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JOHN BUSH, KH6DLK/V63JB, AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT MATERIAL SUPPORT TO HIS
EFFORTS IN THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA.  THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THESE
ONGOING EFFORTS OVER MANY YEARS WITH ON THE AIR ACTIVITIES INCLUDING
COMMUNICATION DURING WEATHER EVENTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL TYPHOONS, AS WELL AS
OTHER EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE TO BOATERS IN TROUBLE, THE
BOARDS RESOLUTION SAID.  THE BOARD BESTOWED THE 2016 DOUG DEMAW TECHNICAL
EXCELLENCE AWARD UPON STEVEN J. FRANKE, 

ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTS LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES FOR 115TH CONGRESS
THE BOARD FACED A VARIED AGENDA WHEN IT MET IN JANUARY.  RICK LINDQUIST,
WW1ME WW1ME ARRL. ORG THE ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED FIVE
LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES FOR THE 115TH US CONGRESS WHEN IT MET IN CONNECTICUT
ON JANUARY 20 21.  ARRL PRESIDENT RICK RODERICK, K5UR, CHAIRED THE SESSION.
THE FIRST OBJECTIVE WAS TO SEEK EARLY CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF THE AMATEUR
RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2017, H.R. 555, AND OF ANY SENATE COMPANION BILL THAT
MIGHT BE INTRODUCED.  H.R. 555 CLEARED THE HOUSE ON JANUARY 23.  THE BOARD
WAS TOLD THAT SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL WOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE REPORT LANGUAGE FROM CONGRESS TO THE FCC.  IN ADDITION TO
THE NEW PARITY ACT INITIATIVE, THE ARRL BOARD AGREED THAT THE LEAGUE WOULD
OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE REALLOCATION OF EXISTING
ALLOCATIONS.  THE BOARD ALSO SAID ARRL WILL OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT
DIMINISHES THE RIGHTS OF FEDERAL LICENSEES IN FAVOR OF UNLICENSED EMITTERS
OR ENCOURAGES THE DEPLOYMENT OF SPECTRUM POLLUTING TECHNOLOGIES.  FURTHER,
THE LEAGUE WILL SEEK RECOGNITION OF THE UNIQUE RESOURCES, CAPABILITIES, AND
EXPERTISE OF THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE IN ANY LEGISLATION ADDRESSING
COMMUNICATION ISSUES RELATED TO EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS, OR NATIONAL
SECURITY.  FINALLY, ARRL WILL SUPPORT THE COMPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE

OBJECTIVES OF OTHER RADIO COMMUNICATION SERVICES.  ENTRY LEVEL LICENSING
NEW ENGLAND DIVISION DIRECTOR TOM FRENAYE, K1KI, PRESENTED THE REPORT OF
THE ENTRY LEVEL LICENSING COMMITTEE AND ENTERTAINED QUESTIONS.  IT HAS BEEN
MORE THAN 10 YEARS SINCE ARRL ASKED THE FCC TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL FOR
RESTRUCTURING LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND TO CREATE A MORE APPROPRIATE ENTRY
LEVEL LICENSE.  AFTER A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY, THE COMMITTEE IS STILL
DISCUSSING POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD FOR
CONSIDERATION.  AT THE JANUARY MEETING, THE BOARD RECEIVED THE COMMITTEES
INTERIM REPORT AND ENDORSED ITS RECOMMENDATION TO WORK TOWARD IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CURRENT LICENSE QUESTION POOLS AND SEEK AGGREGATE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
FROM THE FCCS AMATEUR RADIO DATABASE.  THE COMMITTEE ALSO RECOMMENDED
CONTINUING THE EFFORT TO EXAMINE PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD AMATEUR RADIO,
WITH A GOAL OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW TO REACH OUT AND ATTRACT NEW
LICENSEES.  THE BOARD ASKED THE ENTRY LEVEL LICENSING COMMITTEE TO WORK
WITH ARRL HEADQUARTERS STAFF TO GATHER ARRL MEMBER INPUT REGARDING
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LICENSE, DEVELOP SEVERAL DIFFERENT
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