Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
k1sfa@arrl.org

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of February.

At the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, the Amateur Radio Service gained a new, worldwide secondary MF allocation, as well as the chance for a worldwide secondary allocation at 5 MHz, to be decided in 2015. At the invitation of ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Touré, HB9EHT, Nobel laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT, addressed a Plenary Session at WRC-12.

President Obama signed into law a new bill that includes a provision for a study of the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service communications in emergencies and disaster relief.

The FCC finalized new rules for 5 MHz (60 meters) operation. In response, the ARRL HF Band Planning Committee published guidelines for operating within the new rules.

The 2012 ARRL Field Day packet is now available for download from the ARRL website.

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, answered questions from producers from the Discovery Channel and National Public Radio about Amateur Radio.

More than 15 entries were received for the Second Annual ARRL Video Contest.

The ARRL produced a live video tour of W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station and uploaded it to the ARRL website.

With the Radio Amateurs of Canada splitting its Ontario Section into four new Sections, those ARRL contests that use ARRL/RAC sections as multipliers will see an increase in the number of multipliers available.

Ham Radio in Hollywood: The movie Journey 2: The Mysterious Island featured homebrew Amateur Radio equipment and Morse code.

The ARRL announced the results of the winter Section Manager election.

The ITU granted the Republic of South Sudan its prefix: Z8.

The W1AW Qualifying Runs for March were posted on the ARRL website.

The ARRL is now accepting nominations for recipients of its technical and educational awards.

Malyj Vysotskij Island (MVI), R1M, was added to DXCC Deleted Entities List.

The ARRL acknowledged the contributions of the participants in the ARRL 500 kHz Experiment, thanking them for their efforts.

A new QuickStats poll was made available on the ARRL website.

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for February is Phil Salas, AD5X, for his article “A Relay-Based Full Break-In TR Switch for Your Vintage System.”

The April issue of QST and the March/April editions of QEX and NCJ were released to the printer.

Official Observer Desk: ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, handled complaints regarding interference to a net on 20 meters, modifications to CB radios at a truck stop, music on 75 meters, an over-the-horizon radar on 40 meters and un unidentified buzz on 20 meters. He also answered questions concerning Field Day, band privileges, antenna restrictions and operating overseas.

Member Contact: ARRL Individual Giving Manager Lauren Clark and ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, attended the ARRL Northern Florida Section Convention. ARRL Regulatory Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, attended the ARRL South Carolina State Convention.