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 Previous: Southern Florida SEC Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, Silent Key |  Next: Winlink 2000 Helping with Southern Asia Disaster Communications |
Compiled by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE
QST Managing Editor
jkleinman@arrl.org
December 30, 2004
This feature--including convenient Web links to useful information--is a quick monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of December.
ARRL news bulletins kept the Amateur Radio community abreast of the latest developments in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated large areas of Southern Asia.
A Florida TV program [click either the link to "most recently available" video or the December video] highlighted Amateur Radio's role in the holiday toy drive, coordinated by the ARRL, that brought some cheer to the kids affected by last summer's hurricanes.
In a 50 minute interview with Broadband over Power Line World, CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, reiterated that Amateur Radio's primary issue with the deployment of broadband over power line (BPL) technology is its potential to pollute the radio spectrum.
The ARRL has once again asked the FCC to shut down a BPL field trial now under way in Briarcliff Manor, New York. It's also asked the Commission to withdraw the system's Part 5 Experimental authorization.
In apparent response to an earlier ARRL call for the FCC to withdraw its authorization for its BPL field trial, the FCC required Electric Broadband LLC (EB), which is running the trial in Cottonwood, Arizona, to maintain contact with a local Amateur Radio club.
The ARRL suggested that California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) member Susan P. Kennedy temper her "excessively optimistic" view of BPL technology. Kennedy was recently quoted in California Politics Today as saying that it's "criminal that California does not have a major BPL pilot project or commercial project under way."
In response to criticism from Ambient Corporation, a business partner of EarthLink, which recently concluded that BPL was not financially viable, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, retorted: "ARRL's report on the document was accurate in every way, and we stand by our report. The conclusions given are not ours, but EarthLink's. Anyone who wishes to do so can read the EarthLink submission for themselves."
In a strongly worded letter to FCC Enforcement 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 new claims administrator for the ARRL "All-Risk" Ham Radio Equipment Insurance Plan" is the Risk Management Planning Group Inc (RMPG).
The ARRL announced it will offer a free Amateur Radio emergency communications seminar in conjunction with the ARRL Louisiana State Convention March 11. The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association Web site has more information on the Convention.
The ARRL DXCC Desk approved the TN3S Republic of Congo operation for DXCC credit, effective May 15, 2002.
Following Jonathan Adelstein's Senate confirmation to remain an FCC Commissioner until June 30, 2008, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, wrote Adelstein to congratulate him on his appointment and confirmation.
Allen Pitts, W1AGP, posted the December issue of CONTACT! for Public Information volunteers.
The February issue of QST, and the January/February issues of QEX and NCJ have been released to the printer.
The ARRL 160 Meter and 10 Meter Contests were held, as was Straight Key Night.
The Contest branch shipped plaques for the 2004 ARRL DX Contest.
Registration opened for the ARRL Emergency Communications (Levels I, II and III), Technician Licensing, Radio Frequency Propagation, Antenna Modeling, HF Digital Communication, Antenna Design and Construction, and VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater on-line courses. To learn more, contact the Certification and Continuing Education Program Department at cce@arrl.org.
Course Grants Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, reports the following graduation numbers from on-line Emergency Communication courses supported by grants: CNCS grant (October 2004-September 2005)--203. United Technologies grant (calendar year 2004)--913.
Mark Spencer, WA8SME, Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator, operated W1AW during SKYWARN Recognition Day. He also contacted several schools that are in line to receive "Big Project" grants.
DXCC staff processed about 600,000 cards during calendar year 2004, while the Outgoing QSL Service sent out about 1.1 million cards.
Lab Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG, and W1AW Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, tracked down the source of power line noise that was briefly plaguing W1AW.
Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, presented a talk at the West Central Florida Section Convention.
Regulatory Information John Hennessee, N1KB, updated the list of sample pro-amateur antenna zoning ordinances. He also assisted several members with local government antenna zoning problems.
Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, forwarded several reports of intruding signals to the FCC.
Bill Barrett, W1WJB, coordinator of the Community Education Project, gave a talk on the CEP to Danbury (CT) city officials.
Long term member plaques were sent to 50, 60 and 70-year ARRL members who requested them.
A new audio public service announcement, "They're All Hams," is available.
Public Service Specialist Steve Ewald, WV1X, attended a
meeting of Citizen Corps affiliates in Washington, DC.
| Previous: Southern Florida SEC Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, Silent Key | Next: Winlink 2000 Helping with Southern Asia Disaster Communications |
