Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/HAM/NEWSLINE.ZIP/NEWS0109.TXT

Text File | 1994-01-16 | 17KB | 346 lines

The electronic publication of the Amateur Radio Newsline is distributed
with the permission of Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, President and Editor of
Newsline.  The text is transcribed from the audio service by Dale Cary and
is first published on Genie.

Editorial comment or news items should be E-mailed to [e-mail]
or [e-mail]. Voice or FAX to [phone].

All other information and disclaimers are in the text header below.

 - - - - -

 NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #106 - POSTED 01/09/94

    The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio
 Amateurs as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of
 the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, INC. -- formerly the WESTLINK RADIO
 NETWORK.  The electronic version of newsline is posted on this
 CBBS twice monthly.  For current information updates, please call

      Los Angeles............................ [phone]
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    For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed
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    Check with your local amateur radio club to see if NEWSLINE
 can be heard weekly on the air in your area.

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                                              Thank You
                                              NEWSLINE

 *****************************************************************

 Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...

 WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
 KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN
 and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!

 *****************************************************************

 [856]

 * * * *   C L O S E D   C I R C U I T   A D V I S O R Y   * * * *
 *                                                               *
 *     The following is a closed circuit advisory and is not     *
 *  for air via amateur radio.  This is just a reminder that     *
 *  the address for the Newsline Support Fund is Newsline, in    *
 *  care of Dr. Norm Chalfin, K6PGX, P.O.Box 463, Pasadena,      *
 *  California 91102.  Again and as always, we thank you. That   *
 *  ends the closed circuit with Newsline report number 856 for  *
 *  release on Friday, January 7, 1994 to follow.                *
 *                                                               *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                * * * The following is a QST * * *

    The ARRL takes a strong stand against instant licensing.  It
 says that its time for all hams to say no!

 *****
                   ARRL: NO TO INSTANT LICENSING

    The American Radio Relay League has said no to the FCC's idea
 for a so-called "Instant License."  The league says that P.R.
 Docket 93-267 is fraught with misgivings, not the least of which
 would be the in ability of the amateur radio community to
 identify a person who has passed an Amateur Radio examination
 from someone who simply bought a radio, made up a call sign and
 went on the air.
    By way of background, it was last November that the FCC issued
 the Notice of Proposed Rule Making in which it proposed that
 temporary operating authority for up to 120 days be granted to
 anyone who had earned a Certificate of Successful Completion of
 Examination.  This, by passing the examination elements required
 to get any class of Amateur Radio license.  The FCC put very few
 limitations on the program.  It did say that any person with a
 history of non-compliance with the Amateur Service Rules would
 not be eligible to apply.  It also noted that the FCC retained
 the right to cancel the operating authority at any time.  And
 that was it.  There were no other clear cut safeguards
 against abuses included in the proposal and that's what worried
 many hams.
    Now, writing in the January 1994 edition of QST Magazine,
 ARRL-Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ states that the
 league has several major concerns with the proposal.  These are
 with the planned system for on-the-air identification and the
 fact that the FCC has not proposed any safeguards to keep
 massive bootlegging from occurring.
    Sumner notes that the call sign system being proposed would
 not in all cases conform to ITU regulations.  He also points out
 that by being self assigned call letters, there would be
 absolutely no way for local amateurs concerned about the
 possibility of a non-licensed operator being in their midst.
 That there would be no way to check on the validity of the call
 sign being used.
    The ARRL also questions whether or not the FCC has the
 authority to even propose such a self licensing scheme.  K1ZZ
 notes that only a few years ago the Commission determined that it
 lacked the authority to implement a similar temporary licensing
 proposal and he goes on to question the basis on which the FCC
 has now made this about face.
    According to Sumner the time it takes to issue a ham radio
 license can be cut down appreciably by eliminating much of the
 paperwork that now is involved and instead permit electronic
 filing of the completed applications by the nations Volunteer
 Examination Coordinators.  He notes that the most of the nations
 VEC's appear to favor an electronic filing system to eliminate
 many of the paperwork delays now happening at the FCC's
 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania License Processing facility.  Sumner
 says that this one change would result in the turn around time
 for processing any license to drop to only a few weeks while
 protecting the security of the license itself.
    The ARRL is actively urging its members to take a strong
 position against the implementation of PR Docket 93-267.  It has
 suggested that all concerned radio amateurs write in opposition
 to the "Instant License" proposal from the FCC.

 *****
                   VANITY CALL SIGN NPRM ISSUED

    The FCC has now formally released its Notice of Proposed Rule
 Making, in PR Docket 93-305, aimed at permitting amateurs to
 choose a vanity call sign.  Individuals as well as trustees of
 club stations will be eligible to request an available call sign
 from the block assigned to their license class or a lower license
 class.
    A fee will be required for a vanity call sign.  The
 Communications Act specifies a fee of 7 dollars per year for
 amateur service vanity call signs.  It also allows the Commission
 to require payment of the fee in advance for a number of years
 not to exceed the relevant license term.  Fee issues would be
 resolved under a separate FCC rule making proceeding, and the
 vanity call sign system would not be started until then, the FCC
 said.
    If enacted, an applicant would have to provide the Commission
 a list of up to ten total call signs desired.  The FCC would
 assign the first available requested call sign from the
 applicant's list.  If none of the desired call signs was
 available, the applicant's current call sign would be reassigned.
    Call signs of lapsed or deceased licensees would not be
 available for reassignment for two years.  A call sign
 relinquished under the vanity call sign program would be
 available for reassignment immediately.
    The FCC said that even with its new automated licensing
 process it did not expect to be able to offer amateurs on-line
 access in order to check for call sign availability.  It did
 however ask for comments on how such a service could be provided.
 The FCC says that its eventual goal is to accept all license
 applications electronically.
    The comment deadline for P. R. Docket 93-305 is March 7, 1994.
 Reply comment deadline is April 7, 1994.  The ARRL is asking its
 members to let their Division Directors know how they feel on
 this one as soon as they possibly can.

*****
                        LOS ANGELES PROBE

    The probe into allegations of possible wrong doing by a
 growing number of Southern California Volunteer Examiners has
 taken a new twist.  This, with word that some hams who upgraded
 at sessions run by these examiners have received letters from the
 FCC telling them that their tests have been disqualified.  This
 is something that was expected from the outset since the FCC
 routinely takes this action anytime it deems a session is
 suspect.
    What makes this case different is the possible number of hams
 that could receive these notices.  Newsline has learned that some
 of the test sessions involved took place almost a year ago.  This
 means that some of those returning to lesser class licenses may
 themselves have become Volunteer Examiners and that the test
 sessions that they administered could be disqualified as well.
    Right now, the letters going out order the recipient to
 immediately cease using his or her upgraded privileges and to
 forward to the FCC by registered mail any Certificates of
 Successful Completion of Examination that have been awarded to
 them.  The letters also reportedly say that in cases where the
 certificates have been used for further upgrade that the
 applicant must provide to the FCC the date, time and location of
 the testing session, the name of the Volunteer Examination
 Coordinator and the names, call signs and addresses of the
 Volunteer Examiners who provided the test.
    If our information is correct and we have reason to believe
 that it is, then as many as 200 Southern California upgrades
 could be affected.

 *****
                        LLOYD COLVIN, S.K.

      Some sad news to report.  Word has reached Newsline that
 famed DXepeditioner Lloyd Colvin, W6KG has died.  Charles Mc
 Henry, W6BSY says that he received word from the Lloyd's
 son-in-law with word that W6KG passed away on December on 13th
 in Ankara, Turkey.  At the time of his death, Lloyd and his wife
 Iris W6QL were in Ankara waiting for licenses to be issued for
 their next on-the-air operation.  They expected their Turkey
 operation to least at least three months.  In their long career
 as prominent DXers, Lloyd and Iris had operated from over 150
 countries.  DXer Lloyd Colvin, W6KG, dead at age 78.

 *****
                         NEWSPAPER WRONG


    Word that Thomas Lee Larsen, a convicted child molester now
 charged with an arson threat is not a ham.  The San Jose Mercury
 newspaper reported that Larson was a licensed radio amateur.  We
 checked Larson in the FCC's Amateur Radio database and in the
 Sam electronic call directory.  Thankfully, there is no Thomas
 Lee Larson to be found.  Someone might want to call the San Jose
 Mercury and tell the newspaper that it was wrong.

 *****
                              SEDAR

    SEDAR is an acronym for the newly formed South Eastern Dealers
 of Amateur Radio.  The organization was formed at the Greensboro
 Hamfest to further the exchange of information and cooperation
 between members and assist all amateur club sponsored Ham Fests
 through out the South Eastern United States.
   SEDAR is in the process of compiling an information booklet of
 all hamfests in approximately fourteen Southeastern states.  If
 your club is planning to host a hamfest and your date is
 tentative, you may request a copy of other clubs' show dates from
 Sedar's secretary Kay Johnson KB4HHX, 5 Shoo Fly Circle,
 Ridgeville, SC 29472.  Please be certain to include a self
 addressed stamped envelope with your information request.

 *****
                         NEWSLINE SPEAKERS

    While on the subject of ham radio conventions, word that we at
 Newsline now have speakers available to talk to your radio club,
 hamfest, convention, convention banquet or what have you.  Many
 of Newsline's speakers are professionals in the world of
 broadcast journalism or the broadcast industry and possess a wide
 field of knowledge on many subjects allied to news gathering and
 dissemination.  Through them you can learn the way that these
 Newsline bulletins are researched, authenticated, written,
 recorded and put to air while also finding out the advantages of
 having weekly Newsline ham radio news bulletins as a regular
 feature on your net or repeater.  There is no honorarium charged
 within 25 miles of Los Angeles California and expenses only
 required anywhere else nationwide or world-wide.  At least 60
 days advance notice is required on out-of-town engagements.
 For further information on having a Newsline speaker at your
 gathering, please write to us at the address you will hear at the
 end of the newscast.  Or you can call or fax us at area code
 [phone].  That number is good 24 hours a day.

*****
                           NJ QSO PARTY

    A reminder from WB1GXM that February 12th and 13th is the
 date for the 1994 New Hampshire QSO Party.  There will be 14
 bonus point stations from across the state.  The QSO Party is
 also a great place to work all ten New Hampshire counties needed
 for the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Associations Worked All New
 Hampshire Award.  This award is administered by the North Country
 Amateur Radio Association of Lancaster, New Hampshire.

 *****
                                 DX

    In DX, word that Fred Laun, K3ZO will be active from Thailand
 as HS0ZAR from mid-January to mid-February.  Fred says to QSL to
 his home call.
    Also LA5EBA, will be active as JW5EBA starting in mid
 January for 6 months.  He will work for a meteorological station
 on Hopen Island, which is part of the Svalbard group that may
 qualify for a new IOTA number.

 *****
                                TORA

    A word of congratulations to a fine group of dedicated radio
 amateurs who spent New Years Eve out in the cold.  Of coarse we
 are talking about those hams who help to coordinate the annual
 Tournament of Roses Parade from Pasadena, California.  The group
 is known as TORA.  That stands for Tournament of Roses Amateur
 Radio.  Each year the TORA group is on hand to lend a hand to
 parade officials.  Their main job comes when the floats and
 marchers start their way down Colorado Boulevard.  Using video
 cameras and ham TV the TORA group is ever alert for any kind of
 an emergency situation that might develop.  If they spot
 something they send their pictures back to the parade
 coordinator who can take the necessary action, TORA pioneered the
 use of ham television in the Tournament of Roses Parade almost
 two decades ago and the group has been refining the technology
 ever since.

 *****
                               TOR-TV

    Also, for those of you who tuned in early enough to catch the
 CBS network pre-parade show titled Coming Up Roses, be advised
 that it to had a ham radio connection.  Anyone who caught the
 credits may have spotted it.  Coming Up Roses was produced and
 edited by the same ham who co-produced the award winning New
 World of Amateur Radio.  His name is Frosty Oden, N6ENV.

 *****
                    WESTLINK YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

    The Westlink Report ham radio newsletter has announced
 that its annual Young Ham of the Year Award will be presented
 June the 4th at 1994 Sea Pac Convention in Seaside Oregon.  The
 Westlink Report Young Ham of the Year award was conceived to
 honor the younger members of the Amateur Radio Community.  Hams
 aged 18 and younger who have used Amateur Radio to significantly
 contribute to the benefit of the service, to their community or
 the nation are eligible for it.  With corporate underwriting from
 Yaesu USA Corporation, the 1994 winner will receive a trip to
 the Sea Pac convention, a piece of ham radio equipment and a
 special plaque denoting his or her accomplishments.
    The cutoff date for submitting applications is April the 15th.
 The Winner will be notified in early May.  All nominations must
 be submitted on an official application available for a self
 addressed stamped envelope to the Westlink Report Young Ham of
 the Year, 28197 Robin Avenue, Saugus, California 91350.

 *****
    And for this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
 You can write to us at Post Office Box 463, Pasadena, California
 91102.

 * * * Newsline Copyright 1993 all rights are reserved. * * *