***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 50
December 24, 2004
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* +FCC must shut down BPL field trial, ARRL demands
* +Changes in Amateur Radio Service rules still pending
* +Zero G just great, astronaut tells Irish youngsters
* +"Best year ever!" for toy drive, thanks to hams' generosity
* +Dayton Hamvention seeks nominations for 2005 awards
* +FCC adopts new rules for wideband devices
* +Sixth Ham Radio University set for January 9
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
Handheld outplays cell phone in accident's wake
New 403 GHz DX record claimed
Russian cosmonaut-ham to return to ISS as commander
FCC approves first software defined radio
CQ to celebrate 60th anniversary with "CQ Gang" on-air event
NAC honors congressman with Outstanding Public Service Award
+Available on ARRL Audio News
===========================================================
NOTE: This is the last edition of The ARRL Letter for 2004! ARRL
Headquarters will be closed Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and there
will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions on either day.
There will be no editions of The ARRL Letter or ARRL Audio News on Friday,
December 31. Following Christmas weekend, ARRL Headquarters will reopen
Monday, December 27, at 8 AM EST. Following New Year's weekend, ARRL
Headquarters will reopen Monday, January 3, at 8 AM. The ARRL Letter and
ARRL Audio News will return Friday, January 7. We wish a safe and
enjoyable holiday season to all!
===========================================================
==>ARRL RENEWS DEMAND FOR FCC TO SHUT DOWN NEW YORK BPL FIELD TRIAL
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. After the
League's first shutdown request in October, the chief engineer of Ambient
Corporation, which provides the pilot project's BPL hardware and holds the
Experimental license, suggested that Amateur Radio interference complaints
had been addressed through improved software and notching performance. Not
so, says a December 17 letter to the FCC from ARRL General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD. Writing on the League's behalf, Imlay contends that the FCC
is not sticking to its commitment to prevent interference to Amateur Radio
from BPL systems and to enforcement where interference occurs.
"Based on the Commission's complete inaction to date with respect to
documented interference complaints at various BPL test sites, the
commitment seems vacuous," Imlay said. "ARRL demands that this BPL site be
shut down immediately, pending compliance determinations and a
demonstration that the system can operate without causing harmful
interference." ARRL member Alan Crosswell, N2YGK, a resident of the
community, has documented interference, complaints and related information
on his "BPL in Briarcliff Manor" Web site
<http://www.columbia.edu/~alan/bpl/>.
Imlay says another complaint from Crosswell and the League's own
observations on December 16 confirmed the existence of harmful
interference on 20 meters "sufficient to preclude virtually all Amateur
Radio communications."
ARRL observations December 16 indicated that BPL noise "precludes or
repeatedly disrupts" ham radio communication using typical receivers. The
harmful interference was noted at a distance of approximately
three-quarters of a mile from the modem, affecting a wide area, "unlike
Part 15 point-source radiators," Imlay said.
The December 17 letter went to FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief David Solomon,
FCC Deputy Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Chief Bruce Franca
and OET's Experimental Licensing Division Chief James Burtle. Copies went
to Ambient Chief Engineer Yehuda Cern and to FCC Special Counsel Riley
Hollingsworth. In cooperation with utility Consolidated Edison, Ambient
has been operating the Briarcliff Manor BPL system under an experimental
license, WD2XEQ.
The FCC should shut down the Briarcliff Manor BPL field trial and pull the
Experimental license too, Imlay argued. "Given the unsupported and
demonstrably false allegations contained in the Ambient October 12, 2004,
response to ARRL's interference complaint," he concluded, "the Commission
should rescind the experimental authorization as well, and determine other
appropriate sanctions against Ambient Corporation."
The Briarcliff Manor BPL system was the focus of a March 2004 front-page
Wall Street Journal article, "In This Power Play, High-Wire Act Riles
Ham-Radio Fans," by technology writer Ken Brown. ARRL staff members
accompanied Brown to the BPL site so he could hear the interference
firsthand.
==>MORSE REQUIREMENT, LICENSE RESTRUCTURING REMAIN ON FCC'S RADAR
The ARRL does not anticipate the FCC will offer up any proposals on the
Morse requirement and further restructuring of the Amateur Radio licensing
system until sometime in mid-2005, possibly sooner. The FCC Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau continues to review thousands of comments it
received on 18 petitions for rule making--including one from the ARRL.
The various petitions called for eliminating or altering the Morse code
requirement and changing other sections of the Amateur Service Part 97
rules, including further restructuring of the amateur licensing system.
In addition to agreeing on other changes affecting Amateur Radio, World
Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03), left the choice to require
Morse proficiency for HF access up to individual countries, and several
already have dropped Morse code as an examination requirement. That has
not yet happened in the US.
Before the FCC adopts any changes in the Morse requirement and the license
structure, it must complete its comment review, issue a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making (NPRM) reflecting its interpretation of consensus within the
amateur community based on comments received and invite further comments
on the NPRM. The FCC then will review those comments before issuing a
Report and Order that spells out any final rules. The ARRL does not
anticipate any changes in the Morse requirement or in other Amateur Radio
licensing requirements before 2006, possibly later.
While this rule making process is under way, no changes have been made in
the Amateur Radio Service rules. The 5 WPM Morse code requirement (Element
1) to gain HF privileges in the US remains in place, and no proposed
automatic upgrades or other rule changes have been put into effect. The
ARRL has posted answers to frequently asked questions on its own
restructuring proposals
<http://www.arrl.org/news/restructuring2/faq.html>.
==>NOTHING LIKE "ZERO G," ASTRONAUT TELLS YOUNGSTERS IN IRELAND
International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao,
KE5BRW, told youngsters at University College Cork in Ireland that the
most exciting thing about being an astronaut is flying in space and
looking at "our beautiful Earth." The conversation between Chiao and the
school children in Ireland December 17 was arranged via the European Space
Agency (ESA) and the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) program. Responding to one youngster's question about what it felt
like to be in a place without gravity, Chiao said there's not much to
compare it with.
"It feels like nothing else on Earth," he said from the controls of the
space station's NA1SS. "It's really neat to float around." Chiao said the
closest approximation on Earth might be floating on water. In reply to
another student's question, he pointed out that working in microgravity
"has its own challenges," but that it made constructing the ISS much
easier overall.
The ESA arranged for pupils attending several schools in Ireland to
participate in the ARISS event. During the course of the contact,
Chiao--using the more powerful and convenient NA1SS Phase 2
station--answered all 10 questions the youngsters had prepared and posed
plus another from Earth station operator Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, in
Australia. MCI provided a two-way teleconferencing link between Australia
and Ireland--to make the contact possible--and to the US, where ARISS
mentor Will Marchant, KC6ROL, moderated. Audio also was distributed via
IRLP.
Reflecting a sentiment expressed by his ISS crew predecessors, Chiao told
one Cork pupil that looking out the window of the space station is one of
his favorite leisure-time activities. "You can see, of course, cities and
airports and large manmade structures," he said. "I'm still trying to look
for the Great Wall of China. I haven't had success yet, but I'm still
looking."
The youngsters' final question--and Chiao's reply to it--got the entire
student group and audience of onlookers giggling. One pupil wanted to know
if there were toilets on the ISS and how astronauts dealt with bodily
functions while wearing their space suits.
"Life doesn't stop when you come into space," Chiao said. He explained
that there not only are toilets aboard the ISS but diapers for the
astronauts to wear while they're suited up for travel. "But we try not to
have to use them," he added. "so, we try to prepare ourselves before."
As he prepared to sign off, Chiao urged the youngsters to "follow your
dreams and reach for the stars." Apparently recognizing that a few seconds
remained in the approximately seven-minute pass, Hutchison jumped in to
ask Chiao to share his advice on becoming an astronaut.
"Work hard in school, take it seriously, get good grades," Chiao
recommended. "Use your head, do the right thing, follow your dreams--don't
stop dreaming, that's the most important part."
Following a huge cheer from the audience of more than 300 that took a good
half-minute to wind down, Chiao wished the youngsters a Merry Christmas
and happy holidays. Jeremy Sheehan, EI5GM, assisted at Cork. Several
newspapers, a TV station and the Irish national radio network covered the
event.
ARISS is an international outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT
and NASA.--some information provided by ARISS-Europe Chairman Gaston
Bertels, ON4WF
==>AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY FUELS "BEST YEAR EVER" FOR UNITED WAY TOY DRIVE
Contributions from the Amateur Radio community to the ARRL Holiday Toy
Drive resulted in "the best year ever" for its benefactor, the United
Way's White Doves Holiday Project in Martin County, Florida. Martin County
United Way agreed to serve as a collection point and to coordinate toy
distribution.
"They have enough toys to cover their own program and three others, all
over the region," said ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen
Pitts, W1AGP, who says a toy stuffed bear inspired him to spearhead the
program. The toys and donations will help brighten holidays for youngsters
and families whose lives were devastated by the hurricanes that hit
Florida earlier this year.
Carol Hodnett, a director at the United Way site, says the storms and
their aftermath were especially traumatic for children. "In addition to
the frightening experience of going through the hurricanes, youngsters are
coping with a great deal of stress felt within their families and at
school," she says.
In Central Florida, more than 22,000 homes were destroyed and another
40,000 received significant damage. Thousands of families remained
homeless as the holiday season approached. Pitts says that radio amateurs,
who had helped provide emergency communication in the hurricanes'
immediate aftermath, came to the rescue yet again in the toy drive. Hams
and ham radio clubs from Maine to California purchased thousands of new
children's toys. Most hams included QSL cards with their toy or cash
donations.
Among the elves: Phil Royce, KE4PWE, of the Palm Beach Amateur Radio
Council--representing radio clubs in Palm Beach County--recently delivered
a toy donation to Martin County. "The place is loaded with toys," he said
of the fairgrounds staging area, where the donated toys have been stored
and sorted since they began arriving.
ARES New York City District Emergency Coordinator Mike Lisenco, N2YBB,
said the ARRL Holiday Toy Drive provided hams in his area an opportunity
to pay back the assistance hams from all over the US rendered in the wake
of the September 11 terror attacks.
"This is just one way we can say 'thank you,'" he said, "to be able to
reciprocate and help someone else in their time of need. Paying it
forward, if you will."
Lisenco also offered special thanks to Bill Davis, KC8CQT, and to FedEx.
"Bill, who works as a member of the FedEx Customer Advocate Team, went out
of his way to arrange for FedEx to pick up the cost of shipping the toys
to Florida," he explained. "His help, and the generosity of the FedEx
Corporation, is greatly appreciated."
Diane Tomasik, associate director of the Volunteer & Community Resource
Center at the United Way of Martin County, said the toy distribution
started Monday, December 20, even as more donations continued to arrive
from the Amateur Radio community.
"We will not only serve about 1200 families from our own site but also
have plenty to share with Indiantown and the Children's Home
Society--which covers the whole Treasure Coast region," she told ARRL. "We
also will be able to give toys to children though the sheriff's department
programs."
Tomasik noted the more than $8000 in cash donations will allow the agency
to fill the gaps for age groups that were short of toys. "The White Doves
Project has had a phenomenal success this year, thanks to the efforts of
the ARRL nationwide," she said. "It's our best year ever."
Pitts said the event's success has shown Amateur Radio's best side. "The
ARRL is all of us working together," he said, "and the League should feel
very proud of what we accomplished together for these children of the
storms."
==>NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2005 DAYTON HAMVENTION AWARDS
Dayton Hamvention now is accepting nominations for 2005 awards that honor
the accomplishments of outstanding individuals in the worldwide Amateur
Radio community. The 2005 Dayton Hamvention--which will host the next ARRL
National Convention--takes place May 20-22.
There are three award categories: The title "Radio Amateur of the Year" is
bestowed upon an individual radio amateur who has demonstrated a long-term
devotion to the overall advancement of Amateur Radio. The Technical
Achievement Award goes each year to a radio amateur who has made an
outstanding contribution in the area of Amateur Radio technical
advancement. The Special Achievement Award is presented to someone who has
made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Amateur Radio in
any area. The award often goes to a respected radio amateur who has
spearheaded a significant ham radio-related project.
Nominations are due by February 20, 2005. Additional details on these
awards and a nomination form are available on the Dayton Hamvention Web
site <http://www.hamvention.org/nominate.htm>. Nominations also are
accepted via US mail to Dayton Hamvention Awards, PO Box 964, Dayton, OH
45401.
==>FCC PERMITS NEW UNLICENSED WIDEBAND DEVICES, AFFIRMS UWB RULES
The FCC has adopted a Second Report and Order and Second Memorandum
Opinion and Order in ET Docket 98-153 to promote introduction of new
unlicensed wideband devices in the 6 GHz, 17 GHz and 24 GHz bands.
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the League is looking over the final
rules "to determine their impact on the amateur 24-GHz allocation and, if
necessary, take steps to defend the continued usefulness of this important
international allocation."
The wideband devices will include automotive safety radar systems and
tracking systems for personnel location and inventory control. The
Commission previously established regulations to permit marketing and
operating certain types of new products incorporating ultra-wideband (UWB)
technology.
Partly in response to petitions for reconsideration of the First Report
and Order (R&O) in this proceeding, the Commission, proposed further
changes to the Part 15 regulations for wideband devices. In the Second
R&O, the Commission amended its rules for general Part 15 unlicensed
operations that use wide bandwidths but are not now classified as UWB
devices. It increased the peak power limits and reduced the unwanted
emission levels for three frequency bands already available for unlicensed
operation: 5925-7250 MHz, 16.2-17.2 GHz, and 23.12-29 GHz.
Higher peak power limits in these bands will facilitate wideband
operations such as short-range communication, collision avoidance,
inventory control and tracking systems, the Commission said.
The FCC also amended its measurement procedures to permit
frequency-hopped, swept frequency, and gated systems operating within
these bands to be measured in their normal operating mode. The Commission
made no major changes to current UWB technical requirements and made only
a minor change to the measurement procedure applied to gated UWB vehicular
radar systems.
The FCC also dismissed petitions for reconsideration filed by the
Satellite Industry Association and by Cingular Inc, and it reaffirmed UWB
decisions it adopted in its First R&O.
==>FCC'S RILEY HOLLINGSWORTH TO KEYNOTE HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY 2005
FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth will be the keynote speaker at the
ARRL New York City/Long Island Section Convention and sixth annual Ham
Radio University (HRU). The convention and HRU 2005 get under way Sunday,
January 9, starting at 8 AM at Briarcliffe College, 1055 Stewart Ave,
Bethpage, Long Island, New York.
A day of education about Amateur Radio, HRU 2005 will include forums
geared to new and experienced radio amateurs alike. The focus will be
"hands on," featuring demonstrations by experts in many areas including
VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) authority Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, who
will present a forum on EchoLink.
New this year are forums on "Urban Ham Radio" for those who live in
neighborhoods that restrict antennas, and "Contest Station Ergonomics"
with Mel Granick, KS2G, to help you set up your station for maximum
comfort and performance. Other forums topics include satellite
communication, low-power (QRP) operating and emergency communication.
An amateur Radio examination session will be held, and there will be a
special event station on site.
HRU 2005 is sponsored by the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club
(LIMARC) in conjunction with the Briarcliffe College Amateur Radio Club
and is a cooperative effort among more than 20 clubs and organizations in
the New York City-Long Island area. Representatives will be on hand from
various area Amateur Radio organizations and clubs as well as served
agencies including the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and the National
Weather Service.
For more information, visit the HRU 2005 Web site
<http://www.hudson.arrl.org/nli/hru2005.htm>.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Astral aficionado Tad "Shining Star" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: For the past week, sunspot numbers were up, and the A index was
lower as compared to the previous week. Average daily sunspot numbers and
solar flux values rose over 5 points, and the mid-latitude A index was
down over 2 points.
For the next week, daily sunspot numbers should be moderately higher, and
solar flux should stay above 100 until the last day of the year. At that
time, we can look at the average sunspot numbers for 2004 and compare them
with previous years. Right now it looks like the average daily sunspot
number for 2004 will come in about 40 points lower than 2003 and more than
100 points lower than 2002.
Sunspot numbers for December 16 through 22 were 14, 40, 40, 29, 30, 25 and
47, with a mean of 32.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 90, 89.9, 90.6, 94, 93.9,
101 and 98.8, with a mean of 94. Estimated planetary A indices were 10,
15, 12, 4, 4, 12 and 19 with a mean of 10.9. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 8, 9, 8, 1, 2, 6 and 12, with a mean of 6.6.
Happy holidays!
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The RAEM Contest and the DARC Christmas
Contest are December 26. ARRL Straight Key Night
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/skn.html> is January 1, 2005
(UTC). The SARTG New Year RTTY Contest, the AGCW Happy New Year Contest,
Original QRP Contest and the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest are January 1-2. ARRL
Kid's Day <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html> is January 2. The
RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship Contest (CW) is January 3. The ARS Spartan
Sprint is January 4. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info.
* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the ARRL HF Digital Communication (EC-005), ARRL
VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) and Technician Licensing (EC-010)
courses remains open through Sunday, December 26. Classes begin Friday,
January 7. Students participating in VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater will
enjoy exploring some of the lesser-used and more intriguing aspects of
VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital Communication students will learn to use a
variety of HF digital modes. With the assistance of a mentor, Technician
Licensing class students will thoroughly prepare to pass the FCC
Technician class license examination. Registration for the ARRL HF Digital
Communication (EC-005), ARRL VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) and
Technician Licensing (EC-010) courses remains open through Sunday,
December 26. Classes begin Friday January 7. Students participating in
VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater will enjoy exploring some of the lesser-used
and more intriguing aspects of VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital Communication
students will learn to use a variety of HF digital modes. With the
assistance of a mentor, Technician Licensing class students will
thoroughly prepare to pass the FCC Technician class license examination.
To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web
page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/ > or contact the ARRL Certification and
Continuing Education department <cce@arrl.org>;.
* Handheld outplays cell phone in accident's wake: When Storey County,
Nevada, Emergency Coordinator Randy Davenport, KA4NMA, got into an
automobile accident early on December 10, he sure was glad to have his
2-meter handheld transceiver along. "I was going down a side road and hit
a sheet of ice," he reports. "I fishtailed into the other lane and nearly
hit a car head on! But for some reason, my Ford Explorer turned sideways
going down the road, and it did not roll over." Instead, he ended up
sliding off the roadway into a creek, sustaining some injuries in the
process. "I had no cell phone service, so I grabbed my HT and put out a
call on 146.61," he said (the antenna for his 2-meter mobile was broken in
the accident). Richard Foreman, KK7SL, an ARES Assistant Emergency
Coordinator in Carson City, heard his distress call and dialed 911. "The
fire and sheriff department was on the scene within minutes," Davenport
said. "Lesson learned: Cell phones do not work everywhere. Always carry a
2-meter radio (or other band) of some sort--handheld with charged battery
or mobile--for emergency communication."
* New 403 GHz DX record claimed: It seems that Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, just
can't get enough gigahertz. He reports WA1ZMS/4 worked Pete Lascell,
W4WWQ/4, December 21 on 403 GHz CW for a new DX record QSO of 1.4 km (0.87
mile). "Signals were very weak on the W4WWQ end, while several dB of
margin existed on the WA1ZMS end," Justin reports. "The exchange had to be
sent several times for W4WWQ to copy the CW by ear." The December 21 QSO
exceeded the stations' former "best DX" on 403 GHz of 0.5 km (0.31 mile).
It also "conquers the 1 km barrier for amateur frequencies above 400
GHz--except for visible light," he adds. Gear used (see photo) for the 403
GHz QSO was the same as that used for previous 241, 322 and 403 GHz QSOs.
Justin has posted additional details, an audio file and a photo on the
Mount Greylock Expeditionary Force Web site.
* Russian cosmonaut-ham to return to ISS as commander: When space veteran
and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, returns to the International
Space Station next spring, he'll do so as crew commander. NASA this week
announced that Krikalev--who served as flight engineer on the Expedition 1
ISS crew--and US astronaut John Phillips would be the Expedition 11 crew.
They'll begin their six-month stay aboard the ISS next April. Phillips,
also a seasoned space traveler, does not hold an amateur license. He'll
serve as flight engineer and NASA ISS science officer. If all goes as
planned, Krikalev and Phillips will be aboard the ISS when the space
shuttle makes its return-to-flight mission in May. Phillips flew to the
ISS on the STS-100 shuttle mission in 2001, during which the crew
installed the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Krikalev, who also served duty tours
aboard the Russian Mir space station in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
has accumulated 625 days in space. By the time his stay as part of
Expedition 11 is over, he'll have spent more time in space than any other
person. Earlier this year, Krikalev, as part of the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) Russia team, helped carry out
successful voice tests of the ARISS Phase II gear aboard the ISS.
* FCC approves first software defined radio: The FCC for the first time
has approved use of a software defined radio (SDR) device in the US. This
new class of equipment allows users to share limited spectrum, increases
flexibility and reduces interference concerns. "This is the first step in
what may prove to be a radio technology revolution," FCC Chairman Michael
K. Powell said after the November 19 action. "The industry's pioneering
work to find more creative and efficient use of our airwaves will continue
to bring benefits to consumers." The Laboratory Division of the
Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology issued a Grant of
Certification to Vanu Inc, a software development company, for a cellular
base station transmitter. SDRs can change frequency range, mode or output
power without resorting to hardware changes or switches. This programmable
capacity permits radios to be highly adaptable to changing needs,
protocols and environments. An FCC rule making proceeding, ET Docket
03-108, is pending to further streamline SDR requirements. The ARRL has
told the FCC that Amateur Radio is "a fertile testing ground" for SDRs and
that the technology would be especially valuable to facilitate disaster
communications.
* CQ to celebrate 60th anniversary with "CQ Gang" on-air event: CQ Amateur
Radio magazine invites Amateur Radio operators around the world to join in
celebrating its 60th anniversary by taking part in an on-air event during
the first 60 days of 2005. CQ's first issue was published in January,
1945. During the "CQ Gang" activity--January 1 until March 1, 2005--all
hams ever associated with CQ as staff members, contributing editors or
authors--as well as current subscribers to CQ, CQ VHF and Popular
Communications may sign "/60" after their call signs. Certificates will be
issued for contacts with enough /60 stations to garner a minimum of 60
contact points, based on number of contacts times the number of different
position multipliers (eg, editor, columnist etc) worked. Shortwave
listeners also are eligible to earn contact points and certificates.
Endorsements will be issued up to 600 points. CQ club station WW2CQ will
be active from various parts of the US during the event. Separate
certificates will be available for working WW2CQ in all call sign
districts from which it is active. Complete rules for the CQ Gang 60th
Anniversary activity appear in the December 2004 issue of CQ and on the CQ
Web site <http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/CQ60 Award Dec04.pdf>.
* NAC honors congressman with Outstanding Public Service Award: The
National Antenna Consortium (NAC) has honored US Rep Steve Israel (D-NY)
with its Oustanding Public Service Award. NAC Executive Director (and 2004
ARRL President's Award recipient) Gerry Agliata, W2GLA, made the formal
presentation during a December 16 ceremony at Israel's Hauppauge, Long
Island, office. On hand to represent the ARRL was New York City-Long
Island Section Manager George Tranos, N2GA. QST "YL News" Editor Diane
Ortiz, K2DO, represented the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club
(LIMARC), of which she's immediate past president. CQ Publisher Dick Ross,
K2MGA, also attended. The NAC honored Israel with the first-ever award to
recognize his "introduction of, and sustained advocacy for, legislation to
require reasonable regulation of Amateur Radio Service antennas and
related equipment by homeowners' associations and/or restrictive covenants
(CC&Rs)." Israel sponsored the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Consistency Act, designated HR 1478 in the current session--to require
private land-use regulators such as homeowners' associations to
"reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1
limited federal preemption.
===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main
St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
<http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely,
accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for
the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and
columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a
weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter.
Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384
==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from
ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail
delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the
"Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify
membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change
your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all
automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.)
Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE:
HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do
this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.)
The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
sources:
* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this
listserver.)
