The ARRL Letter Electronic Update May 17, 1996 __________________________________ IN THIS UPDATE: * FCC issues reminder about HF transceivers * FCC streamlines PC certification * FCC launches new Family Radio Service * Wisconsin PRB-1 bill fails * Solar flux is up * New call Puerto Rico sign blocks issued * Vanity call sign filing tips * FCC backfills 7th District holes * Howard M. Crosby, W2CCG, SK * Dick Pitner, W0FZO, SK * In Brief: New hams and upgrades up; Students plan SAREX activity; Mir update; W8ZR named university president; SETI League inaugurates search __________________________________ FCC ISSUES REMINDER ABOUT HF TRANSCEIVERS The FCC has issued a friendly reminder about those HF transceivers ostensibly marketed for "amateur" use, but actually designed and intended specifically for the so-called "freeband" radio operators, who operate primarily in the 26 to 28 MHz frequency range. In a May 13 Public Notice, the FCC points out that it's a violation of FCC regulations to import or market a transmitter designed or intended to operate outside the amateur bands unless the equipment has been issued a grant of equipment authorization for the radio services it's capable of operating. The FCC says it wanted to clarify its rules on equipment that's "intended to operate in various radio services in the high frequency radio spectrum, including '10-meter' Amateur Radio Service (ARS) equipment." The notice--directed to "manufacturers, importers, vendors and users of these transceivers"--emphasizes that transmitters intended for use by FCC-authorized radio services except the Amateur Radio Service must be type-accepted. In the words of the Public Notice: "The Commission considers that the transceivers discussed above are intended to be operated on frequencies where the use of type-accepted equipment is required, because of the simplicity of modifying them to extend their operating frequency range." The FCC also noted that it's illegal to import, market or operate a transmitter that requires a grant of equipment authorization but for which no grant has been issued, and that it's a violation to transmit on frequencies allocated to a licensed radio service "without the appropriate Commission-issued station license." Violators could be subject to fines or imprisonment as well as equipment seizure and forfeiture.--FCC FCC STREAMLINES PC EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS In a move aimed at getting personal computers and PC accessories to market faster, the FCC has adopted new rules to relax the equipment authorization requirements for such products. Instead of requiring FCC certification, the new rules allow a self-authorization process where PC manufacturers or suppliers issue a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) with FCC standards for limiting radio frequency emissions. The new rules permit manufacturers and suppliers of personal computers and PC peripherals to put a product on the market after testing it to ensure compliance and including a DoC in the accompanying literature, instead of having to apply for equipment authorization and await FCC approval. The FCC anticipates the new rules will significantly speed up the process of getting the products to market and will save the PC industry some $250 million a year. To ensure that equipment continues to comply with FCC standards, laboratories testing products under the new procedures must be accredited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation or by other organizations approved by the FCC. Manufacturers and suppliers also may continue to use the FCC certification process, which can take a month or longer. The new rules also permit the separate authorization of main computer boards and power supplies under a DoC and marketing of personal computers assembled from separate components that have themselves been authorized under a DoC. Under the old rules, PCs and PC accessories had to be tested and authorized based on the specific configuration of parts, and separate testing and authorization was required every time the configuration changed. PCs and accessories are subject to authorization to make sure they don't cause interference to broadcasting, aeronautical and maritime communication and Amateur Radio.--FCC FCC ESTABLISHES FAMILY RADIO SERVICE The Federal Communications Commission amended Part 95 of its rules May 10 to establish a new, unlicensed personal radio service, to be called the Family Radio Service. This service was created in response to a petition filed by the Radio Shack Division of Tandy Corporation, requesting that the Commission establish a new radio service aimed at providing small groups with an affordable and convenient means of direct, short range (up to one-half mile), two-way voice communication. FRS radios would use 14 channels in the 462 to 468-MHz band. Transceivers would have to be FCC-certified. The Commission suggests the FRS could be used by hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts to keep in contact with one another during outings. It could also be used by parents to keep in touch with children playing in the neighborhood ,or families or friends to keep in contact with one another while at shopping malls, sporting events, amusements parks and similar locations.--FCC WISCONSIN PRB-1 BILL DEAD FOR NOW A busy legislative agenda and political infighting are being blamed for the failure of a bill in the Wisconsin legislature that would have gone further than PRB-1 in limiting local control over Amateur Radio antennas. The bill, SB-544, had state Senate approval. Supporters had hoped to get approval of the state Assembly during a brief special session, but it never made it to the floor. According to Gary Schwartz, K9GS, who tracked the proposed legislation, the bill would have prevented localities from restricting ham radio towers on the basis of height or aesthetics, unless there was a specific health or safety concern. The bill also would have kept localities from enacting laws affecting placement, screening or height of Amateur Radio antennas "if the ordinance or resolution is based solely on aesthetic considerations." The bill was modeled after existing provisions of Wisconsin law that restrict localities from regulating certain satellite TV antennas. Supporters have vowed to try again next year. SOLAR UPDATE: FLUX IS UP Propagation guru Tad Cook, KT7H, reports the average solar flux was up just a few points during the first full week of May, and the average A index moved from 5.7 the previous week to 6.1. After peaking around 80, solar flux should drop below 70 after May 20 and rise above 70 again after June 1. The geomagnetic field is expected to be most stable between May 21 and 27. Best worldwide DX at this low point in the solar cycle is expected on 30 and 40 meters. Look for 20 meters and even higher bands to open up, especially on north-south paths, when the solar flux is at 80 or higher. Sunspot numbers for May 2 through May 8 were 0, 0, 0, 12, 26, 27 and 19 respectively, with a mean of 12. The 10.7-cm flux was 67.9, 68.3, 69.4, 70.8, 74.6, 74.9 and 76.1 respectively, with a mean of 71.7. NEW CALL SIGN BLOCKS ISSUED FOR PUERTO RICO On Monday, May 7, the FCC began issuing call signs in Puerto Rico from one of the new--and long-awaited--call sign blocks, NP3. For some time now, the Amateur Radio community has been awaiting FCC action to begin issuing new call sign prefixes (blocks) for areas in the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii that are running low on--or are already are out of--available call signs for higher class licensees. The FCC already has granted NP3AA through NP3AR, as of May 13. So far, it appears that no new call signs have yet been granted from the new Alaska and Hawaii prefixes. The FCC has said it no longer will restrict Alaska call signs to the number 7, so future call sign prefixes could contain any numeral from 0 to 9, such as NL1 or AL0. New Hawaiian prefixes may contain the number 7, such as AH7 (prefixes for Kure Island already contain a 7, but suffixes begin with K). MORE ON VANITY CALL SIGN PROCEDURES Here are some tips about filing for a vanity call sign. Most of these resulted from members' frequently asked questions in the wake of the FCC's announcement to open filing Gate 1 on May 31: You don't need to include proof that you or your deceased close relative formerly held the call sign applied for, but the FCC can require proof. Remember that making a false statement on an FCC application is against the law and is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. The FTP version of FCC Form 610V is acceptable for filing. In fact, you may even download or obtain it from the FCC via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form610V or ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form610V/, or by fax at 202-418-0177 (request Form 006108). Include FCC Form 159 if you're paying for your vanity call sign application by credit card or if multiple applications are being paid for with one fee, charge or check. But (contrary to instruction for FCC Form 610V) Form 159 is not required if paying by money order. Form 159 is available from the FCC via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159 or ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form159/. Payments made by personal check receive equally expedient handling as money orders or bank checks, and no check-clearing delays are expected. The most recent holder of a call sign has first access to that call sign. However, a person with an expired license that is within the two-year grace period is still considered to hold the license. Just prior to announcing the opening of Gate 1 in the vanity call sign program, the FCC denied outright three of four petitions for reconsideration and granted only part of a fourth petition. The amendment the FCC adopted clarifies that a renewal application for a vanity call sign is considered to be filed on time when received "on or before" the license expiration date. FCC TO BACKFILL HOLES IN SEVENTH DISTRICT Because of a computer programming snafu, the FCC inadvertently skipped over a chunk of seventh district call signs in the sequence KC7RAA to KC7ZZY, and jumped instead to the KD7 call sign block. The Commission intends to backfill the missing Group D call signs. As ARRL/VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, KB9NM, explains: "The FCC intends to leave the current 149 grants as is and to go back and fill in the KC7RAA-KC7ZZY group first." After that, the FCC will pick up where it left off. The FCC took a different tack when about 50 Group D call signs were similarly skipped in the fourth district. Instead of issuing the skipped block out of sequence, the FCC deleted those grants and issued new call signs from the originally intended sequence. HOWARD M. CROSBY, W2CCG, SK Howard "Bing" Crosby, W2CCG, of Syracuse, New York, died April 15, 1996. He was 93. Bing was one of the most senior hams in the US, having begun his hamming in 1913 in his home state of Minnesota. He had been an ARRL member for nearly 75 years, and a 70-year membership certificate was issued to Bing earlier this year. He also was a Professional Engineer and a member of IEEE and QCWA. His wife and daughter survive.--Denis Garrod, VE3CYR RICHARD W. PITNER, W0FZ0, SK Former Midwest Division Vice Director Dick Pitner, W0FZO, of Sioux City, Iowa, died May 14, 1996. He was 87. Dick became vice director in January 1974, succeeding Paul Grauer, W0FIR, who became director, and he served for one term. Dick also was a leading member of the 3900 Club, which meets on that 75-meter frequency. Tod Olson, K0TO, remembered Dick as "a good friend and an exemplary person and amateur." Services are May 18 at First Christian Church, Sioux City, Iowa. __________________________________ In Brief: * According to FCC figures, the numbers of new hams and of hams who've changed their class of license are up compared to the last half of 1995. New hams for the months of January, March and April have each totaled more than 3000, and upgraders have topped 1200. In February, new hams numbered 2109, and there were 980 upgraders. During the last half of 1995--which included the Federal government furlough the last half of December--the number of new hams averaged 2137 per month, while upgrades averaged 811 per month. * Students at Eisenhower Middle School in Texas, which has a scheduled SAREX QSO with STS-78 in June, will do their own earthbound micro-gravity experiment, involving 70-cm ATV between the school and the Brooks Air Force Base Lab. During the QSO itself, more than 100 students and parents will be in the auditorium.--Rosalie White, WA1STO * A Mir update: The astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Mir orbital complex report the ICOM-228 has been switched from the 25-W output setting to 5 W to conserve power. This change should result in a signal reduction of about one S-unit. US Astronaut Shannon Lucid continues to operate under Russian Amateur Radio rules. Legally, she may use the Russian club call sign R0MIR. There are, however, some limitations for hams in the US, which does not currently have a third-party traffic agreement with Russia. This agreement does not affect Shannon, but it does affect US Amateur Radio stations. All properly licensed Amateur Radio stations in the US may talk to Shannon or anyone else on Mir, but they may not let unlicensed individuals--third parties--talk to anyone aboard Mir. * James C. Garland, W8ZR, has been named president of Miami University, a 20,000-student institution in Oxford, Ohio. Garland, 53, is now dean of the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at The Ohio State University in Columbus.--Ronald Long, W8GUS * Ham radio was there as the SETI League has kicked off its Project Argus survey of the heavens, seeking microwave signals that might indicate intelligent extraterrestrial life. The first five radiotelescopes in the effort went on line simultaneously on Earth Day, April 21, at 1900 UTC. The telescopes are in Spain, Canada, Colorado, Hawaii and at SETI League headquarters in New Jersey. The simultaneous launch of the five stations was coordinated via ham radio. Dr H Paul Shuch, N6TX, is the SETI League's executive director.--SETI League =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. 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