[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1324 December 27, 2002

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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1324 - December 27, 2002

The following is a Q-S-T.  Ham radio responds to a Southern California 
gas leak and interference issues are front and center with the FCC.  
These stories and more come your way on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1324 beginning right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS RESPOND TO SOCAL GAS LEAK

Ham radio is there to provide communications as a gas leak hits 
Huntington Beach California.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, has the rest:

--
Glorria Morrison, KE6ATG, is the Huntington Beach California Fire 
Department Emergency Services Coordinator.  She was in the process of 
briefing the new Police Chief, Kenneth Small, on routine procedures on 
Wednesday, December 11th when the meeting was interrupted by a report of 
a natural gas leak.  Nine fire companies were assigned to the incident.  
Public Works and Police Department personnel were also sent to the 
scene. 

First order of business -- a near-by 55-unit apartment complex had to be 
evacuated. Fire Battalion Chief Jacques Pelletier requested that a Care 
and Reception Center be set up for displaced resident.  Huntington Beach 
RACES was soon activated.  It  established a net and began logging-in 
availability of members for the response.  20 RACES made themselves 
available.
 
Meanwhile, a call was made to the Community Emergency Response Team 
Shelter Leader to activate five volunteers for service at the Care and 
Reception Center location.  Tim Sawyer, WD6AWP, acted as net control 
operator.  Huntington Beach RACES Chief Radio Officer Steven Graboff, 
W6GOS, responded to provide Amateur Radio, cell phone, Red Cross and 
fire radio communications. Other RACES operators were deployed to the 
Emergency Operations Center and the Fire Incident Command post at the 
gas leak scene.  

Within 90 minutes the incident was over. The shelter was closed down and 
the residents went home.  No injuries to the firefighters or the  RACES 
volunteers were reported.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant., K6PZW, in Los 
Angeles.

--

RACES communications was utilized exclusively throughout this event 
because the city's cellular telephone system was not working at the 
time.  (KH6WZ)


**

RESCUE RADIO:  ARES ASSISTS FOLLOWING MISSISSIPPI TWISTER

The ARRL Letter says that Amateur Radio Emergency Service teams from 
Jackson and Meridian Mississippi  converged on the tiny community of 
Newton last week.  This, to provide emergency communication following a 
devastating tornado on Thursday, December 19th.   

The mid-day twister struck a Wal-Mart filled with holiday shoppers, 
blowing out the front windows and collapsing part of the roof. The 
tornado also damaged a furniture factory.  According to news accounts, 
some 70 people were hurt, but no one was killed. Property damage in the 
town was said to have been widespread, and Governor Ronnie Musgrove has 
declared a state of emergency in Newton.

According to Mississippi Section Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, about a 
dozen amateurs from the Metro Jackson ARES and the Lauderdale County 
ARES groups turned out.  They took turns supporting relief agencies in 
Newton which has no ARES organization of its own.

Keown said the ARES teams helped the Red Cross with damage assessment 
and with shelter communication.  Hams also assisted the Salvation Army 
and the Southern Baptist Men's Kitchen canteen operations as well as 
making themselves available to local emergency management officials.

In the tornado's immediate aftermath, telephone service and electrical 
power were out in much of the town of nearly 4000 and in surrounding 
Newton County.  (ARRL)

**
RESCUE RADIO:  GUAM SUPERTYPHON - THE AFTERMATH
An update on the recovery effort on Guam following a typhoon that hit 
the island on December 8th.  As reported last week, the giant storm 
packed sustained winds of 160 miles per hour.  It damaged much of the 
island's infrastructure knocking out electrical power and all  telephone 
service. Now the inhabitants of Guam are slowly digging out.  We have 
this report:
--
By far the best source of what happened during and after the typhoon has 
been Duncan Campbell, KF6ILA portable KH2.  He lives on Guam and 
survived the storm.  He has also been posting regular updates to the 
QRZ.com website.
Campbell gives a reason why one key Guam station was off the air.  He 
says that on Wednesday December 11th the high frequency ham station on 
the Naval Station from where he was operating was ordered to shut down 
because fuel to run generators that supply electricity was running low.  
The supply of fuel returned to normal on December 17th. Also, water and 
power is now back on at his home and there is some telephone service but 
long distance is still spotty, but life is stating to get back to 
normal.  
One thing KF6ILA does not cover in his QRZ.com posts is why most other 
Guam based stations have been off the air since the typhoon hit.  But 
news video from the island pretty well covers that.  The pictures show 
that the devastation was very wide spread.  Its more than likely that 
antennas simply got blown away.
As far as medical services Campbell says that a military Field hospital 
from San Diego has been set up outside of Guam Memorial Hospital.  He 
says its here to relieve the strain on both of Guam's regular hospitals.  
Both were damaged in the typhoon. 
Finally, Campbell says that that he is now back at work and that there 
is a lot of post typhoon restoration taking place.  That added to the 
times when the high frequency bands are open to the U-S mainland means 
that he has not been able to keep scheduled contacts.

Reporting from Auckland New Zealand, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, for the 
Amateur Radio Newsline.
--

Another ham on Guam -- Don Palko,  N7GZA -- adds to the story.  He says 
that he was with KF6ILA when he was trying to maintain communications 
with the mainland U-S.  He says hat it was Campbell hat brought Guam's 
one and only 2 meter repeater back on the air.  He adds that  the 
American Red Cross is on scene to help with the recovery and they have 
brought ham radio operators with them.  (KF6LIA, N7GZA via QRZ.COM)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  OLD PROBLEM - NEW SOLUTION?

The FCC is using a new diplomacy to deal with an old problem.  Its 
telling a repeater owner that he will be held responsible if an 
unlicensed individual is relayed over his system. Amateur Radio 
Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, has the details:

--
Wayne Curley, WA6NRB, of Montrose, California finds himself receiving an 
interesting warning letter from the FCC.  Curley operates a popular 
repeater serving the Los Angeles area.  It's on that repeater where the 
Commission alleges that Richard Burton, the former WB6JAC, has been 
appearing.

Burton and the FCC have a long history.  Burton is a former ham who had 
his license revoked back in 1981.  The following year, he was convicted 
on four counts of transmitting without a license and two counts of 
making obscene transmissions.

That conviction got him sentenced to 8 years in a federal prison.  But 
the judge then suspended all but the first six moths.  Burton appealed.  
The Ninth District Court of Appeals threw out his obscenity convictions 
but let stand the charges of operating without a license.  But it 
doesn't end there.

The Commission says that Burton transmitted without a license while on 
probation in 1984, 1990 and again in 1992.  After a second conviction, 
he was fined $2000 and received a year's probation.  On his third 
unlicensed operation conviction, he was sentenced to serve 7 months in 
prison and do a year on probation.

In 1992, Burton decides to try and get his ham license reinstated.  The 
FCC says no.  So he waits four years.  In 1996, he passes a Technician 
class exam.  Burton is issued the call sign KG6GKS but that license 
grant is short lived.   As soon as the Commission realizes that the new 
license has gone to Burton, it sets the license aside, putting Burton 
off the air again, at least as a Commission licensee.

In may of 2000, another federal grand jury indicts Burton for operating 
without a license.   He's arrested that August.   In January of 2001, 
Burton agrees to serve three months in jail.  He does his prison time at 
a federal detention center near Fort Worth, Texas.  Burton is also 
placed on one year's probation following his release -- and he's ordered 
to undergo psychological counseling.

Now, the FCC says that Burton is back on the air again, this time, using 
Wayne Curley's Los Angeles repeater.  And it appears that--this time--
the FCC has decided to simply give him no place to operate by holding 
Curley, as repeater operator, responsible for letting Burton's 
unlicensed signal to be relayed.

On December 4th, the FCC issued a Warning Notice to Curley.  The letter 
reminds Curley that a repeater licensee is responsible for continuing 
violations of Commission rules.  And it tells Curley that enforcement 
action against him may result if he fails to prevent violations from 
occurring over his repeater.  The FCC says this could include fines, 
license suspension or even revocation if  Curley fails to act.

But the FCC also gives Curley some advice.  It tells him he has several 
options available to prevent recurring and deliberate violations of FCC 
rules from taking place on his repeater.  This includes locking rule 
violators out...or using access tones...or even limiting the repeater's 
operation. 

But the Commission also adds a warning.  If he is not able to do this, 
the FCC says, Curley must take his repeater off the air.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH.

--

As we go to air its not known what enforcement action the FCC might be 
planning to take directly against the ex-WB6JAC.  (FCC with background 
from ARNewsline and Westlink Radio Archive)

**

ENFORCEMENT: YOU CANT OPERATE - YOU AGREED TO A SUSPENSION

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has issued a warning notice to Cornwall 
Chan, W3CI, of Dresher Pennsylvania regarding operation on a 2 meter 
repeater back in November.  The reason:  Chan is not supposed to be on 
the air.

You may recall that W3CI had forfeited his license back to the 
Commission for a period of three years.  This, in settlement of an 
earlier enforcement action regarding repeater interference.

Chan is supposed to stay off the air until September of 2003.  The FCC 
says that if he shows up again before that date it will take further 
enforcement action against him.  The FCC adds that in view of the 
alleged violation of its agreement with Chan that it has now dismissed 
his request to have his suspension period shortened.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  SORRY -- THATS NOT REPEATER INTERFERENCE

The FCC says that the signal being heard by another Ohio ham cannot be 
considered as interference because the ham is listening from far to high 
of a location.  Commission spokesman Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, explains the 
situation and why the agency declined to get involved:

--
Duckworth: "The complaint of Kim Lozier, N8ZW, of Portsmith Ohio was 
dismissed.  Lozier complained about what he perceived as interference 
from the KF8HL repeater.  Our letter pointed out that Lozier was 
listening from an 800 foot altitude and that merely hearing another 
repeater with no disabling interference was sharing -- not interference, 
and that frequency coordination is not necessarily exclusive use."

--

In a related matter a petition for reconsideration from the KF8HL 
repeater group in West Virginia was also dismissed as untimely.  That 
petition had sought reversal of an earlier Enforcement Bureau ruling 
that KF8HL was an uncoordinated repeater and had the primary 
responsibility -- but not the sole responsibility to prevent 
interference to the KC8FKP system located near Portsmith Ohio. (FCC, 
RAIN) 

**

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  RILEY AT FROSTFEST 2003

The FCC's chief ham radio rules enforcer, Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, 
will be the keynote speaker at the Richmond Virginia FrostFest 2003.  
The FrostFest is February 9, 2003 in Richmond, Virginia.  The venue is 
the Showplace center. For information please visit www.frostfest.com on 
the World Wide Web.   (W4PW)
  
**

AWARDS:  WILL THERE BE A WAS A-M?

Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Courson, WA3VJB, reports that the ARRL has 
promised to consider a proposal for special recognition of full carrier 
Amplitude Modulation.  This, as part of efforts by promoters of the mode 
to earn the popular Worked All States or WAS award.  

The proposal for a WAS AM was jointly developed by Pete Markavage WA2CWA 
and Mark Bell, K3ZX.  League staffers have told the two that the idea 
will be considered at an ARRL Membership Services Committee meeting in 
January.  

Several stateside hams have indicated they have achieved or are close to 
achieving WAS AM by working stations on popular AM gathering points on 
160, 75 and 40 meters. More information is on the web at 
www.amwindow.org  (WA3VJB)

**

SPECIAL EVENT STATION:  A CELEBRATION OF KIDS DAY

Its a special event station to help celebrate one of the most important 
events in the ham radio calendar.  K1D will be on the air through 
January 5th to celebrate the January 4th Kid's Day operating event. 
That's the twice a year outing where hams are encouraged to open their 
hearts and their stations to youngsters nationwide.

As to K1D, that station is special in several ways.  Even the call signs 
of the people operating are in the spirit of the event -- W1DAD and 
K1MOM who in real life Peter and Jeanne Schipelliti. 

So keep an ear open for K1D and if you work Peter or Jeanne, QSL to 7 
Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, New Hampshire 03811.  More on Kids Day is 
on line at www.arrl.org.  (News release)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  ZL1AMO CONTINUES HIS RECOVERY

I'm Ken Locke, N8PJN, with an update on the recovery of famed D-X'er Ron 
Wriight, ZL1AMO.  

Judy Roush, AA7UC of the International DX Association has some positive 
news this week.  While Wright is still in medical isolation and 
continues to fight the E-S-B-L infection, he is improving.  Intravenous 
feeding has been discontinued and ZL1AMO is now eating solid food.  

Rousch says that Wright is still weak but he is able to communicate.  In 
fact, he's  doing so  with his family using a mobile phone.  And Roush 
says that Wright is anxious to resume his ham radio activities as soon 
as he has recovered.  In  fact,  he continues to ask the family if they 
are receiving e-mails from the amateur radio community. 

Meantime, the International DX Association reports that the ZL1AMO Air 
Ambulance Fund is within $5,000 of reaching its $20,000 goal.  The fund 
was started to assist Wright in paying the fee to bring him home from 
Fiji where he was when he took ill.  Funds received so far have been 
forwarded to the air ambulance account in New Zealand.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ken Locke, N8PJN.  (INDEXA)

**

RADIO LAW:  HACKER PHONE FREEKS PALO ALTO

The city of East Palo Alto California is stuck with a thirty thousand 
dollar telephone bill thanks to an alleged hacker. ATT  says that the 
intruders were able to infiltrate the city's phone system last July.  
Over a five day period numerous long distance calls were placed to the 
Philippines.  
   
East Palo Alto's typical monthly phone bill is about ten thousand 
dollars. In July, it was 40-thousand. ATT offered to reduce the total 
amount by about $10,000 but said that East Palo Alto was responsible for 
the rest.  The city says it has no intention to pay the additional 
charges.  (Published news report)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  MORE PEOPLE CARRYING CELLPHONES THAN EVER BEFORE

A survey by a telecommunications firm reports that over half of the 
overall nations population living in major metropolitan areas now own 
mobile phones and subscribe to service.  This, according to ongoing 
measurements performed by Telephia Incorporated in 44 markets. 

Telephia says that while the average penetration rate was at 51 percent, 
a handful of cities had penetration rates in excess of 60 percent.  Some 
of the cities mentioned are in Greenville, South Cariolina with 68 
percent, Atlanta with 67% and 63 percent in Orlando, Florida.   

Telephia adds that recent results from an Attitude and Behavior Survey 
found the percentage of frequent wireless callers increased from 38 
percent last year to 48 percent this year.  Also that overall wireless 
service satisfaction increased significantly over 2002.  (Telephia 
release)

**

INTERNATIONAL-AUSTRALIA:  NEW SHORTWAVE CENTER OPENED
 
A new $6 million dollar radio Voice of International Asia broadcast 
center has been officially opened on Australia's Sunshine Coast.  This, 
by the man behind the project - multi millionaire Bob Edmiston - of the 
U-K.  The studio originates mainly programming for transmission on 
shortwave.  It uses the former Radio Australia transmitters near Darwin 
in VK8 and the footprint covers one-third of the globe.  (Q-News)

**

INTERNATIONAL - THE AMERICAS:  ANOTHER LOOK AT BROADBAND

Proposed U.S. government policies could harm competition in the 
broadband Internet and affect international e-commerce.  This says the 
Consumer Federation of America could result in reducing market choices 
and driving up monthly fees for users who want high-speed Internet 
access. 
 
The FCC ruled in March that cable providers do not have to share their 
systems or provide open access for competing Internet services.  The 
agency is currently reassessing its line-sharing rules for local-phone 
giants like Verizon  Communications and SBC.  (Published reports)


**

DX

In D-X, five Chillian stations will be active as CE6M from Mocha Island 
from January 15th to the 18th.  They plan to operate 160 through 10 
meters on SSB and CW. Q-S-L to P.O.Box 591, Temuco, Chile.  (425 DX)

QRZ-DX reports that someone pirated the call sign 9S1X and used it to 
operate 80 metres on December 13th.  No other information is available 
at this time.  (QRZ-DX)

And, W8GEX and WZ8D will be active as N8Z from St. Croix, in the Virgin 
Islands through January 8th.  They will be at the home of WP2Z and will 
operate on 6 to 160 meters.  QSL direct to WZ8D.  (GB2RS) 

Lastly, Q-News reports that the P29BPL, the six meter beacon in Papua 
New Guinea is on the air, but with reduced power and a lower  antenna 
location. This is reported to be a preliminary test to make sure there 
is no interference to TV receivers located nearby.  (Q-News)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  IN MEMORY OF ROGER MC CARTHY KD6CC

And for our last item of the year we have a tribute.  A special 
remembrance of one ham for another.  It was our Support Fund 
Administrator Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, who brought this very special 
remembrance to our attention.  We feel it is fitting that he share it 
with you as well.

--

Normally when you hear my voice its to ask for donations.  Not this 
time.  This time I want to share something with you.  Actually, its the 
note that accompanied a donation that we received last June.  It was 
only a few lines but it really tugged at our hearts.  See what it does 
to yours.

The note came from Rob Sweet, KG6DKW, not far from my home in Arcadia 
California.  Here's what it said:

"Thank you for providing Amateur Radio Newsline.  Enclosed you will find 
a donation in the amount of $50.  I would like to make this donation in 
memory of Silent Key KD6CC, Roger McCarthy, who was killed in a 
motorcycle accident on May 31st 2002.  I never met Roger in real-life, 
but enjoyed talking with him on the 2 meter band, and exchanging 
pictures with him on slow-scan TV."  

How do you respond to a note like that?  After you wipe away the tears, 
what do you say?  

We talked about it for several months and finally realized that what you 
do is to help keep Roger McCarthy's ham radio spirit alive.  That's what 
Rob Sweet, KG6DKW, wants to do.  

So Roger -- this one is for you.  This week we dedicate the final 
Amateur Radio Newsline report of 2002 to the spirit of the ham radio 
fellowship that you created while you were here among us.  

Like Rob, we never met KD6CC, but we wish we had.  He sure sound like 
the kind of ham radio neighbor any of us would be proud to have living 
next door.  May he rest in peace on the other side of the great Ethereal 
Abyss and may the light of Amateur Radio friendship that he kindled -- 
live on in 2003 -- and forever.

In Arcadia California, I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

Thank you Andy.  

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

And for this week, and this year, that's all from the Amateur Radio 
Newsline.  Our e-mail address is newsline at 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 Norm 
Seeley, KI7UP, saying 73 and we thank you for listening."  Amateur Radio 
Newsline(tm) is Copyright  2002 and 2003.  All rights are reserved.