HAM Radio 3/hamradioversion3.0examsandprograms1992.iso/news/al890313/al890313.txt

Text File | 1989-05-29 | 14KB | 246 lines

The ARRL Letter, Volume 8, No. 5, March 13, 1989

  Published by:
       The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
       225 Main St.
       Newington, CT 06111

  Editor:
       Jay Mabey, NU0X

     Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or
in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic
databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and
to the American Radio Relay League, Inc.


ARRL FILES REPLY COMMENTS IN PROPOSED RULES REWRITE
   The ARRL has filed its Reply Comments in FCC Docket 88-139, the
FCC proposal to reorganize the Amateur Radio Service rules.
Previously, the ARRL had filed its own rewrite, called "Part 96," in
response to the FCC's original proposal.
   The ARRL used its Reply Comments to again take aim at the FCC's
proposed Section 97.221, entitled "Restricted Operation." This one
sentence Section, "The FCC may restrict operations as necessary to
prevent harmful interference"  would eliminate the procedural
protection for amateurs contained in the present Section 97.131, which
requires an investigation by the Commission.
   Our Reply Comments state: "...the Amateur Radio Service will under
no circumstances tolerate the proposed elimination of the procedural
protection for amateurs contained in the present Section 97.131 of the
rules. The comments validate that prediction. It is the League's
intention to utilize all resources available to protect the Amateur
Service from inappropriate Commission restrictions in RFI matters."
   The ARRL's comments noted that the Field Operations Bureau of the
FCC has commenced a program imposing arbitrary operating restrictions
on amateurs who interfere with home electronic equipment. The program
imposes the burden of the interference resolution on the amateur
station, despite findings of no technical fault in some cases.
   The ARRL's comments strongly attacked the program: "The Amateur
Radio Service is unwilling to accept the burden of the continuation of
these policies, much less the codification of Commission authority to
impose them without any procedural protection at all. Such policies
create an irrebuttable presumption of fault on the part of the
amateur, and deprive the amateur of an unconditional operating
privilege available to all other Amateur Radio licensees of the same
license class without the hearings mandated by ....the Communications
Act..."
   The most extensive comments filed, other than those of the
League, were filed jointly by a number of broadcasting groups,
including the National Association of Broadcasters, CBS, ABC, NBC,
National Public Radio and Turner Broadcasting System. The
broadcasters argued that present Commission policy concerning the use
of Amateur Radio for news-gathering purposes was overly restrictive.
Instead, the group suggests different wording which would broaden the
categories of events in which amateur stations could be used in
news-gathering situations. For example, the group suggests that
amateur stations should convey news information for broadcast use
where the information is "directly related to an important news event"
and where other voice communications systems are unavailable.
   The ARRL replied that this definition is too broad and includes
events which have no relation to emergency, or even public-service,
communications. For example, a football game can be considered an
important news event. The ARRL noted that in the past amateurs have
been exploited during certain emergency situations to transmit such
non-emergency communications as personnel manifests and broadcast-
equipment requisitions. The ARRL concluded that the rule changes
proposed by the broadcast group are far too broad to prevent
commercial exploitation of the Amateur Radio Service.
   The ARRL filed its Reply Comments on January 31.
   In a related story the FCC has denied a request for an extension
of time in this docket, filed by David Popkin, W2CC. Popkin had asked
that the time for filing comments be extended until July 17, 1989,
reasoning since the League's comments were almost as extensive as
the Commission's proposal, a similar amount of time should be allowed
for study and reply. The Commission noted that Popkin's petition was
procedurally defective, having been filed two days after the deadline
for requests for extension of time. The Commission also said that 10
months had already passed since the proposal was issued and "in the
interest of administrative efficiency, it is desirable that the
proceeding be moved forward."

ARRL FILES REPLY COMMENTS ON SIX-METER SUBBAND EXPANSION
     The ARRL has filed Reply Comments on the FCC proposal to expand
the six-meter repeater subband, Docket 88-527.  This NPRM would
expand repeater operation to encompass 51-54 MHz.  The League agreed
with the Commission that "it is apparently desirable to expand the
repeater subband, at least in certain areas of the country."  Our
comments discussed the comments filed by the Six Meter International
Radio Klub (SMIRK) which were concerned about the possible impact of
the expansion of the repeater subband on the "Pacific DX Window" (51.0
- 51.1 MHz).  This portion of the 51 MHz band is used for weak-signal,
long distance communications primarily with Australia and New Zealand
and other areas in ITU Region III.  SMIRK is concerned about
interference to the window which could result from repeater operation
on the same or nearby frequencies.
     The League said that it "is cognizant of the need to protect
these operations, and absolutely will insure, through vigorous efforts
to properly develop and administer a revised band plan for this band,
that weak-signal operation is protected as long as operation in the
Pacific DX Window is necessary."
     The League's comments concluded by again emphasizing that
expansion of the repeater subband on six meters to include 51-52 MHz
was desirable "and can be accommodated on a planned, coordinated
basis within the Amateur Service" without relying on FCC regulatory
restrictions.

TRAVELING THIS SUMMER?
     If you are planning a trip to a foreign country other than
Canada and are interested in the possibility of operating there, you
must apply for a license even if the US has a reciprocal Operating
Agreement with that country.
     You can obtain information about operating from virtually any
country by writing the Regulatory Information Department at HQ.
Please include an SASE. Remember that many countries require a
minimum of 4-6 weeks lead time for processing of reciprocal permit
requests, although some do offer walk-in processing.
     Traveling to Canada?  US amateurs traveling to VE-land are
reminded that the US has automatic reciprocity with Canada. All that
is needed for operation north of the border is your original license.
Visitors must use the appropriate VE/VO/VY identifier, such as
N4YE/VE2 when visiting Quebec.

GEORGE S. TURNER, K4AP, SK
     George S. Turner, K4AP, former Chief of the FCC Engineering and
Monitoring Bureau, died February 7 at his home in Boca Raton, Florida.
He was 89 years of age.
     Turner joined the FCC in the 1930's and remained there until his
retirement in 1964.

WILLIAM W. EITEL, W6UF, SK
     Silicon Valley lost a pioneer with the passing of William Eitel,
W6UF on February 26. He was a past President of the ARRL Foundation
and Vice Director of ARRL Pacific Division in 1976-77.
    In 1934, Eitel joined with another enthusiastic radio amateur, Jack
A. McCullough, W6CHE, to form Eitel-McCullough, Inc.  Their dream was
to build more powerful vacuum tubes that would operate at higher
frequencies than anything then available.
     The tubes, originally designed for Amateur Radio usage, were
quickly adopted for military and commercial transmitters as well, and
led to important advances in radio communications.
     "Eimac" as the new company became known, went on to become one
of America's leading producers of electron tubes and related devices.
     Eimac continued producing technical data and equipment for radio
amateurs worldwide, including Project OSCAR.  In 1965 Eimac merged
into Varian Associates, which remains in existence to this day.
     Bill had a fully-equipped laboratory at his Nevada retirement
home where he continued work on ideas of interest to him.  The
amateur community shall miss W6UF.

EDUCATIONAL ADVISORS PROGRAM
     Do you have experience in writing school curricula, critiquing
educational publications or similar activities? At the January 1989
ARRL Board of Directors meeting, Minute 127 authorized staff to
implement an Educational Advisor program.  Interested?  Send
information on your area of abilities and expertise to Rosalie White,
WA1STO, Educational Activities Branch at HQ.

SIDDALL NAMED ASSISTANT CHIEF, LAW, MASS MEDIA BUREAU, FCC
     David R. Siddall, K3ZJ, former President of the Potomac Valley
Radio Club and Capitol Hill ARS, W3USS, has been named acting
Assistant Chief, Law, Mass Media Bureau, FCC.  He is responsible for
legal review of Mass Media Bureau items.  Siddall has been Senior
Attorney in the Policy and Rules Division, Mass Media Bureau.  Prior
to joining the FCC Siddall worked as a Legislative Attorney with the
Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress.

PACKET RADIO ON 18 MHZ
     On January 31, the FCC opened the 18 MHz band to Amateur Radio
operation.  Packet radio and other data communications (F1B type
emissions) are permitted in the 18.068 - 18.110 MHz subband (regional
band plans call for 18.100 - 18.110 MHz, with CW at 18.068 - 18.100 MHz)
and, although the normal power limit of 1500 watts output applies,
amateurs must not cause harmful interference to US government and
foreign fixed service operations.  On July 1, the band will be
allocated exclusively to Amateur Radio use.  (TNX: Gateway)

AMSAT UPDATES
     In recent months there has been growing awareness among OSCAR
satellite users that the 10 meter downlink spectrum of 29.300 - 29.510
MHz is being disrupted by 10 meter FM stations.  All radio amateurs
are reminded that this spectrum has been set aside by international
agreement for use as a downlink passband for Mode A satellites (e.g.
RS 10/11).
     By operating within this spectrum, 10 meter FM stations "wipe
out" a considerable portion of the downlink spectrum and render it
useless for RS 10/11 satellite users.  All amateurs not involved in
using OSCAR satellites are reminded to honor this "gentleman's
agreement" and avoid using 29.300 - 29.510 MHz.

AMATEUR AUTOPATCH UPDATE
     More good news -- US West (Mountain Bell) has approved
residential phone rates for Amateur Radio autopatches regardless of
whether they are in a commercial or business location.
     The basis for Mountain Bell's decision was the fact that
regardless of whether the line terminated in a commercial location or
not, radio amateurs are prohibited by law from using the service for
business purposes.
     For further information, contact the Regulatory Information
Department at HQ.

ON-LINE QSL SEARCH AVAILABLE
     Do you have several dozen calls that you can't seem to find in
the Callbook?  No time to look up all those addresses for WAS?
There is now help available.
     Buckmaster Publishing now provides an on-line Hamcall service
that gives subscribers access to the names and addresses of the
current 494,115 listed hams.  All you need is a computer terminal and
modem to bring this information into your shack!
     A subscription to the service costs only $29.95 per year, and
provides you with unlimited use.  The only additional expense will be
your phone calls to Virginia to "look up" the call signs.
     To take advantage of this service, write Buckmaster Publishing,
Mineral, VA 23117, or call toll free 1-800-282-5628.
(TNX Westlink)

AMSAT GROUND COMMAND STATIONS NEEDED
     AMSAT-NA is currently forming a layered satellite "ground
command station" organization to ensure the continuing availability of
interested and trained spacecraft ground control operators.
     Immediate needs include the identification of command stations
for the first Microsat series.  Amateurs worldwide are needed for
this endeavor.  Long term needs include PHASE-II, PHASE-III, and
PHASE-IV missions.  Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, has been appointed Command
Station Development Manager.
     Information and application packets are available by sending a
business-size SASE to Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, 1250 Highway G24, Indianola,
IA 50125.

NEW CONTEST ASSISTANT MANAGER AT HQ
     Newly arrived from the snow and cold of the Midwest, Phil Rice,
WB9JKI, has joined the ARRL Contest Branch as Assistant Manager.
     Phil's duties here at HQ will include assisting the Contest
Manager in administering League contests, scoring logs, QST results
preparation, Special Events and Contest Corral.
     Phil's interest falls into the area of contesting -- he has held
call signs in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, and Belize.  He is a past
member of the Society of Midwest Contesters and looks forward to
contesting from his new home in New England.  Welcome aboard, Phil!

FIRST 17-METER "WAS" AWARD ISSUED
     The first 17 meter Worked all states Award was issued to
Christopher M. Merchant, KA1LMR, on March 1.  Chris was the first to
submit his cards to the Awards Branch at HQ, according to Awards
Manager Eileen Sapko.  Congratulations Chris!