***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 28
July 13, 2007
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IN THIS EDITION:
* + FCC Releases Post-Katrina Order, "Final Rule"
* + ARRL EXPO at 2007 National Convention in Huntsville
* + Amateur Radio Now Legal in all Texas Public Schools
* + FCC Dismisses Three Amateur Station Identification Change Requests
* + ARES Members Serve Firefighting Efforts in California
* + Oklahoma ARES Members Assist with Floods
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
+ ARRL Board Meets July 20-21
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
+ VE2XPO on the Air Again 40 Years Later
DXCC Honor Roll, DX Phone Contest Coverage in QST
ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications
Field Day a PR Success
Howard Lester, W2ODC (SK)
Let Us Know
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
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==> FCC Releases Post-Katrina Order, "Final Rule"
On July 11, the FCC released their Order regarding the recommendations
of the independent panel reviewing the impact of Hurricane Katrina on
communications networks (the Katrina Panel). It contained their
conclusions following a review of the comments filed in response to the
FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The Commission asked for
comments a week after the release of the report and recommendations of
the Katrina Panel and directed the Public Safety & Homeland Security
Bureau (PSHSB) to implement several of the recommendations. The FCC also
adopted rules requiring some communications providers to have
emergency/back-up power and to conduct analyses and submit reports on
the redundancy and resiliency of their 911 and E911 networks. The FCC's
actions are to go into effect August 10.
The Commission noted that "the amateur radio community played an
important role in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other
disasters," and instructed the PSHSB to "include the amateur radio
community in its outreach efforts."
The FCC invited comments on the Katrina Panel's recommendation that the
FCC "act to enhance the public safety community's awareness of
non-traditional emergency alternative technologies that might be of
value as back-up communications systems in a crisis." Several commenters
suggested that the public safety community be educated about the
applicability of Amateur Radio in a crisis. The FCC agreed with these
comments, saying that improving the public safety community's knowledge
of, and training in, alternative technologies would improve preparedness
for future crises. They directed the PSHSB to "develop and implement an
awareness program to educate public safety agencies about alternative
technologies and to encourage agencies to provide regular training on
any alternative technologies to be used," including educating public
safety agencies about alternative technologies.
The recommendations said that several Amateur Radio operators
recommended changes to Part 97 of the FCC's rules; Part 97 is the
section that covers Amateur Radio. Many of the suggestions, the report
said, have already been implemented, and as such, require no further
action. For example, "the Commission recently eliminated Morse Code
proficiency as a license qualification requirement, an action supported
by several commenters in this proceeding."
The FCC once again made clear that Part 97 "does not prohibit Amateur
Radio operators who are emergency personnel engaged in disaster relief
from using their amateur radio bands while in a paid duty status." This
changed this past December in WT Docket 04-140, the "Omnibus" Amateur
Radio Report and Order (R&O).
The Commission also previously decided to phase out RACES station
licenses, "making proposed changes to rules relevant to these licenses
moot." ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson, N1ND, notes
that the FCC "is not phasing out the RACES program, just the RACES
station licenses."
In his comments to the Katrina Panel, W. Lee McVey requested that the
FCC initiate a rulemaking to create a new radio service in the 148-150
MHz band "to facilitate interoperability between different first
responders during and following a national emergency." The FCC noted
that the 148-149.9 MHz band is allocated on a primary basis for the
federal mixed, mobile and mobile satellite (Earth-to-space) service, and
the 149-150.05 MHz segment is allocated on a co-primary basis for
federal and non-federal mobile satellite (Earth-to-space) and radio
navigation.
The FCC's report said "[This] petition does not address this use nor
does it explain what rules would be necessary to govern access to this
spectrum. Given the potential impact of McVey's proposal to spectrum
allocated for federal use, we direct PSHSB, together with the Office of
Engineering and Technology (OET), to seek feedback from the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on this
petition."
The FCC said that when it receives the feedback, they will direct PSHSB
and OET to make a determination on the appropriate action to be taken on
McVey's petition.
==> ARRL EXPO at 2007 National Convention in Huntsville
Join the ARRL in Huntsville, Alabama the weekend of August 18-19, 2007
for the ARRL National Convention, held at the Huntsville Hamfest, in the
all air-conditioned Von Braun Center. The Global Amateur Radio Emergency
Communication Conference (GAREC) will meet in Huntsville prior to the
hamfest on Thursday and Friday, August 16-17.
This year, the ARRL is pulling out all the stops in planning the
National Convention. According to ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob
Inderbitzen, NQ1R, "ARRL will have a big exhibit on the convention floor
for ARRL EXPO 2007. The ARRL EXPO was first introduced as a major
component of the 2005 National Convention in Dayton, Ohio. We're excited
to bring this exposition to Huntsville." This special exhibit area will
feature ARRL program representatives, activities, presentations and the
huge ARRL bookstore.
Get a free gift when you join or renew your ARRL membership at the ARRL
EXPO. Plan on picking up a free 2007 National Convention button and
frequency chart, as well as free copies of QST, NCJ and QEX (while
supplies last). See live presentations every half hour at the ARRL
Stage, and hear from ARRL volunteers and staff on a variety of topics.
ARRL EXPO is equipped with wireless Internet. Any laptop or device
equipped for wireless will enjoy Internet access within the ARRL EXPO
vicinity. ARRL EXPO will also include a small Internet cafe with
computers set up to browse. Access your e-mail and the Internet. Surf
away -- compliments of ARRL.
Last year, more than 4000 people attended the Huntsville Hamfest;
organizers expect 2007's attendance to top 5000, with more than 40
vendors displaying their Amateur Radio wares. Almost 400 tables will be
available for rental. Unlike many other hamfests, the flea market is in
an air-conditioned building, something much appreciated in Alabama in
August.
An exciting forums schedule is in store. Dr David Hathaway, a nationally
known and well-respected expert on Sunspot activity and solar cycles,
will be speaking. Also, Dr Monte Bateman will return to the hamfest this
year. He's NASA's "Go-to Guy" when it comes to weather, specializing in
lightning strike predictions and prevention. In the past, his forums
have been standing-room only as he discusses lightning prevention as a
it applies to Amateur Radio.
Along with, and in conjunction with the National Young Ham of the Year
awards, Rebekah Dorff, WG4Y (2006's National YHOTY), will host Alabama's
YHOTY activities, including a youth lounge for young hams, and
prospective or new hams. The YHOTY for 2007, Grant Morine, W4GHM, is
expected to be on hand to receive his award.
On Saturday, August 18, The ARRL Alabama Section will host a reception
for Southeastern Division Director Frank M. Butler Jr, W4RH, honoring
Frank's dedication and longtime service to ARRL and Amateur Radio. There
will also be a D-STAR users' meeting and reception on Saturday evening
from 6-8, hosted by the Alabama D-STAR Group. New and experienced D-STAR
users are invited to attend to learn about D-STAR networks and to meet
other users and digital technology experimenters. A DX Banquet is also
planned for Saturday at 6:30 PM. Bob Allphin, K4UEE, will speak on the
VU7 Lakshadweep DXpedition. Tickets are $29 per person.
For more information on the ARRL National Convention, please see
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/nc/2007/huntsville.html>. To find out more
about the Huntsville Hamfest, please see <http://www.hamfest.org/>.
==> Amateur Radio Now Legal in all Texas Public Schools
In what can only be termed a huge victory for the future of Amateur
Radio in Texas, Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 11 (SB11) into
law in June. Among many disaster response specifications, the new law
contains two important Amateur Radio-related provisions: State employees
who are ham radio operators may to take up to 10 days of paid leave
while participating in a disaster response or training exercise, and
Amateur Radio is now allowed in all Texas public schools.
A single sentence in Article 2 of SB11 modifies the legal definition of
a banned paging device by adding the following ham radio exception: "The
term does not include an Amateur Radio under the control of an operator
who holds an Amateur Radio Station License issued by the Federal
Communications Commission."
Texas is the first state to enact such a sweeping change allowing
school-based ham radio programs statewide. It is hoped that similar
measures will be enacted in other states. Local clubs in Texas are urged
to contact their school boards and encourage them to bring school
policies regarding student possession of RF devices into compliance with
the new law.
A decades-old provision in the Texas Education Code (Section 37.082)
long ago granted Texas schools blanket authority to ban student
possession of all RF devices, including ham radios. The old law was
originally enacted with the best of intentions, but had unintended
negative consequences both for student safety and for the cause of
Amateur Radio. More than 20 years ago Texas -- like many states at the
time -- passed a law granting schools sweeping authority to ban student
possession of "paging devices." The original intent of the law was to
prevent on-campus drug dealers from communicating with one another using
now-obsolete numeric pagers. Cut off their communication, the logic
went, and drugs on campus would be seriously curtailed.
The old law broadly defined a prohibited "paging device" as any RF
device which had the ability to vibrate, emit a sound, display a
message, or in any way convey a communication to the possessor. There
was no exception for school-based Amateur Radio programs or clubs.
Practically all Texas schools immediately exercised their newly granted
right by banning all RF devices to the maximum extent allowed by law --
and sometimes to a greater extent than the law allowed.
The result of the old law was that in most Texas schools, starting a ham
radio club was simply out of the question. Existing ham radio programs
were even removed from some San Antonio area schools as a direct result
of the old law.
Although schools can still have basic rules of classroom decorum to
insure that ham radio activities do not disturb academic instruction, SB
11 effectively puts ham radio programs on the same legal footing with
all other student-initiated clubs and activities. Texas school teachers
are now free to start ham radio programs. Students are now free to form
school-based ham radio clubs. Individual students who have a ham license
are even legally allowed to possess ham radios at school regardless of
whether a club exists yet. SB11 takes effect on September 1. -- James
Alderman, KF5WT
==> FCC Dismisses Three Amateur Station Identification Change Requests
On July 10, the FCC dismissed three separate petitions to Section 97.119
of the Commission's Rules. These petitions requested changes to the way
amateur stations are identified. Two of the petitions requested that the
time interval between required identification announcements be changed,
while the third petition requested that certain combinations of letters
be reserved for use by current or former members of the armed forces
when identifying their amateur service stations.
The FCC said that "[b]ecause the petitioners seek to amend the rules to
permit activity that the current rules already permit, or do not present
sufficient evidence to justify altering the current rules, we are
dismissing all three petitions." Section 97.119(a) of the Commission's
Rules provides that an amateur station "must transmit its assigned call
sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and
at least every 10 minutes during a communication, for the purpose of
clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to
those receiving the transmissions."
Murray Green, K3BEQ, of Cheverly, Maryland, filed a Petition for
Rulemaking (PRM) asking the FCC to amend Section 97.119(a), requesting
the FCC to reduce the required frequency of station identification to
every 30 minutes, rather than once every 10 minutes.
Green's petition received approximately 100 comments, with the majority
of those commenting in opposition to the petition.
The FCC, on finding that the present rule has not been shown to be
burdensome or unreasonable, said they were not persuaded by comments
that support expanding the interval between required identification to
15 or 20 minutes.
The FCC's response went on to say "that requiring a station receiving
another station's transmission to listen for up to 30 minutes to
determine the call sign of the transmitting station would compromise the
ability of the amateur service to self-police, especially in light of
the fact that other methods of identifying the station, such as looking
up the station call sign based on the operating frequency, are not
available because amateur stations do not operate on specifically
assigned frequencies. It therefore is reasonable to require amateur
station identification more frequently than is required of stations in
other services."
The Commission noted that "a hallmark of enforcement in the amateur
service is 'self-policing,' which depends on an amateur station hearing
a message being able to determine the call sign of the transmitting
station." The FCC concluded that "proposing to increase the time between
required station identification transmissions would not improve or
enhance the operation of amateur service stations or otherwise be in the
public interest," and dismissed Green's petition.
Glen Zook, K9STH, of Richardson, Texas, filed a separate PRM, requesting
that the Commission amend Section 97.119(a) to require that the call
sign be transmitted at the beginning and end of each single
transmission, as well as at the beginning and end of a series of
transmissions between stations having established communications when
each transmission is less than three minutes in duration. He also
requested that the FCC amend the rule to require that the call sign be
preceded by the words "this is" or "from" when voice communication is
being transmitted, and require that the call sign be preceded by the
prosign "de" when telegraphy is being transmitted.
The FCC agreed with the majority of commenters in the Zook petition,
calling the proposed rules change "unnecessary and...burdensome." Saying
that identifying before every transmission could "lead to congestion,
such as during a contest when many amateur operators are trying to
contact a distant station," the petition "does not demonstrate that so
revising the station identification requirement would address the
primary concern expressed by the petitioner -- that many Amateur Radio
operators do not identify their station timely or at all."
The FCC said they agreed with the comments that say, in various ways,
"that the problem of station operators not complying with the present
rule is better addressed by enforcement of the present rule, rather than
a rule change. Finally, we note that while the current rule does not
require identification at the beginning of a communication, many amateur
stations already routinely begin a transmission with their call sign."
As such, the Zook petition was dismissed.
The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) filed a PRM requesting
that Section 97.119(c) be amended to permit an Amateur Radio operator
who is a "current or honorably discharged member of the United States
military to include a unique indicator with the station's call sign
identification announcement." Section 97.119(c) of the Commission's
Rules permits the inclusion of indicators with the call sign during
station identification, provided that no self-assigned indicator
conflicts with any indicator specified by the Commission's rules or with
any prefix assigned to another country.
The QCWA, in support of their proposal, noted that "many Amateur Radio
operators are serving or have served in the United States military, or
became Amateur Radio operators during or following their military
training in communications and electronics, and it states that this
proposal would afford those individuals the option to advise others of
their military service when they identify their amateur stations on the
air."
Specifically, QCWA requested that the indicators AF, AA, NA, NM and ACG
be reserved for use by current or honorably discharged members of the
United States Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard,
respectively.
The FCC dismissed this petition, saying that "Amateur Radio operators
who are current or honorably discharged members of the United States
military already are permitted to identify their stations in the way
QCWA suggests." The Commission went on to say that the QCWA "seeks to
regularize the use of its proposed indicators to increase their
recognition, the amateur community may do so without any change to the
amateur service rules." As such, the FCC deemed such a rule change
unnecessary and dismissed the QCWA's petition.
==> ARES Members Serve Firefighting Efforts in California
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members are assisting
firefighters on the Zaca Fire, in Los Padres National Forest. More than
6500 acres of the forest are affected. The forest stretches across
almost 220 miles from the Big Sur Coast in Monterey County to the
western edge of Los Angeles County. ARES members from Santa Maria, in
Santa Barbara County, are staffing roadblocks at the intersection of
Figueroa Mountain Road and SR 154 and at the intersection of Happy Cyn
and Baseline Roads. The roadblocks were established at the request of
Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The fire, which began July 4, is believed to be human caused, according
to the US Forest Service. As of now, it is 37 percent contained. The
fire has now burned into the San Rafael wilderness, with the north flank
of the fire currently burning in heavy, 40 year old fuels with a high
dead to live ratio. Fuel moisture levels are extremely low and at a
point that is usually not seen until late summer. Humidity is high,
hovering at around 78 percent.
According to Donna Tooth of the US Forest Service, the fire is
continuing to back down to the Sisquoc River. Plans are in the works to
contain this portion of the fire, preventing it from spreading into
areas that have not been burned since 1966. On its eastern side, the
fire is burning along the Manzana Creek and has hit a portion of the
Marre Fire of 1993. Firefighters are taking advantage of the younger
vegetation and are attempting to "turn the corner" by applying direct
line construction techniques. Firefighters are holding the fire on the
north side of the San Rafael Ridge, south of the Sisquoc River and east
of School House Canyon. The fire is threatening the Cody Cabin and the
historic Manzana School House.
Fire commanders say the fire could grow significantly larger in the next
12-24 hours, and project containment will require 14 days or more.
==> Oklahoma ARES Members Assist with Floods
Due to record rainfall in June and July in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas,
many rivers and streams were already swollen or flooding. On July 2,
nearly 15 inches of rain fell in southern Kansas, causing widespread
flooding and damage and sending torrents of floodwater downstream into
northeastern Oklahoma. On July 5, the American Red Cross requested the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) to provide communications support
for their damage assessment teams in those flooded areas of Northeast
Oklahoma.
The Caney River, which flows through the city of Bartlesville, Oklahoma,
60 miles north of Tulsa, overflowed its banks, causing flood damage to
homes and businesses within the city, as well as widespread flooding in
the farm lands in other parts of Washington County. In Miami, Oklahoma,
70 miles east of Bartlesville, the Neosho River crested as it snaked in
and around the community. Water up to 10 feet deep filled homes and
businesses and blocked roads and highways.
ARES set up a Net Control Station, and Amateur Radio operators equipped
with handheld transceivers and magnet mount antennas rode along with
each Red Cross Damage assessment team as they surveyed the flood damage
in Northeastern Oklahoma. An ARES Rapid Response Team (RRT) from Tulsa,
led by Larry Holden, KC5KLM, began the operation and the primary group
assisting with the response. Operations to survey to damage began on
July 6 in Bartlesville and continued July 7 in Miami.
The ARES team used the Bartlesville Amateur Radio Club's repeater and
set up a temporary repeater in Miami to aid with communications between
the teams in the field and the Net Control Station. Jeff Lawson,
American Red Cross team leader for the damage assessment teams, praised
the ARES team's professional communication work.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "Sun(spot) on My Shoulders" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: The
average of daily sunspot numbers for this reporting week, July 5-11,
were about the same as the previous seven days, declining slightly by
less than two points. We've seen no zero sunspot days since an 11-day
spotless period ended on June 25. If sunspot numbers continue at this
level and higher, it will become easier to convince ourselves that the
sunspot minimum is already behind us. Predicted planetary A index for
July 13-19 is 8, 10, 8, 8, 8, 15 and 20. For the same period,
Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet to unsettled conditions for
July 13, unsettled July 14, quiet July 15-17 and unsettled July 18-19.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* ARRL Board of Directors to Meet July 20-21: The ARRL Board of
Directors will be in Windsor, Connecticut for the second 2007 meeting.
ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that the Board
will be looking at the progress toward achieving the League's
legislative objectives, among other things. On Thursday, July 19 at 1900
UTC, there will be a brief and informal dedication of the ARRL Diamond
Terrace at ARRL HQ. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and Sumner will
be on hand to assist with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
* This weekend on the radio: This weekend, the big event is the IARU HF
World Championship, from 1200 UTC July 14-1200 UTC July 15. On July 13,
the NCCC Sprint Ladder is on the air, and on July 14, look for the FISTS
Summer Sprint. The Colorado QSO Party is on July 15-16, while the Run
for the Bacon QRP Contest is on July 16. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug
Sprint and the RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (Data) are on July 19.
Next week, look for the NCCC Sprint Ladder on July 20 and the
VK/Trans-Tasman 160 Meter Contest (CW) on July 21. The North American
QSO Party (RTTY) and the CQ World Wide VHF Contest are July 21-22. On
July 22, the SKCC Weekend Sprint and RSGB Low Power Field Day are on the
air. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>,
the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info.
* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, July 22 for these online
courses beginning on Friday August 3: Technician License Course
(EC-010); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001); Radio
Frequency Interference (EC-006); Antenna Design and Construction
(EC-009); Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>;.
* VE2XPO on the Air Again 40 Years Later: Forty years ago, in April
1967, more than 50 million people from five continents visited the
Universal and International Exhibition (Expo 67), the World's Fair, in
Montreal, Quebec Canada. Roland Masse, VE2PX, and the Radio Amateurs of
Quebec (RAQI) set up and operated Amateur Radio station VE2XPO from
Ste-Helene Island at the exhibition. Their first contact was with W1AW.
More than 6000 contacts were made during the exhibition. Now, 40 years
later, VE2XPO will be on the air again on all bands from July 13-29
using CW and SSB. It is planned for the first contact to be W1AW, just
as it was 40 years ago. Masse, now 85 years old, and VE2XPO are looking
to contact many US Amateur Radio stations. There will be a special QSL
card -- QSL via Jacques Dube, VE2QK, 875 St-Severe, Trois Rivieres,
Quebec G9A 4G4, Canada.
* DXCC Honor Roll, DX Phone Contest Coverage in QST: The DXCC Honor Roll
listing, which normally appears in the August issue, will be in the
September 2007 issue of QST. In addition, the ARRL International DX
Phone Contest Results that normally appear in the September issue will
instead appear in October.
* ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications: Did you know
the ARRL offers more newsletters than just The ARRL Letter? One of the
many ARRL membership benefits includes other newsletters, such as the
ARRL Contest Rate Sheet (a bi-weekly contest newsletter), the ARES
E-Letter (sent monthly, containing public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Club News (monthly club news), the ARRL
Instructor/Teacher E-Letter and the IARU E-Letter. You can also elect to
receive news and information from your Division Director and Section
Manager (keep in mind that not all Divisions/Sections send notices), as
well as W1AW bulletins that relate to DX, propagation, satellites and
Keplerian reports. The ARRL also offers a free notification service to
members, letting them know when their membership and license are due to
expire. Sign up for these newsletters, bulletins and notifications on
the Member Data page of the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>.
* Field Day a PR Success: If you happen to be familiar with ARRL HQ, you
may remember a very large bulletin board in the downstairs hallway. It
is currently wallpapered with listings of Field Day media hits -- not
even the items themselves, just lists of them: newspapers, radio, TV,
blogs, Web sites, videos and special Public Service Announcements. ARRL
Media and PR Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, said "The problem is that there
is not enough space to put everything up because there are even more
pages of listings to post and they are still coming in! In addition, not
only were there more hits than ever, the quality of the hits was
significantly improved. Articles and stories were longer, and had
pictures and better information. The credit for this avalanche goes
directly to the hundreds of Public Information Officers and club members
who took the time to advocate Amateur Radio for us all. It seems that
clubs and groups were out for more than just the FD publicity points --
they wanted real PR this year, and they got it!"
* Howard Lester, W2ODC (SK): Howard Lester, W2ODC, died on April 16,
2007, in Alplaus, New York. He was 83. A Fellow of the Radio Club of
America, he was one of the inventors of color television at RCA, and one
of the inventors of tracking radar that locks onto moving targets. He
worked with General Electric and Ericsson of Sweden to develop the basis
of much of today's cellular telephone networking technology. A US Navy
veteran, Lester taught radio and radar classes at the Navy Pier in
Chicago during World War II. Lester was a member of the Schenectady
Amateur Radio Association and the ARRL; he had an Amateur Extra class
license and a First Class Radiotelephone license from the FCC. Lester
was a 51-year member of the Alplaus Volunteer Fire Company, and served
for many years as a firefighter, as well as on the Fire District Board
of Commissioners and in the Fire Police. He frequently consulted on
radio communications for the fire service in and around Schenectady
County. Lester is survived by his wife Ruth; his brother Donald and
sister Margaret Dalheim; sons, Carl, David, Donald and Eric; eight
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
* Let Us Know: What's your favorite part of The ARRL Letter? What kind
of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would you prefer the
Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your chance to let
your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL News Editor S.
Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, at k1sfa@arrl.org, with the subject line "ARRL
Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and discussed, and we
look forward to implementing positive suggestions into the ARRL Letter.
===========================================================
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