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Text File | 1988-04-11 | 17KB | 333 lines

This report is brought to you courtesy of Scott, W3VS, Roy, AA4RE,
HAMNET (a feature of COMPUSERV) and the Garlic Valley Packet Society,
Gilroy, California.
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The ARRL Letter, Volume 7    Number 6, March 29, 1988


  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.


FCC PART 97 REWRITE
     On March 24, the FCC acted to establish PR Docket 88-139, a
proceeding which looks toward the modernization of the rules
governing Amateur Radio in the United States.  A Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking will be issued shortly, but is not yet
available; it is said to be an 87-page document, and comments
will not be due until August 31 in order to permit careful review
and study.
     This is the so-called "Part 97 rewrite."  According to the
Commission's news release on its action, a reorganization of the
amateur rules has not been done since 1951 and the result of
ensuing technological advances and operational changes is a
patchwork quilt of rules that is often confusing, particularly to
the prospective licensee.
     Because of unfortunate experiences with a "plain language"
rewrite proposal of a few years ago, there is considerable
sensitivity in the amateur community to any proposal for sweeping
changes in Part 97 despite the laudable objective of making the
rules easier to understand.  At a press briefing following the
Commission's action, FCC staff identified the following as
highlights of the proposed rules:

     1. References to emissions will be simplified.  Permitted
modes will be grouped into nine categories with one-word
descriptions, with a one-time listing of the emission designators
in each category.  For example, a reference to "phone" in the
rules will incorporate all of the voice emissions now permitted.

     2. The following longstanding interpretations will be
        codified in the rules:
     A. Swap nets
     B. What hams can do in disasters, and to protect the
        immediate safety of life or property
     C. What hams can do in support of public gatherings (e.g. -
        athons)
     D. The four-prong "rule of reason" test for newsgathering
     E. The philosophy that amateur frequencies are shared
        equally by all amateur stations
     F. The circumstances under which FCC personnel can inspect
        station records
     G. What can and cannot be appended to call sign as a "self-
        assigned identifier"

     3. The following rules, we understand, are proposed to be
        eliminated:
     A. The entire section governing alien operation, inasmuch as
        it defines administrative procedures that do not need to
        be in the body of regulations
     B. The amateur-satellite service rules, insofar as they
        repeat the International Radio Regulations
     C. Prohibitions against damaging radio apparatus, which are
        said to overlap local law
     D. Requirements that examination papers be retained by
        volunteers for a specified period

     4. The "basis and purpose," Section 97.1 is untouched.

     At this time there is insufficient information available on
which to draw any firm conclusions about what is being processed.
It appears that the Commission is allowing sufficient time for
review and comment, assuming that the NPRM is released within a
reasonable time.  Copies of NPRM will be distributed to any
interested members at cost as they become available.
     Based upon the information conveyed during the press
briefing, it would appear likely that the ARRL may be able to
support the overall effort to reorganize Part 97, but that the
League will be taking exception to at least some of the
substantive changes being proposed.

ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS
     The ARRL Executive Committee met March 19, in Arlington,
Virginia, just outside Washington, DC.  The following is a brief
overview of items discussed at the meeting:
     A review of the ARRL's efforts to oppose reallocation of
220-222 MHz, including a meeting with the Washington-based firm
retained for Congressional relations.  The Committee also
unanimously voted to file Reply Comments vigorously opposing UPS
comments and the TV Answer petition.
     Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, HQ Publications Group Manager, has been
nominated as a participant in the US delegation to the Interim
Meeting of the International Radio Consulting Committee (CCIR)
April 20 in Geneva, Switzerland.  The CCIR is one of four
permanent arms of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU).
     ARRL Counsel Chris Imlay, N3AKD, reported that two petitions
seeking expansion of the repeater segment of the 6 meter band to
include 51-52 MHz have been filed.  The FCC has designated them
RM-6274 and RM-6275.  Last December, the membership Services
Committee was asked to study this issue in conjunction with the
VHF-UHF and VHF Repeater Advisory Committee; no further action
was taken at this time.
     The Committee also met with Evelyn Garrison of ICOM America,
representing Amateur Radio industry.  The Committee and Garrison
discussed ways to encourage Amateur Radio growth beyond Novice
Enhancement.
     The Committee authorized the withdrawal of a petition for
amendment of Sections 97.31 and 97.515 of the Amateur Rules filed
by the League on September 9, 1987.  It was agreed that inasmuch
as there are alternative means of solving problems arising from
discreditation of volunteer examiners accredited by more than one
VEC, more flexibility in arriving at satisfactory solutions would
be afforded without a formal petition on file.
     The minutes will be in "Moved and Seconded" in May QST.

W1AW RENOVATION FUND-RAISING UPDATE
     How often have you listened to W1AW for bulletins or code
practice?  Now you can ensure that W1AW remains the flagship
station of Amateur Radio.
     The renovation project for W1AW is now
underway (See April QST , page 48, for details).  The fund
raising has begun in earnest, with responses coming in from
across the country.  All donations will be acknowledged by a
certificate, and donors of $500 or more will have their name and
call sign inscribed on a commemorative plaque in the station.
Donors of $1000-or-more will receive individually inscribed
personalized plaques.
     Bids have been submitted by several major equipment
manufacturers who seek to provide the new exciters/amplifiers
that W1AW requires as part of the inside renovation, and are
currently undergoing evaluation by the HQ Technical Department.
Preliminary architectural designs for the interior/exterior
renovation are being reviewed, making sure the historical
integrity of the building will be preserved.  Your tax-deductible
contributions should be sent to:
            W1AW Renovation Fund
                225 Main St.
            Newington, CT 06111

87-14 NEWS AND UPDATES
     The FCC has accepted the late comments filed by United
Parcel Service in the proposed reallocation of the 220 to 222 MHz
band.  The ARRL had requested the UPS comments be struck down on
the grounds that, in addition to being six months late, UPS had
not given all the other parties the opportunity to submit reply
comments.
     The UPS argument stated that they had only recently
developed plans for a nationwide private land mobile system, and
that any earlier announcement of the project would have been
premature.  The Commission, in accepting the comments, said that
the filing provided new and relevant information.  The FCC wanted
to have as complete a record as possible prior to making a
decision.
     The FCC will, at the request of ARRL, accept reply comments
to the UPS filing until March 31.
     In further 220 MHz news, the FCC has now extended the
deadline for filing reply comments in the TV Answer petition (RM-
6196), to May 1, 1988; since this is a Sunday, the FCC will
except comments through close of business May 2.

ARRL/AMSAT SPACE STATION PROPOSAL
      More hams in space?  A joint proposal has been submitted by
the ARRL and AMSAT to NASA for Amateur Radio participation in the
Space Station to be built in the 1990s.
     The proposal informs NASA about Amateur Radio interest in
such a venture, and some of the contributions that could be made
by radio amateurs in space.  There are already several NASA
astronauts who are hams.
     Some of the proposed contributions are:
The promotion of favorable public awareness of both the Space
Station and the US space program; experiments using voice, data,
and video communications techniques; providing a means of
recreation for crew members; and as a back-up means of
communication.
     One of the most important topics covered was the ability of
the Space Station to hold two-way communications "seminars" in
real time with selected school classrooms and civic gatherings,
with the ground facilities to be manned by local volunteer
amateurs.
     ARRL and AMSAT emphasized that a key element to the
proposal's success will be the Phase 4 geostationary satellite
now in the planning stages.  The proposal also suggested that all
users of the SSAR station would be required to be licensed radio
amateurs.

SKITREK UPDATE
     They're off--the Russian-Canadian Skitrek transpolar
expedition began their three-month journey across the North Pole
on March 3, at 0730 UTC.
     The team, consisting of nine Russian and four Canadian
skiers, struck out to the North from Severnaya Zemlya equipped
only with skis, radios, and heavily loaded backpacks.  The trip
will take them to the tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian
Arctic, via the North Pole.
     The control center of the Russian search-and-rescue
satellite, COSPAS, will determine the team's latitude and
longitude and telex the information to the University of Surrey,
where it will be programmed into the UoSAT OSCAR 11 satellite and
transmitted to the skiers via the digitalker aboard the bird.
The hybrid link-up procedure is named "Nordski Comm," and is the
primary navigation tool for the ski team.  They are also
utilizing celestial navigation techniques.  As the team crosses
the pole, the Canadian SARSAT takes over the navigation, with the
position reports reaching the skiers by the same UoSAT link.

FCC UPHOLDS W4UWH FINE
     The Commission has affirmed the imposition of $1450 in fines
levied against David G. Ackley, W4UWH, of St Thomas, US Virgin
Islands, for improper operation of his Amateur Radio station.
     Ackley, according to an FCC news release, was assessed the
fine after FCC Field Operations Bureau (FOB) personnel determined
he was operating on unauthorized frequencies and failing to
identify his station.
     In other FCC enforcement news, a Brooklyn, New York man,
Nachman Brach, was sentenced to five years probation and 300
hours of community service for importing illegal CB radios and
linear amplifiers, according to an FCC news release.
     The smuggled CB transmitters and linear amplifiers were not
authorized for sale in the US.  The radios operated on
unauthorized frequencies outside of the CB bands with excessive
power and unauthorized emissions, potentially causing
interference to essential public safety and emergency services.

NOVICE REMINDER
     Just passed your Novice exam and thinking of upgrading
shortly?  If you want to take advantage of "instant upgrade,"
stand by until your Novice ticket comes in the mail--you'll get
to use your new privileges sooner.  FCC Section 97.28(g) requires
that your FCC Form 610 be mailed to the FCC by one of the
examiners within 10 days of your successfully passing the Novice
test.  You cannot be granted a temporary operating authority for
your upgraded license without having a copy of your valid FCC
Novice license attached to the application.

FCC FT. LAUDERDALE MOVES
     FCC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has relocated to Vero Beach,
Florida.  The new address is:

     Federal Communications Commission
               P O Box 1730
         Vero Beach, FL 32961-1730

ARNS PUBLICATION CONTEST
     Proud of your club newsletter?  Undoubtedly, a well-done
newsletter promotes club activities and keeps up interest in the
club.  The Amateur Radio News Service, ARNS, an organization of
Amateur Radio publications and club newsletter editors, is
conducting its annual publications contest.
     The contest is designed to reward superior performance in
Amateur Radio journalism, and is open to Amateur Radio
organizations worldwide.
     One club newsletter published between July 1987 and July
1988, must be submitted and will be judged on the following
criteria: general format, overall interest, technical coverage,
club activity, editorials, membership contributions, and
recruitment/training of potential new amateurs.  Newsletters will
be judged compared to other entrants from like-sized clubs and
will be within the categories of "Superior", "Excellent", or
"Good."  Each entrant will receive a critique listing both
noteworthy points and suggestions for improvement.
     For further information, or to obtain entry blanks, send an
SASE to:

             Lee Knirko, W9MOL
       11 S. LaSalle St, Suite 2100
             Chicago, IL 60603

FCC TIMETABLE
     Just when you thought it was safe to expect that ham ticket
in a month--delays have returned to the FCC Gettysburg Office.
     Instead of getting that new license in 3 to 4 weeks, it
takes about 4 to 6 weeks for processing of new licenses.

CONSTITUTION BICENTENNIAL UPDATE
     Continuing with the Constitution Bicentennial are the
following stations: Operating March 26-April 1 from Washington DC
is N200EHD.  In operation April 23-29 from Maryland are:
WA200WZA, W200RCN, W200CWC, K200AA, W200VPR, and K200SKE.

NEW HAM RECRUITMENT GROUP VISITS FLORIDA
     ARRL HQ staffers involved with the pilot program aimed at
recruitment of new hams in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties
Florida recently visited the Orlando Hamcation and metropolitan
Tampa/St Petersburg areas.  This pilot program is directed toward
non-amateurs aged 50 and over.
     The program was discussed briefly at the ARRL Forum by HQ
staffer Mike Riley, KX1B.  The program has the full support of
many local radio clubs.
     Along with gathering information from interested amateurs at
the Hamcation, the group met with several representatives of
senior-oriented organizations and several local governmental
agencies in the target area asking their support of the program.
The three-day factfinding trip was helpful and the pilot
recruitment program will begin later this year.  Members of the
HQ task group are Mike Riley, KX1B, Chairman; Mary Schetgen,
N7IAL; Rosalie White, WA1STO, and Larry Wolfgang, WA3VIL.

WASHINGTON STATE HAMS GET A RENT BREAK
     The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
has reduced rent charged to Amateur Radio repeaters located on
state land.  For the first repeater placed at the site, the
rental rate will be 50% of the DNR-established rate, and
subsequent units will be at 25% of the established rate.
     This legislative rent reduction was in recognition for the
service provided by Amateur Radio operators in emergency and
public service communications, while still providing the DNR with
full market rental for state-owned property because of the
supplemental funding appropriated by the legislature.

POSTAL INCREASE
     The postal rate increase planned by the US Postal Service
for April 3 will have an enormous effect on the League.
     For delivering QST to members in the US, the increase will
amount to an average of about 0.8 cents per copy.  Even this
small increase amounts to more than $13,000 per year!
     For delivering QST to members outside the US, however, the
increase is much greater: 30 cents per copy.  This forces us to
raise the postage surcharge on foreign membership rates from
$8.00 to $11.00 per year, bringing the cost of basic overseas
membership to $36.00.