate. Class begins Friday, January 7. Thanks to our grant
sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the
United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon
enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course.
During this registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members
on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org; 860-594-0340.

* Emergency communications seminar set for Louisiana State Convention: The
ARRL will offer a free Amateur Radio emergency communications seminar in
conjunction with the ARRL Louisiana State Convention. It will take place
Friday, March, 11, from noon until 4 PM, at the Rayne Civic Center in
Rayne. The seminar will not include the Level I course itself! ARRL
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course (ARECC) Manager Dan Miller,
K3UFG, says ARECC participants reinforce the ARRL Field Organization.
"This seminar will explain the ever-changing role of radio amateurs with
emphasis on using lessons learned to effectively move Amateur Radio
emergency communications to the next level," he said. The seminar is open
to all interested radio amateurs, but seating may be limited. Especially
urged to attend are ARES/RACES volunteers, ARECC course participants and
ARRL Field Organization leaders. Course participants at every ARECC
level--Mentors, Certification Instructors, Certification Examiners, past
and current students--are encouraged to share their ARECC experiences and
brainstorm ideas to motivate volunteers and coordinate activities. Those
planning to attend should contact Dan Miller, K3UFG, k3ufg@arrl.org
<mailto:k3ufg@arrl.org>;; 860-594-0340; FAX 860-594-0259. Attendance at
this seminar does not offer admission to the convention. Visit the
Acadiana Amateur Radio Association Web site <http://www.w5ddl.org/hamfest>
for more information on the ARRL LA State Convention.

* ARRL VEC exam session application fee to change: Starting January 1, the
fee charged all applicants at ARRL VEC-coordinated Amateur Radio
examination sessions will rise from $12 to $14. ARRL Volunteer Examiner
(VE) teams may retain up to $6 of this fee to reimburse the VE team's
out-of-pocket test session-related expenses. The fee is charged to anyone
applying for a new amateur license or an upgrade. It also applies to ARRL
VEC-session applicants retesting on the same element after being
unsuccessful (where examiners permit), or applicants seeking
grandfather-credit upgrades and not taking an exam. ARRL VEC Manager Bart
Jahnke, W9JJ, says that while the number of examinees has dropped in the
past year--possibly due in part to the uncertainty regarding pending
licensing proposals--the cost of business and expenses incurred by ARRL
VEs and the ARRL VEC continues to rise. "Cost-saving measures already have
included staff reduction, reduced printing and distribution charges for VE
training material and exam software--both now only available via the
Web--and elimination of lesser-used services," he said. The ARRL provides
free FCC license renewals, address changes and other license modification
services to current members. Nonmembers pay $14 for those services.

* ARRL ham equipment insurance plan has new claims administrator:
Effective immediately, the new claims administrator for the ARRL
"All-Risk" Ham Radio Equipment Insurance Plan is the Risk Management
Planning Group Inc (RMPG), 211 Station Rd, Mineola, NY 11501. RMPG is a
third-party claims administration firm. Marsh Affinity Group Services of
Park Ridge, Illinois, will continue as the program's administrator,
handling applications as well as policy and insurance coverage questions.
AIG, the company that underwrites the ARRL insurance program, directed the
change in a move to consolidate claims-paying functions and to exercise
more control over all the programs it underwrites through Marsh Affinity
Group Services. There's more information on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/insurance/equipment.html>.

* Don Allen, W9CW, named CQ, CQ VHF ad manager: Don Allen, W9CW, of
Urbana, Illinois, has been named advertising manager of CQ and CQ VHF
magazines, Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, has announced. He succeeds Arnie
Sposato, N2IQO, who is relocating to the West Coast and will continue as
advertising manager of Popular Communications magazine on a part-time
basis. Allen previously worked for CQ Communications--from 1989 until
2001--as ad manager of Popular Communications and Communications
Quarterly, as well as CB Radio and Electronic Servicing & Technology
magazines. He's a former sales and marketing manager for HAL
Communications Corp. His Amateur Radio interests include both phone and CW
operating, as well as collecting and building radio equipment. Allen will
telecommute from his home in Illinois.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main
St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
<http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
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==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
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The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org

Editorial questions or comments: John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, at news@arrl.org.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box.  When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Thunderbird

Use the menu item "View/Message Body As/Plain Text" or "View/Message Source" options.

OS X Mail (Mac)

Use the "View/Message/Plain Text Alternative" menu item.

GMail

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...

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