‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM OCTOBER 2018  QST  PAGE 79 ‰

ARRL BOARD ADOPTS VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM, OFFICIAL OBSERVER PROGRAM
TO BE RETIRED  THE ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER PROGRAM STUDY COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD RETIRE THE
VENERABLE OFFICIAL OBSERVER OO PROGRAM AND INSTITUTE THE VOLUNTEER
MONITORING VM PROGRAM.  THE ACTION CAME AT THE BOARDS JULY 20 21 MEETING IN
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, WITH THE BOARD INSTRUCTING THAT THE TRANSITION BE
IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.  UNDER THE TERMS OF THE NEW PROGRAM,
CURRENT OFFICIAL OBSERVERS WILL BE INVITED TO APPLY FOR APPOINTMENT AS
VOLUNTEER MONITORS.  THE BOARD EXPRESSED ITS APPRECIATION FOR THE OOS AND
THEIR DEDICATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE OVER THE YEARS.  RATIONALE AND LOGISTICS
THE ACTION IS EXPECTED TO RE ENERGIZE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN THE AMATEUR
RADIO BANDS AND WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE FCC IN THE WAKE OF
SEVERAL FCC REGIONAL OFFICE CLOSURES AND A REDUCTION IN FIELD STAFF, THE
BOARD SAID.  UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, COORDINATION OF CASES AND EVIDENCE
GATHERING WOULD BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ARRL HEADQUARTERS STAFF, WHILE
THE FCC WILL RETAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING ACTION
IN SPECIFIC CASES.  THE STUDY COMMITTEES REPORT SPELLED OUT THE ADDITIONAL
STEPS NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM.  AMONG THEM
WOULD BE THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEDICATED HEADQUARTERS STAFF MEMBER OR AN
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