[CVRC] The ARRL Letter for April 4, 2013

Thu Apr 4 16:33:08 EDT 2013

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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April 4, 2013

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa at arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- + Public Service: ARRL Meets with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate,
KK4INZ
- + FCC News: FCC Seeks to Reassess RF Exposure Limits
- + On the Air: 2013 World Amateur Radio Day -- April 18 -- Celebrates
100 Years of Disaster Communications
- + On the Air: World Radiosport Team Championship 2014 Organizers
Solicit Volunteers for Station Test
- ARRL in Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
- ARRL Field Day: Be Ready for Field Day in Official Field Day Gear
from the ARRL
- Solar Update
- + ARRL Recognizes: Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA,	Wins March QST Cover
Plaque Award
- + Silent Key: J. Kenneth Pulfer, VE3PU (SK)
- This Week in Radiosport

+ Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>.

==> + PUBLIC SERVICE: ARRL MEETS WITH FEMA ADMINISTRATOR CRAIG FUGATE,
KK4INZ

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate,
KK4INZ, met with ARRL leadership at FEMA Headquarters in Washington, DC
last month. Fugate, an ARRL member, spoke with ARRL President Kay
Craigie, N3KN, and ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, as
well as ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and ARRL Emergency
Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, about Amateur Radio's role in
public service and disaster communications.

   Fugate wrote on his blog
<http://www.fema.gov/blog/2013-03-29/hi-im-craig-kk4inz#.UVcZeY0va3w.gmail>
about the meeting: "For those of you that are not familiar with Amateur
Radio, or ham radio as it is sometimes referred, it is the use of
certain radio frequencies as a hobby, to exchange non-commercial
messages, as a tool for education and experimentation and for public
service community activities, including assisting in emergency
communications. As a radio amateur, I enjoyed talking with [the ARRL]
about the contributions that hams can make in times of disaster 'when
all else fails.'"

Fugate also mentioned that he was looking forward to ARRL Field Day in
June, "where I will test my own field gear. It is a great event to
encourage first responders and citizens to think about how to prepare
for disasters and how to develop a plan for themselves and their
communities. And perhaps it will inspire more to consider this great
hobby that also has a long and legendary history of public service to
the nation. We're grateful to our friends at the ARRL and look forward
to partnering with them in exercises and efforts to plan, prepare,
respond and recover from future events that we may face."

Fugate -- A Strong Proponent for Amateur Radio

In May 2011, Fugate spoke at an earthquake communications preparedness
forum
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fema-administrator-calls-amateur-radio-the-last-line-of-defense>
hosted by the FCC where he described the Amateur Radio operator as "the
ultimate backup, the originators of what we call social media." In his
remarks, Fugate praised Amateur Radio: "During the initial
communications out of Haiti [during the January 2010 earthquake],
volunteers using assigned frequencies that they are allocated, their
own equipment, their own money, nobody pays them, were the first ones
oftentimes getting word out in the critical first hours and first days
as the rest of the systems came back up. I think that there is a
tendency because we have done so much to build infrastructure and
resiliency in all our other systems, we have tended to dismiss that
role 'When Everything Else Fails.' Amateur Radio oftentimes is our last
line of defense."

At the forum, Fugate said that he thinks "we get so sophisticated and
we have gotten so used to the reliability and resilience in our
wireless and wired and our broadcast industry and all of our public
safety communications, that we can never fathom that they'll fail. They
do. They have. They will. I think a strong Amateur Radio community
[needs to be] plugged into these plans. Yes, most of the time they're
going be bored, because a lot of the time, there's not a lot they're
going to be doing that other people aren't doing with Twitter and
Facebook and everything else. But when you need Amateur Radio, you
really need them."

==> + FCC NEWS: FCC SEEKS TO REASSESS RF EXPOSURE LIMITS

   On March 27, the FCC released a First Report and Order, Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a Notice of Inquiry (ET Docket Nos.
13-84 and 03-137). The documents seek to reassess the FCC's RF exposure
limits and policies, as well as to propose changes to the FCC's rules
regarding human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields. These proposed
changes would affect the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97) rules.

In its Notice of Inquiry, the FCC included clarifications related to
the application of occupational exposure limits for devices and at
fixed transmitter sites. The FCC noted that it "should be helpful to
licensees to codify our earlier adopted policy with regard the use of
occupational/controlled limits at Amateur Radio stations." This policy
was first established in the RF Report and Order of 1996, but it was
not incorporated in the rules at that time. It allows amateur stations
to be evaluated "with respect to occupational/controlled exposure
limits, as long as appropriate training and information has been
provided to the amateur licensee and members of his or her immediate
household. Other nearby persons who are not members of the amateur
licensee's household must be evaluated with respect to the general
population/uncontrolled exposure limits."

"The ARRL has an RF Safety Committee, consisting of experts in the
field," explained ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ; "The
committee members, as well as Board members and staff are reviewing the
lengthy document and will formulate a response." Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-to-reassess-rf-exposure-limits>.

==> + ON THE AIR: 2013 WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY -- APRIL 18 --
CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS

   This year marks the 88th anniversary of the founding of the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). To mark this occasion, the
IARU and its more than 160 Member Societies will celebrate World
Amateur Radio Day on April 18. For many years, the IARU Administrative
Council has declared a theme for each World Amateur Radio Day. The
theme for 2013 is Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of
Disaster Communications. The theme commemorates the first known use of
Amateur Radio in a disaster situation: Herbert V. Akerberg -- a
15-year-old from Hilltop, Ohio -- is believed to be the first person to
use Amateur Radio to call for help during a disaster. In late March
1913, the Scioto River in downtown Columbus, Ohio flooded its banks,
killing more than 100 people. According to a November 2012 article in
The Columbus Dispatch, Akerberg used his home radio transmitter to send
SOS calls via Morse code for nearly 72 hours. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/2013-world-amateur-radio-day-april-18-celebrates-100-years-of-disaster-communications>.

==> + ON THE AIR: WORLD RADIOSPORT TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 ORGANIZERS
SOLICIT VOLUNTEERS FOR STATION TEST

   The WRTC 2014 Organizing Committee will be conducting a capability
and training test for the World Radiosport Team Championship stations
and volunteers during the 2013 running of the IARU HF Championship,
July 13-14. According to WRTC 2014 Co-Chairman Randy Thompson, K5ZD,
the organizing committee is looking for local hams and volunteers
willing to visit New England during the contest to assist with station
setup and operation; preference will be given to those volunteers who
intend to return and assist with the 2014 event. Thompson said the
committee is looking to set up and operate up to 30 stations during for
the final station test before the WRTC 2014 competition in July 2014.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/world-radiosport-team-championship-2014-organizers-solicit-volunteers-for-station-test>.

==> ARRL IN ACTION: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

   This feature is a concise monthly update of some of the things that
the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment -- which
covers the month of March -- takes a look at the FCC's decision to
grant the ARRL's waiver request for TDMA operation, the 2013 sessions
of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, the ARRL's
Second Century Campaign, new League publications, updates from the ARRL
Development Office, reports from the Official Observer Desk and more.
Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-in-action-what-have-we-been-up-to-lately-56>.

==> ARRL FIELD DAY: BE READY FOR FIELD DAY IN OFFICIAL FIELD DAY GEAR
FROM THE ARRL

ARRL Field Day <http://www.arrl.org/fieldday>, Amateur Radio's largest
on-the-air operating event is June 22-23 -- just a little more than two
months away -- so be sure to get your official 2013 Field Day gear
before supplies run out.

   This year's ARRL Field Day shirt is a white t-shirt
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Shirt-2013> that sports the 2013
Field Day logo on the front, with the ARRL diamond logo and "Ham Radio"
on the back. Shirts are available in sizes Small-4XL. The charcoal gray
hat <http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Hat-2013> -- with the words
"ARRL Field Day" and "Ham Radio" embroidered on the front -- has a
loop-and-hook closure, ensuring a proper fit. The round pin
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Pin-2013>, with its easy-to-secure
post fastener, sports the 2013 Field Day logo. A coffee mug and a patch
are new for 2013: The white 11 ounce mug
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Mug-2013> features the 2013 ARRL
Field Day logo, while the 3-inch silk-screened patch
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Patch-2013> is perfect for sewing
onto a jacket or sweatshirt. The ARRL Field Day Logbook
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Logbook> is set up in the Field Day
reporting format and includes dupe sheets and other forms that you need
to ensure a successful Field Day.

Clubs, order early! Collect orders from members and place a single
order -- pay only $12.50 shipping for orders over $50 (while supplies
last). Fulfill all your Field Day apparel needs at the Field Day
Supplies section of the ARRL website
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Supplies/>.

==> SOLAR UPDATE

   Tad Cook, K7RA, reports: Solar activity increased over this past
week, with the average daily sunspot numbers up 32 points to 81.6,
while the average daily solar flux increased more than 16 points to
113.4. The geomagnetic field was active on March 29 due to solar wind.
The predicted solar flux is 130 on April 4-8, 125 on April 9, 115 on
April 10-11, 125 on April 12, 120 on April 13-14, 115 on April 15, 110
on April 16-17, 105 on April 18-19, and back down to 100 on April
20-21. The predicted planetary A index is 5 on April 4-5, 8 on April 6,
5 on April 7-22, then 12, 8, 18 and 15 on April 23-26, 5 on April
27-29, and rising to 8 for April 30-May 4. Look for more information on
the ARRL website on Friday, April 5. For more information concerning
radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service
Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals>.

==> + ARRL RECOGNIZES: CARL LUETZELSCHWAB, K9LA,  WINS MARCH QST COVER
PLAQUE AWARD

   The winner of the March QST Cover Plaque Award is Carl
Luetzelschwab, K9LA for his article "The Sun and the Ionosphere
<http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201303/index.php#/50>."
Congratulations Carl! The QST  Cover Plaque Award -- given to the
author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by
a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll>. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the April issue today.

==> + SILENT KEY: J. KENNETH PULFER, VE3PU (SK)

   J. Kenneth Pulfer, VE3PU, of Ottawa, Ontario, passed away Sunday,
March 31 after a short illness. He was 80. In 1994, Pulfer became the
Secretary, then Secretary Treasurer for the Radio Amateurs of Canada
(RAC), that country's IARU Member Society. He also served as the RAC's
Vice President for Government Affairs and Vice President for
International Affairs. When former ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul
Rinaldo, W4RI, retired in 2009, Pulfer took over as Chairman of the ITU
Radiocommunication Sector's Working Party 5A Working Group 1, the
"home" of the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services in the ITU
structure. He served as an IARU Technical Representative for 15 years,
culminating with the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12).
Read more <http://www.arrl.org/news/j-kenneth-pulfer-ve3pu-sk>.

==> THIS WEEK IN RADIOSPORT

This week:

- April 5 -- NCCC Sprint
- April 6 -- LZ Open 40 Meter Sprint Contest; PODXS 070 Club PSK 31
Flavors Contest (local time)
- April 6-7 -- SP DX Contest; EA RTTY Contest
- April 7 -- Missouri QSO Party
- April 10 -- NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint
- April 10-11 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test

Next week:

- April 12 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- April 13 -- EU Spring Sprint (CW)
- April 13-14 -- Georgia QSO Party; Montana QSO Party; New Mexico QSO
Party; JIDX CW Contest; SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
- April 14 -- Hungarian Straight Key Contest
- April 15 -- NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint

All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
information. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out
the ARRL Special Event Stations web page
<http://www.arrl.org/special-event-stations>.

Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events

- April 13-14 -- Communications Academy
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/communications-academy-2013>, Seattle,
Washington
- April 19-20 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/svhfs-conference>, Cocoa Beach, Florida
- April 19-21 -- International DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/international-dx-convention-2>, Visalia,
California
- April 20 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/louisiana-state-convention-northeast-louisiana-regional-ham-radiofest>,
Monroe, Louisiana
- April 26-28 -- ARRL Idaho State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/idaho-state-convention-3>, Boise, Idaho;
Eastern VHF/UHF Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-vhf-uhf-conference>, Manchester,
Connecticut
- May 4 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/south-carolina-section-convention-upstate-hamfest-1>,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
- May 17-19 -- Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-4>, Trotwood, Ohio
- June 1 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/georgia-state-convention-atlanta-hamfest-1>,
Marietta, Georgia
- May 31-June 2 -- ARRL Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northwestern-division-convention-seapac-4>,
Seaside, Oregon
- June 7-8 -- ARRL West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-gulf-division-convention-35th-anniversary-ham-com>,
Plano, Texas
- June 8 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delta-division-convention-2>, Rogers,
Arkansas; ARRL Tennessee State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tennessee-state-convention-knoxville-hamfest-electronics-convention>,
Knoxville, Tennessee
- June 28-30 -- ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/rocky-mountain-division-convention-hamcon-colorado-2013>,
Estes Park, Colorado
- July 6 -- ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-firecracker-hamfest-electronics-expo>,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- July 25-27 -- Central States VHF Society Conference
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-states-vhf-society-2013-conference>,
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
- July 26-27 -- ARRL Oklahoma State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/oklahoma-state-convention-ham-holiday-1>,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- August 2-3 -- ARRL Texas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/texas-state-convention-austin-summerfest-2013>,
Austin, Texas
- August 2-4 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacific-northwest-dx-convention-2>,
Spokane Valley, Washington
- August 17 -- ARRL West Virginia State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/west-virginia-state-convention-3>,
Weston, West Virginia
- August 17-18 -- ARRL Alabama State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/alabama-state-convention-huntsville-hamfest-1>,
Huntsville, Alabama
- August 18 -- ARRL Kansas State Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/kansas-state-convention-3>, Salina,
Kansas
- August 25 -- ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/western-pennsylvania-section-convention-3>,
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

To find a convention or hamfest near you, click here
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.

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