[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1362- September 19 2003
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Sat Sep 20 00:53:20 EDT 2003
Amateur Radio Newsline 1362- September 19 2003
A NOTE TO THOSE WHO ONLY "READ" AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
As you are aware, Amateur Radio Newsline is, primarily, an audio news
service and this weeks newscast is very audio intensive. While reading
gives the basic facts, we advise you to download the audio file at
http://www.arnewsline.org/quincy to get the most out of the newscast in
relation to our coverage of Hurricane Isabel and the role Amateur Radio
played and continues to play in storm communications efforts. This is a
story told in "sound" from the scene that really cannot be reported in
any other way.
**
The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio is there as a hurricane pounds the
U-S east coast, the ARRL holds tight on Morse and more petitions are on
their way to the FCC. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1362 coming your way right now.
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAM ADIO AND HURRICANE ISABEL
Her name is Isabel. She is a hurricane that slammed into the United
States East coast with gale force winds. Emergency services including
ham radio were ready and waiting as we hear in this report:
--
Roaring ashore with winds of more than 100 miles an hour, Isabel made
landfall along North Carolina's Ocracoke Island, crossing the Outer
Banks around midday September 18th. On the west end of Ocracoke Island,
sustained winds were measured at 80 miles an hour. Storm surge of 12
feet was reported I
Bernard Nobles, WA4MOK, is a Section Emergency Coordinator in North
Carolina. He says hams mobilized over a large part of the state:
4:07 IN In emergency operations centers
OUT in the eastern part of the state
The action wasn't just in North Carolina. Hams throughout the eastern
seaboard were in position, ready to provide backup communications. Only
a few hours after the storm had moved ashore, more than 800-thousand
customers were without power in North Carolina and Virginia. Bill
Moraine, N2COP, is a Public Information Officer in southeastern North
Carolina. He says hams were providing a variety of communications
services:
--
IN they really run the range of
OUT in northeastern North Carolina.
--
Morrain says High Frequency conditions were often deplorable with
extensive interference. He says the Hurricane Watch Net was being
relayed locally through both EchoLink and IRLP, the Internet Repeater
Linking Project, to help overcome H-F problem. All along the storms
projected path ham radio operators trained in emergency communications
were in service or on stand-by alert. The Hurricane Watch Net was busy
on 14-point-325 MHz. At the National Hurricane Center in Florida,
amateur station WX4NHC helped with relaying storm reports. With hams
throughout the mid-Atlantic region helping in the communications effort,
Morraine said putting a number on those assisting would be tough:
--
IN We don't have a handle
OUT in this particular disaster One bit of good news.
--
Morraine says Isabel is no Hugo, referring to the devastating hurricane
that slammed into North Carolina in 1989:
--
IN Thanksfully, Isabel
OUT about 105.
--
Hams were scheduled to staff the North Carolina Emergency Management
Eastern Branch headquarters in Kinston. The amateur station at the state
emergency operations center in Raleigh was also activating, with an
umbrella of liaison stations being organized to monitor the 146.88 MHz
repeater and the Tarheel Net.
The National Weather Service had hurricane warnings posted for parts of
North Carolina and Virginia. Forecasters warned hurricane force winds
were possible 150 miles inland, along with tornadoes.
As Isabel began moving north after landfall, flooding became a serious
threat. At least one hotel in Kill Devil Hills collapsed into the ocean.
Evacuations were being ordered along Chesapeake Bay.
In the hurricane's first day ashore, nearly 900 flights had to be
cancelled, with some airports closing or limiting service. Up to a foot
of rain was possible in West Virginia's hilly Eastern Panhandle, with
between 6 and 9 inches of rain expected over parts of Pennsylvania.
Amateur radio operators say they will stay on the air helping--as long
as needed.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH, in Birmingham
Alabama.
+++
As David said, it was North Carolina that was the first to feel Isabel's
fury. Gay Pearce, KN4AQ, is in Raleigh with that part of the story.
+++
Amateur Radio was in full swing in eastern North Carolina as Hurricane
Isabel made landfall on Thursday. For hams and everyone else, the term
"made landfall" was a confusing one. High winds, rain and power
failures reached the Raleigh-Durham area, 150 miles inland, well before
the
hurricane eye crossed the coastline.
--
IN: WAKE EOC POWER FAIL AUDIO]
--
The Tarheel Emergency Net, North Carolina's ARES net, was in operation,
splitting duty between 3923 and 7232 kHz, depending on propagation
--
IN: HF COUNTY CHECK-IN AUDIO],
--
The North Carolina ARES group has not yet begun to use 60 meters.
Most traffic between the coast and the states Eastern Branch
headquarters in Kinston was being handled on linked repeater systems.
Several hams have remained on Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, and
for a time, hams across the world could listen to them via Echolink and
IRLP connections. That ended as power and phone service failed near the
coast.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami continued to use the Internet
links to take reports from areas where connections remained in place.
--
[K4JVP AUDIO]
--
There was some confusion early as too many sources of input were mixed
together on one combined Echoink/IRLP conference. The National
Hurricane Center's liaison station commented:
--
[HNC CONFUSION AUDIO]
--
Control operators were able to clear up that confusion, but locally,
repeater operators are finding that they can't mix local emergency and
logistics traffic with a full-time Internet connection that's carrying
similar traffic on other repeaters. That's a lesson for the next
emergency.
Repeaters were used inland as well. The wide coverage 146.88 repeater
in Raleigh linked the State EOC with surrounding counties and the
Eastern Branch headquarters.
--
[VHF COUNTY CHECK-IN AUDIO]
--
Shelters began filling up as the storm moved inland, but with most
shelters located in counties that would receive at least Tropical Storm
force winds and a possible loss of power and telephone service, Amateurs
were dispatched to provide communications.
--
[SHELTER VOLUNTEER AUDIO]
--
Reporting for Newsline from the fringe of Hurricane Isabel, this is Gary
Pearce KN4AQ in Raleigh, North Carolina.
--
More on Hurricane Isabel and the role of ham radio in future Amateur
Radio Newsline reports. (Numerous sources)
**
RESTRUCTURING: THE ARRL POSITION - WAIT TO HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS
Why hasn't the ARRL joined those who have already filed petitions to the
FCC on the topics of Morse Code testing and changes to license
priveleges? In a note to his constituancy the League's Southwestern
Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, explains it this way:
"After determining that the FCC will be handling these matters in due
course, your ARRL has set a timetable that includes ample opportunity to
collect member input before determining its direction at the January
2004 Board meeting."
Goddard says to say tuned for further developments. He also tells ARRL
members to contact their own ARRL Director and make known their views on
these vital issues.
Goddard also suppled a brief overview of a meeting in St. Louis this
past weekend, where ARRL Directors and Officers took what he calls the
next step to define the ARRL's future role in Advancing and Advocating
Amateur Radio. Although the details of ARRL's Long Range Plan aren't
yet complete, W6XD says that hams can expect to see bold new actions in
several key areas. These include advocacy in key regulatory and
legislative issues, lifetime learning, certification and personal
achievement and public recognition of Amateur Radio as a valuable
service. Goddard adds that there will also be financial stability to
implement all of these strategies. (ARRL SW Div. Report)
**
RESTRUCTURING: MORE CODE PETITIONS COMING
The ARRL may be taking the correct road on this one. This is because
the latest ham radio restructuring show appears to be only in its
opening act. In fact, it looks as if the six petitions favoring
abolishing Morse testing and the one from FISTS favoring its retention
may be only the beginning of a deluge of requests from both sides in the
issue. We have heard that there are a number of other petitions already
at the FCC or on their way but know little about them. Our Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW has more:
As we go to air we believe there are as many as another half dozen
petitions being filed on both sides of this contriversial restructuring
issue. Amateur Radio Newsline will keep following this story and will
have more fore you in upcoming reports. (Various sources)
**
RESTRUCTURING: FILE ON EACH PETITION
Still with this latest round of restructuring. If you are among those
planning to file comments on one or more of the Morse petitions already
before the FCC then listen up. If you want to make known your feelings
on all of them, then you will have to file separate comments on each
one.
As of this moment, a comment filed on any one particular petition will
be considered for that specific rule making request alone and not on
all. And having read the petitions, we can understand why. Each one
asks for a specific approach in handling the Morse question and it would
be impossible to provide a one comment that would fit all.
By the way, as we go to air the FISTS pro-code request has still not
been assigned a rule making designation by the FCC. (ARNewsline(tm))
**
RADIO LAW: CONGRESS MAY INCREASE FCC AUTHORITY TO ISSUE FINES
The Federal Communications Commission would be given the authority to
levy significantly higher fines. This, if a bill being considered by
the Commerce Committee of the U.S. Senate becomes law. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has the details:
--
The Wall Street Journal reports that fines for violating FCC rules could
jump tenfold, and activities of lobbyists would be further restricted
under a bill introduced in mid-June by Senator John McCain who chairs
the Committee that authorizes the agency's funding. In addition to the
increase in the Commission's authority to levy fines, the proposed
legislation would also extend the statute of limitations on violations
of the agency's rules from one year to two.
Other provisions include restrictions that would prevent top staffers
from lobbying the agency for one year after leaving their positions, and
a ban on the payment of travel expenses of FCC officials by companies
and private interest groups. In other words, if the FCC were to send
out a representative to any gathering the cost must be borne by the
agency and not the events sponsor. Its far to early to know if such a
prohibition would impact on the FCC ability to attend hamfests,
conventions and other hobby radio gatherings.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in
Philadelphia.
--
McCain's bill reportedly has the support of Senator Ernest Hollings
increasing its chances of gaining broader support. Even so, it is still
expected to face tough opposition as it makes its way through the
regulatory aproval process. (Published news reports)
**
REMEMBERING : THE 2ND ANNUAL N2LEN 9/11 NET
The second annual N2LEN nine eleven net took place on Thursday,
September 11tth. The gathering used voice over I P technology to link
repeaters world wide over the Internet. This allowed radio amateurs and
non-ham listeners to reflect on the terrorist attacks of two years ago
and the role that radio amateurs played in the aftermath.
ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, was this years keynote speaker. He
addressed the role of Amateur Radio in homeland security and urged each
amateur to develop his or her emergency communication skills.
As with the 2002 net, this year's cyberspace and radio meting relied on
EchoLink and eQSO Internet software connections as well as repeaters and
simplex links around the world. (N2LEN Net News Release)
**
AMATEUR RADIO SURVIVAL: UCF CLUB EVICTED FROM ITS HOME
The University of Central Florida Amateur Radio Club station K4UCF has
been evicted. This, from the campus location that it had occupied for
30 years. Mert Garlick, N6AWE, reports:
--
According to a qrz.com website posting from Matt Collins, KG4JYD, the
eviction took place last June but seems only now to have been made
public. It reportedly resulted from faculty complaints about the radio
club who concluded that damage to computer equipment was from a
lightning strike that entered the building through the club's antenna
system. University's plant personnel also complained that club members
worked on the roof of the building without authorization.
But Matt Kassawara KG4FEQ , has a differing view. Kassawar who is with
the club says that the ham station is the closest equipment to the
antenna system. He says that neither that equipment nor the club
repeaters were damaged by a lightning strike, indicating that the clubs
antenna could not have been the source of the damage.
The club requested that University of Central Florida provide comparable
space from which to operate. So far UCF administrators have refused.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mert Garlick, N6AWE.
--
More information is on the web at qrz.com and
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~wb4tcw/evictimeline.html (qrz.com)
**
ENFORCEMENT: NY COURT DISMISSES HAM SCANNER CASE
Some good news for a New York State ham as a court dismisses a
misdemeanor charge against Richard C. Lalone, KC5GAX. This for
allegedly for violating an anti-scanner provision that state's Vehicle
and Traffic Law.
According to the ARRL Letter, in a 1300-word decision, Judge John J.
Hallet said it was clear the legislature never intended the provisions
of traffic law 397 from applying to licensed Amateur Radio operators.
He then dismissed the charge against Lalone August 5th.
The law in question prohibits individuals in New York state -- other
than law officers -- from equipping their vehicles with radios capable
of receiving signals on the frequencies allocated for police use without
first securing a permit. The section also contains an explicit
exemption for any person who holds a valid amateur radio operator's
license. (ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC ASKS POWER COMPANY TO TRY HARDER TO RESOLVE NOISE
COMPLAINTS
The FCC has asked American Electric Power Company of Columbus, Ohio to
take a closer look at several power line noise complaints and try harder
to resolve them. This in relation to complaints filed by four Amateur
Radio operators in Ohio, Indiana and Oklahoma.
According to the ARRL Letter AEP responded February 10th to the FCC's
initial correspondence regarding the four cases. But the agencys'
Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth says that follow-up reports from the
complainants suggest discrepancies exist between what AEP told the FCC
and what the complainants report.
Hollingsworth said evidence to date indicates that none of the cases has
been satisfactorily resolved. In one case, AEP erroneously identified
the amateur's own antenna as the source of the noise.
Now, Hollingsworth has asked AEP to revisit each of these issues and to
update the FCC within 45 days of any progress in each case. He also
referred the power company to ARRL RFI Specialist Mike Gruber, W1MG, for
technical assistance. (ARRL, FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PAGING FINE
The FCC has affirmed a $9,000 fine against Air Paging, Inc.. This for
failure to operate its Wireless Radio Station in accordance with its
station authorization, continuous radiation of an unmodulated carrier,
and failure to provide station identification by the assigned call sign.
Air Paging did not file a response to the initial Notice of Liability,
so the $9,000 figure was affirmed. In addition, the Commission does not
know if Air Paging has corrected the various violations, so Air Paging
has been given 30 days to outline what measures it has taken or will
take to correct the violations and ensure that they do not recur. The
entire mater is in cyberspace at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-2741A1.doc
(CGC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: TWO MORE TOWER FINES ISSUED
The FCC has issued two more broadcasters hefty fines because of tower
related violations. A monetary forfeiture in the amount of $10,000 was
issued to Pinnacle Towers, Inc., owner of a tower in Des Moines, Iowa,
for failing to clean and repaint its antenna structure to maintain good
visibility. Dinged with a $3000 fine is Best Country Broadcasting,
LLC, owner of the antenna structure located in Bogalusa, Louisiana. No
reason for this fine was mentioned in the FCC digest for the Best
Country fine. (CGC)
**
INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA: BPL COMING TO VK-LAND
The problem of Broadband over Powerlines or BPL is about to hit dwn-
under. This as Australia makes ready to give it a go. Q-News Graham
Kemp, VK4BB, has the latest:
--
PLT, PLC, BPL. What ever way you say it it means noise. Now, the
Wireless Institute of Australia - Victoria says there is now clear
evidence of a PLT-C/PBL push in Australia. That no-one can continue to
be in denial mode.
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