[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1308 - September 6th, 2002
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Sat Sep 7 03:46:17 EDT 2002
Amateur Radio Newsline 1308 - September 6th, 2002
The following is a Q-S-T. 222 to 225 MHz comes under attack once again,
N Sync's Bass may not fly to the I-S-S after all and an Ohio city
regulates 11 meter C-B. Find out the details exclusively on Amateur
Radio Newsline report number 1308 coming your way right now.
**
THE WAR TO SAVE OUR BANDS: A NEW ATTACK ON 222 - 225 MHZ
Some are calling it Deja Vous. This as big business once again sets its
eyes on grabbing a ham band and converting it into a money making
machine. And once again its the old 220 MHz band. David Black, KB4KCH,
is here with the details:
--
Once again, amateur radio frequencies may be under siege. Large
corporations wanting to become even bigger want hams off the 222 to 225
MHz band, so they can make money. This time, the challenge comes from
Data Commlink Incorporated and its twenty electrical cooperatives. Data
Commlink filed comments in W T Docket 02-224.
That's an FCC proposal that began innocently enough. The proposal
sought to gather comments on requests for waivers to provide band
management services in the 220 to 222 MHz band. That's the piece of
spectrum that used to belong to Amateur Radio but which hams say was
stolen by greedy businesses over a decade ago.
But page 10 of DataComlink's filing holds comments that strike straight
at amateur radio. The company says quote--the spectrum at 222 to 225
MHz that is currently held by the Amateur Radio Service is being
underutilized. In the early days of 220 MHz commercial regulations,
amateur Service licensees argued that their spectrum was necessary and
important in order to provide communications in the event of disaster or
emergency. Although we take no issue with this claim, we do not feel
that the 222 to 225 MHz band has been utilized as well as Amateur Radio
claimed it would by so-called no-code hams in their efforts to keep a
foothold in the 220 MHz arena.
The filing then presents a direct challenge to ham radio. Without
citing any evidence, Data Comlink asserts that in nearly all densely
populated areas, the 222 to 225 MHz band is largely quiet. The company
claims that only what it terms as handful of individuals in the Amateur
Radio Service even use the spectrum. Data Comlink then says hundreds of
thousands of potential commercial users wait with no alternatives.
Data Comlink tells the FCC that--with considerable commercial interest
already in the 222 to 225 MHz band because of waiver requests--it feels
that the frequencies amateur radio holds would be much better utilized
for commercial use. The company says existing users of the spectrum --
ham radio operators -- are so few in number that the economic impact on
those affected would be minimal.
As for where the thousands of US hams who actually do use 220 to 225
would wind up, Data Comlink says nothing. Another issue is left
unaddressed. If the FCC were to actually give the Data Comlink proposal
any serious consideration, who would reimburse repeater owners the
hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in their systems? DataComlink
is silent on that one.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH.
--
What credence will the FCC give the Data Comlink idea? That's hard to
say. Since it comes in the context of comments on another matter the
Commission could simply rule that anything dealing with 222 to 225 MHz
is not germane to the issue. On the other hand, the FCC could use the
Data Comlink commentary as the basis for a Notice of Inquiry aimed at
reallocating the 222 to 225 MHz band to commercial use. Which way they
will go will not be known for a few months at the latest. In the
meantime ham radio had better keep a close eye on the situation so that
nothing is covertly slipped by.
The complete Data Comlink filing is on the web at
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_doc
ument=6513289200 (From comments filed to FCC by Data Comlink)
**
RADIO RULES: BAND SHARING REQUEST FOR 70 CM
The ARRL news reports that an amateur from Virginia has petitioned the
FCC to allocate eight channels in the 70-cm band for use by visitors
from Europe and the United Kingdom with Personal Mobile Radio
transceivers. The recently authorized PMR 446 is similar to the US
Family Radio Service. Dr. Michael Trahos, KB4PGC, a physician from
Alexandria, filed the petition last January, saying it would help to
promote international goodwill. The FCC has designated the petition as
RM-10521. (ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: HAM CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR IN ILLINOIS TRAGEDY
An Inverness Illinois man who authorities say misused a police radio
channel has been ordered to turn over all the radio gear that he owns to
local authorities. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more:
--
According to a report in the Chicago Tribune Cook County Judge Joseph
Urso has ordered that William Bily turn over all his transmitting
equipment to Barrington-Inverness police. This, as a condition of his
release on bond while awaiting trial on misdemeanor charges.
Bily appeared August 30th in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County
Circuit Court in connection with misdemeanor charges of resisting a
peace officer and interfering with emergency communications. A longtime
amateur radio enthusiast, Bily is said to have disrupted police
communications Sunday August 25th by transmitting over the Barrington-
Inverness police radio channel. When Officer Steven Graham came to his
home, Bily allegedly resisted arrest. Authorities say that a struggle
ensued and that during their tussle Officer Graham who was only 53
suffered a fatal heart attack.
Asserting the heart attack resulted from the scuffle, the Cook County
medical examiner's office ruled Graham's death to a homicide. But
Assistant State's Attorney Steven Rosenblum said that his office does
not intend to seek more serious charges against Bily.
Bily's attorney, Frank Cece, asked that his client only be forced to
hand over radio gear that could be used to transmit on the police radio
band. He maintained that Bily, a Marine veteran who saw combat during
the Vietnam War, has much equipment that poses no risk to police radio
frequencies.
But States Attorney Rosenblum countered that this is not the first
occasion police had visited Bily's house. The first time was on July
4th of 2000, also for allegedly interrupting the police frequency.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.
--
As part of the bond agreement Judge Urso also ordered that Bily not
possess any firearms and that he not contact the family of the deceased
officer. A trial is set to take place on October 2nd in the Rolling
Meadows courthouse. (Adapted from information supplied by KC9RP, W9FS
and others)
**
ENFORCEMENT: "RABBIT EARS" THE HAM JAMMER GETS JAIL
A CB operator from Florida with an apparent hatred of hams will spend
the next year in a federal prison. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill
Burnett, KT4SB, reports from Miami.
--
He called himself Rabbit Ears on the C-B two-way. He also harassed ham
radio communications on several bands. And now, Jupiter Florida
Citizens Band operator William Flippo will spend a total of 15 months in
federal prison. He will also pay a $25,000 fine for jamming Amateur
Radio communications and transmitting without a license.
According to the ARRL Letter, Federal District Court Judge Daniel Hurley
imposed the sentence August 29th. This, following a guilty verdict on
June 19th on four counts of operating a radio transmitter without a
license and another four counts of deliberate and malicious
interference.
According to trial testimony, Flippo primarily had targeted members of
the Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group for jamming and regularly interfered
with amateur operations, especially on 10 and 2 meters, over an
approximately three-year period. He has been in custody since the
guilty verdict and underwent a psychiatric evaluation prior to
sentencing.
At the sentencing, Flippo reportedly wept. He said that he had turned
over a new leaf and claimed he was sole support for his wife and two
daughters. But Judge Hurley was not impressed. He told the 60 year old
Flippo that he was old enough to have considered the consequences of his
actions. Hurley also alleged numerous incidents of perjury in the
course of Flippo's testimony during his six-and-one-half day trial.
Judge Hurley also told Flippo that wants a full financial disclosure
from him. And when he does get out of jail, Flippo will spend another
year on supervised probation during which he cannot own radio gear or
firearms. In other words, for the next two years the law will be
watching this C-B'er like a hawk.
In Miami, I'm Bill Burnett, KT4SB, reporting for the Amateur Radio
Newsline.
--
Judge Hurley ordered Flippo to immediately start serving his sentence.
The former C-B operator was reportedly led into and out of the courtroom
in shackles and leg irons. (ARRL, others)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAMS, CB'ERS, GMRS AID AFTER TORNADO
Hams, C-B's, and just about anyone with a radio system not dependent on
phone lines is pitching in to provide emergency communications in
Ladysmith Wisconsin. This follows a devastating tornado on Monday,
September 2nd that destroyed a major part of the town and completely
knocked out the areas communications infrastructure. Twenty people were
injured.
As we go to air, there is still no wireline telephone service and
cellular service is spotty at best. The personal communications teams
are reportedly augmenting local law enforcement and fire services in
relief efforts. Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum declared the Ladysmith
a disaster area. (Published news reports, on-air reports)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: RUSSIA TELLS BASS HES OUT OF ISS TRIP
A Russian space official said on Tuesday September 3rd that N Sync
singer Lance Bass has been asked to leave Russia's cosmonaut training
program and will not be the world's third space tourist. Sergei
Gorbunov, a spokesman for the Russian Space Agency, said the decision to
end negotiations with Bass was made in connection with what was termed
as violations of his contract to fly on a supply mission to the orbiting
outpost.
Bass began training in July at Star City, and just returned to Russia on
Sunday after spending a week at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
with the other two crew members. There, Bass was trained in use of
several station systems including the ARISS ham radio station. Now,
Gorbunov said Bass, who had hoped to fly to the Space Station aboard a
Russian Soyuz rocket on October 28th, would be leaving and would not be
permitted to return.
Gorbunov said that in place of Bass, the Russians would likely send up a
cargo container with extra equipment needed on the International Space
Station. Gorbunov said the container has already been prepared and is
ready to go.
But Bass's representatives have a different story. They say that that
its all a misunderstanding and that the 23 year old singer should be
back in training shortly. If he does make it to orbit, Bass will become
the youngest person to ever fly in space. (Published news reports)
**
RADIO LAW: LANCASTER OHIO HAS NEW CB CONTROL LAW
Lancaster Ohio now has a new City Ordinance to put teeth into local
enforcement of the FCC's Part 95 CB radio rules. The measure was passed
on August 26th and is the handi-work of Lancaster City Law Director
David Trimmer and a local area radio amateur named John Hilliard, W8OF.
The two put the legislation together over the last several months and
sent it twice to the FCC office in Farmington Hills, Michigan for review
and comments.
Under the law, CB radio users who operate on what's termed as an
unlawful frequency or using excessively powerful equipment could be
cited for a misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and
a $1,000 fine. Ham radio operators are exempted because the city says
that they are trained, licensed, are regulated differently under federal
law.
City officials estimate there are at least 250 people operating 11 meter
Class D CB radios in Lancaster and not all follow FCC rules. The city's
law will give prosecutors a tool to fight these abuses. The FCC
believes that Lancaster is the first municipality to enact such a far-
reaching ordinance to regulate CB radio within the city limits.
(ARNewsline from information supplied by W8OF)
**
ENFORCEMENT: YUCAIPA CALIFORNIA TEST SESSION INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
The FCC audit of a W5YI-VEC Amateur Radio test session in California is
continuing. The ARRL Letter reports that so far, the probe into a
September 1, 2001, examination session in the city of Yucaipa has led to
the suspension of seven volunteer examiners and the cancellation of five
Amateur Radio licenses.
The W5YI-VEC's Larry Pollock, NB5X, said possible irregularities
surfaced earlier this year in the form of an e-mail and a telephone call
concerning two candidates at VE sessions in Yucaipa. Pollock said that
one of the reports was that a license had been purchased in California.
The other was that the individual in question could not copy code, and
that if he had passed the exam, he had done so fraudulently.
After considerable investigation on his own, Pollock said he saw enough
questionable data that he felt retesting was in order. That's the
remedy he proposed to FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH. That was the action taken and also the action
which lead to the five cancellations. The FCC's Hollingsworth said the
agency would continue to investigate other examinations administered by
the VEs involved in the September 1, 2001, session in Yucaipa. (ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: MAN MADE QRM ON 20 METERS
The Maritime nets on 14.315 MHz are reporting problems with
interference. VK2UW says that the interference appears to be man made
and regularly appears as both noises and CW type transmissions. The
Australian Communications Agency has been notified and is monitoring.
(Q-News)
**
HAMFESTS: TRW SWAP MEET FOR SEPTEMBER CANCELED
A reminder. If you are planning to travel to Los Angeles this September
to attend the famed TRW Swap Meet, choose some other month. This is
because the giant swap-feast has been canceled because a corporate
event will be held at the Space Park Facility on Saturday, September
28th.
Only this month, September, is canceled. There will be a TRW Swap Meet
the last Saturday of the month in October, November and December. For
more information visit http://w6trw.com on the world wide web. (TRW
ARC)
**
CONVENTIONS & HAMFESTS: BOXBORO MASS GROWS
Attendance at this years Boxboro Massachusetts Hamfest seemed to be back
to its normal level of about 3,000. This continues an upward spiral
first noted a few weeks ago at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama.
According to observers, the exhibit hall was busy all day Saturday and
there seemed to be an increased number of big-ticket sales. This again
mirrors what happened at the shows in Huntsville and to a lesser degree
in Escondido California that same weekend.
The biggest draw in the forums area was once again Bob Heil, K9EID, and
his audio clinic road show. Bob had about 100 people in the room, many
of whom left the session and immediately hit the dealers to buy the
appropriate peripheral gear.
Boxboro is one a dwindling number of hamfests and conventions that still
has an annual banquet. This years speaker was ARRL President Jim
Haynie, W5JBP. Also on the program was live music from a four piece
band.
How good was this years Boxboro Hamfest? Vertex-Standard's Chip
Margelli, K7JA sums it up this way. He says that he couldn't leave the
booth or take a break until 4:15 Saturday afternoon. And that kind of
says it all. (K7JA, others)
**
WITH THE HANDI HAMS: AUDIO BULLETIN ON THE WWW
The weekly Handi Ham e-letter is now available as an audio file. Its in
cyberspace on the Handi-Ham Audio page at www.handiham.org. Archived
text issues are also available at the same URL. (HandiHams)
**
INTERNATIONAL - SOUTH AFRICA: HAMS CONTINUE TO ASSIST AT WORLD SUMMINT
Ham radio is continuing its support effort at the U-N Sponsored World
Summit on Sustainable Development. With the latest, to Johannesburg and
Hans van der Gronnendal, ZS6AKV:
--
AUDIO REPORT ONLY: You can hear it at http://www.arnewsline.org
--
More on ham radio at this important world summit next week.
**
INTERNATIONAL - SOUTH AFRICA : JOHNNY NEETHLING, ZS1GB - S.K.
Still from South Africa comes the sad news that Johnny Neethling, ZS1GB,
passed away on Friday 19 July. Neethling as 80 and was licensed just
after World War 2. ZS1GB was well known in Radio and TV circles. He
was also involved in maintaining equipment in the first the first heart
transplant operation to take place in South Africa. (RSGB)
**
INTERNATIONAL - GIBRALTER: WILFRED GUERRERO, ZB2IB - S.K.
Q-News reports the unexpected death of well known Gibraltar radio
amateur Wilfred Guerrero, ZB2IB. Guerrero was 55 years of age and for
many years was the mainstay of amateur radio in Gibraltar. Most
recently he pioneered, virtually single-handedly, the introduction of
the Foundation License in that nation. (Q-News)
**
INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA: VK UHF CB TECH STANDARDS CHANGE
The technical standards for C-B gear used in Australia are changing. Q-
News Graham Kemp, V-K-4-B-B, reports from down-under:
--
APCNews says the VK UHF CB equipment standard is to change. The
standard will require that CTCSS equipment include facilities to reduce
interference to non CTCSS users. Required features include a 'channel
busy' warning light and a 'listen before transmit' function. The changes
were required by the Australian Communications Authority following
changes that legalized CTCSS signaling on UHF CB channels. From Q-News
Australia, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
--
The change affects only the Australian U-H-F Citizens Radio Service. No
other bands are affected. (APC News, Q-News)
**
INTERNATIONAL - SCANDINAVIA: NEW MAJOR HAMFEST IN EU
A major new European amateur radio event will take place in Gothenburg
Sweden for the first time in April next year. The Scandinavian
HamVention 2003 will be a big hamfest where Scandinavian and other
European radio amateurs can get together. There will be a large
exhibition with amateur radio dealers from all over Europe and it is
planned to offer Scandinavia's biggest flea-market yet, allowing radio
amateurs to trade, buy and sell everything to do with our hobby. A
traditional Scandinavian amateur radio dinner will be held and there
will also be a special ladies' program. The Swedish national amateur
radio organization, the SSA, will hold its annual meeting at the same
time. Further details are on the Scandinavian HamVention website
http://www.scandiham.com/. (GB2RS)
**
DX
In D-X, the Canadian licensing authority, Industry Canada, has
authorized the use of special prefixes to celebrate the 125th
anniversary of Japanese immigration to Canada. The special prefixes
will be on the air from the 1st of September until the 31st of October.
And this for those listening across the Atlantic a lot higher in
frequency. Word from the Radio Society of Great Britain that the G-B-3-
N-W-K microwave beacons located in North West Kent are currently non-
operational. The beacons, which usually transmit on 1296.81 and
2320.85MHz are off the air until further notice due to site problems.
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: 911 REMEMBERED
And finally this week, we pause to remember the tragedy of Tuesday
September 11th 2001. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline producer Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF.
--
I'm going to tile this as an editorial. Ill also promise to keep it
short.
We have all heard these words before. "September 11th, 2001 is a day
that changed all of our lives forever."
The pictures are still there in our minds eye. The giant Boeing jets
crashing into the World Trade Center. The buildings crumbling to the
ground. The fire at the Pentagon. The scorched earth in Pennsylvania.
And the other scenes. The ones only known to ham radio. Those of the
radio amateurs from New York, Washington and Pennsylvania who sprang
immediately into action. The hams from across America who dropped
everything, grabbed their H-T and traveled sometimes thousands of miles
-- paying their own way -- to become the second, third and forth wave of
relief operators and volunteers.
No, ham radio was not on the front page of newspapers. Hams were not
the lead story on the evening news. The tragedy of 911 was the story.
The job of ham radio was to be the carrier of the message so that aid
and comfort could be brought to the victims of this horrific and
cowardly act of terrorism.
What 911 showed is that our loose knit fraternity can come together when
the need arises. That we maybe called radio amateurs, but that we are
communications professionals. That ham radio is there when it is
needed.
On 911, ham radio did the job its people have trained themselves to do.
The hobby has since moved on. So has our nation. But neither will ever
be the same.
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
--
We pray that a tragedy like 911 never happens again.
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, Amateur News Weekly, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC
Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio
Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and Australia's Q-News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline
@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio
Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You
can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O.
Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don
Wilbanks, KC5MFA in New Orleans remembering the events of 911 and saying
God bless America, 73 and we thank you for listening." Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.
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