[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1381 - January 30, 2004

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Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1381 - January 30,  2004

The following is a Q-S-T.

Hams across the nation react to the ARRL restructuring proposal and the 
first B- P-L law suit involving ham radio is threatened in Austria.  These 
stories and an interview with ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, highlight 
this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1381 coming your way right 
now!

**

RESTRUCTURING:  HAMS REACT TO THE ARRL NO-CODE PROPOSAL

Hams are starting to react to the recent ARRL proposal to restructure the 
United States Amateur Radio service, and not surprising the comments are as 
diverse as the community itself.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, 
KB4KCH, is at our South-East Bureau with this part of the story:

--

If you listen to the ham bands and check out the comments on the qrz.com 
website, it appears that most amateur radio operators have a somewhat 
sedate response to the ARRL's restructuring proposal. While some activists 
make their opposition quite vocal, the majority of comments so far seem to 
accept the League's initiative, 'though some do express reservations.

"I can live with this" is how some comments go. Others more strongly 
support the League by saying, "right on, A-double-R-L." The biggest concern 
most express centers around the ability to monitor the airwaves for rules 
compliance if explosive growth results.  As one operator on 15 meters says, 
"If we get a million new hams, will the FCC give us 500 more Riley 
Hollingsworth's to keep them in line?" Hollingsworth handles amateur radio 
enforcement matters for the Commission.

Some operators say the League's proposal will wind up dumbing down amateur 
radio.  Some even claim to have resigned their ARRL membership, 'though so 
far, no proof of that has surfaced. Vehement opponents of restructuring may 
in fact terminate their League memberships, but the number is not expected 
to be significant.

Restructuring is not a done deal. Announcement of the League's proposal is 
only the start.  The League will formally request that the FCC make a rules 
change. Once the Commission receives that request, it will be up to the FCC 
to decide whether or not it will consider the League proposal put it out 
for public comment. Chances are that it will. Once the proposal is assigned 
a rule making designation, you will have a chance to make your opinion 
known.

Comments are likely to come from the general public, the business community 
and any special interest groups as well as those who hold an FCC assigned 
call sign.

Stay tuned -- the story's just beginning.

 From the South-East Bureau in Birmingham Alabama, I'm David Black, KB4KCH, 
reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

Unless the FCC decides to place the ARRL request on a separate fast-track, 
you can expect the agency's first action to be putting it out for initial 
comment sometime in the next several weeks.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESTRUCTURING:  THE ARRL ON THE ARRL RESTRUCTURING PROPOSAL

The ARRL is now explaining why it has decided to ask the FCC to restructure 
the United States Amateur Radio Service, and the words are coming straight 
from the top.   Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, caught up 
with ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, by phone and got some insight into 
why the ARRL Board acted as it did :

-- With the American Radio Relay League's imminent filing with the FCC of 
its proposal for a new, no-code HF entry level license, the debate is 
certain to heat up.

ARRL President Jim Haynie W5JBP acknowledges the league's proposal will 
generate some controversy. But he says months of research, surveys and lots 
of internal debate went into crafting the revival of a Novice-class 
license.

Yes, Haynie confides, the ARRL's directors and Haynie himself were pressing 
the flesh - so to speak - for months gathering input from the amateur 
community. Directors also were conducting informal surveys among ARRL 
members. And, he says, a professional research company was hired by the 
league to survey hams about the state of the hobby.

Haynie says the research company's findings were pretty sobering and 
bolstered the ARRL board's drive for license reform.

"For example, 53 percent, if my memory serves me correct, today of all 
amateurs now are 55 years or older," Haynie says. "And this is growing at 
an exponential rate, it's not linear. And this is a very disturbing 
thought."

He says the results also revealed something the ARRL suspected for some 
time.

"There's people getting licenses and they're getting involved in what we 
call, or what I call '2-meter ghettos' and they have no place else to go so 
they lose interest after about a year or six months or whatever," Haynie 
explains. "So you've got 200,000 or 300,000 Technician licenses out there 
who say 'I've tried' and they did and they didn't like it."

Haynie says it became clear one way to recapture the magic of the hobby lay 
in the experiences many long-time hams had when they first entered amateur 
radio.

"We went back and thought about, okay, how did it used to work and what was 
successful about it? And the old Novice class license was extremely 
successful, I think. And, we said, 'Well, okay then we have to go back to 
some form of that.' "

Last year's World Radiocommuncations Conference laid the ground work for 
countries to decide for themselves what to do about CW and licensing. But 
Haynie says the WRC '03 decision played a small role in the ARRL's 
deliberations.

"Morse Code is certainly tradition, I don't deny that," Haynie says. "And I 
think it's a neat ability. It's a skill. It has nothing to do with 
intelligence."

Haynie says he and other directors have heard some argue: 'Hey, I had to 
pass a code test, why shouldn't everyone else.' Haynie says that's like 
saying I'd like to play golf like Tiger Woods and coming to the realization 
that's probably not going to happen because you simply don't possess the 
skills - even with lots of practice. The same logic, he says, applies to 
CW. For many hams, he says, it's simply not their bag.

Haynie says the ARRL's proposal preserves CW for one license class, yet 
opens the doors to the world of HF for those who couldn't learn and master 
Morse Code to pass even a 5-words-per-minute test.

"People, they realize, they've come to grips: We are getting older. And 
we're not getting the people into Amateur Radio," Haynie says.

"And the amateur community realizes that we've gotta do something. And, I 
don't say that the league's proposal is perfect. Neither does any of the 
directors or officers of the league say that. But it was the best that we 
could come up with that still preserved the Morse Code tradition for the 
Extra class exam, and yet, gave you the taste of the old Novice that I used 
to have 30-something years ago."

Haynie says he's confident, based on his experience with the FCC, that the 
agency will look favorably on the ARRL license proposal.

"I have a gut feeling that they will take a majority of it, at least I 
think they will. They'll probably fine tune it, they'll tweak it some 
because that's typical of the federal government," Haynie says.

"But on the other hand, I know, I know that they want to simplify the 
Amateur Radio Service. They want three classes of licenses. They want to 
reduce their workload and continue to do what they like to do and amateur 
radio take care of itself."

And how long does Haynie think it will take the FCC to act and make any 
changes to the Amateur Radio license structure? He says don't expect a 
decision anytime soon.

"I don't see anything happening on any of the petitions, including the 
league's, probably 'til late 2005," Haynie concludes.

Haynie says his e-mail and phone have been busy since the board's vote two 
weeks ago. He says he's comfortable with the license proposal and is 
prepared to support and defend it.

Haynie says he had the chance to do so earlier this week before his 
hometown radio club in Garland, Texas. He says after explaining the 
league's rationale to the group, those willing to listen asked lots of 
questions. Haynie says he felt by the time it was over, many appreciated 
the league's work on behalf of the hobby.

Haynie's next stop: The 44th Tropical Hamboree in Miami on February 7 where 
he's expecting to get lots of feedback.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz NT3V in Philadelphia.

--

If all went as expected, the ARRL was to transmit its proposal to the FCC 
on Wednesday, January 28th.  And less we forget, a word of congratulations 
to Jim Haynie on his election to a third term leading the United States 
only recognized Amateur Radio society. The ARRL Letter Board of Directors 
expressed its confidence in W5JBP's leadership on January 16 with a 
unanimous vote for his him to continue as President.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  AUSTRIAN BPL PROVIDER SUING HAMS OVER NEWS STORY

In what looks to be a case of "he said -- no -- he said," a row is brewing 
over the introduction of Broadband over Powerline telecommunications in the 
city of Linz,  Austria.   One that has a service provider taking that 
nations Amateur Radio society to court over statements quoted in the media 
world-wide.

As reported a few weeks ago, stories were circulating that PLT, or Power 
Line Telecommunications as the Europeans call their BPL system, had 
been  halted in Linz.  This, due to interference caused by the 
system.  Also that the Austrian government had enjoined the service 
provider and the system would never be permitted.

Not true says the BPL provider and the power company and its now headed to 
court to try to stop the hams from complaining to them and to the 
press.  From across the Atlantic, Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has more:

--

The Austrian national amateur radio society, OeVSV, has objected to the use 
of PLT in Linz, stating that it causes interference to amateur stations, 
and issuing a press release which was picked up by the Austrian mass 
media.  It appears that the OeVSV was misquoted as saying that the Austrian 
ministry had taken out an injunction against the PLT providers and that the 
service had been closed down for good in Linz.

The management of Speed-Web Consulting and Linz AG, who are responsible for 
the PLT transmissions, are disclaiming what they say are "press attacks by 
Austrian radio amateurs". They say that there has not been any injunction 
against them and the roll-out of PLT continues.

Speed-Web and Linz AG say that Austrian radio amateurs are doing their best 
to stop PLT "by filing undue interference complaints". They go on to say 
that "if there should be any actual, harmful and officially proven 
interference case caused by Powerline Communications, mitigation measures 
will solve this very case at that specific location in the concerned 
frequency".

On the 14th of January, Linz AG stated that it would be suing the OeVSV, as 
well as its president personally, over this matter.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.

--

The decision of Linz A G to sue the ham radio operators over the story  of 
BPL says that in this one, big business is willing to go the whole nine 
yards. (GB2RS)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  FCC'S ABERNATHY ACKNOWLEDGES AMATEUR RADIO BPL CONCERNS

Here at home, FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy is apparently shifting 
away from her definition of BPL as a "Broadband Nirvana."  Last week 
Abernathy specifically cited Amateur Radio concerns about the interference 
potential of Broadband Over Power Line in remarks she delivered to the 
Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

According to the ARRL Letter, Abernathy said BPL should not be widely 
deployed before dealing with ham radio's interference fears.  She admitted 
that she now recognizes that Amateur Radio licensees have raised concerns 
about the potential for harmful interference.  Abernathy described this 
as  something that will have to be addressed before any mass market 
deployment can occur.

Commissioner Abernathy made her remarks on January 22 at the school's 
Washington, DC campus.  Abernathy said that if engineers can find a way to 
prevent harmful interference to other radio services, BPL would represent a 
tremendous advance for consumers, because it could bring broadband to any 
home that has electric power delivery.  (ARRL)

**

RADIO LAW:  CONGRESS MAY RAISE INDECENCY AND OBSCENITY FINES

Using obscene and indecent language on the airwaves may soon get very 
expensive. This as congress considers raising the stakes for those who 
insist on talking dirty on the radio.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill 
Pasternak, WA6ITF,  has the details:

-- United States Representative Fred Upton of Michigan introduced 
congressional legislation to upthe maximum fine for an indecent broadcast 
from $27,500 to $275,000.  Under the Upton sponsored measure the maximum 
fine for a continuing violation would be raised from $300,000 to $3 
million.

Upton had also scheduled hearings to review the FCC's indecency enforcement 
policies for January 28th.  Ken Johnson, a spokesman for Representative 
Billy Tauzin of Louisiana is quoted as saying that law makers intend to 
move the legislation quickly in hopes of sending a signal to broadcasters 
that enough is enough.

This action comes following recent complaints by FCC Chairman Michael 
Powell. He says that the existing penalty cap on indecency fines was too 
low to discourage off-color broadcasts.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF

--

Commissioner Powell believes that once broadcasters start to feel the pinch 
where in their wallets they will start to think twice about transmitting 
indecency on the airwaves.  (Published news reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  UPS TO THE FCC:  YOU HAVE OUR FULL COOPERATION

The FCC has received a letter from United Parcel Service offering the 
company's full cooperation in removing any unlicensed radio equipment from 
its nationwide fleet.  This follows a January 7th letter to the Middlesburg 
Ohio office of U-P- S detailing unlicensed 10 meter operations coming from 
delivery vehicles in that area.

The FCC also has contacted another trucking company, R and L Transfer of 
Norwalk Ohio regarding the same type of problem.  Unlicensed operators 
coming to the 10 meter band has been a growing problem around the world in 
recent years.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THAT RADAR IS A NO-NO

The FCC has also written to a pair of hams in the Winfield and Haysville 
Kansas area.  This, regarding a reported piece of marine radar equipment 
mounted in a land based vehicle.  According to the FCC the radar unit was 
being used for storm spotting without being licensed for this use.  The 
identities of those using the radar system were not revealed.  (FCC)

**

HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS:  OKLAHOMA IN MARCH

Turning to the social scene, the Green Country Hamfest and ARRL Oklahoma 
Section Convention is slated for Friday and Saturday, March 19th and 20th 
at the Claremore Exposition Center in Claremore Oklahome.  Claremore is not 
far from Tulsa, and the event will feature free parking, loads of vendors, 
on-site ham radio exams, numerous forum sessions along with some truly 
nifty prizes.  More information is on the web at 
www.greencountryhamfest.com (KC5FM)

**

HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS:  FIRE CANT STOP THE DIXIFEST IN MEMPHIS

Despite a fire that destroyed its normal venue,  Dixiefest 2004 in Memphis 
Tennessee will happen the weekend of February 14 and 15.  Planners were 
able to find a new home at the Mid-South Fairgrounds' Pipkin 
Building.  This is only a proverbial stones-throw from the Shelby County 
Building which was destroyed in the December 2003 blaze.  More information 
about this premiere event can be found on-line.  Just take your web browser 
to www.dixifest.org and take a peek. (Via e-mail)

**

OUR GOLDEN PAST:  CARL & JERRY "LIVE" AGAIN

Its time for a trip back to the 1950's.  To a kinder and gentler Amateur 
Radio. Our tour guide for this journey is Bruce Tennant, K6PZW:

--]

Remember the names Carl and Jerry?  Well if you were playing with ham radio 
in the 1950's and 1960's you are well aware that these are the first names 
of the two fictitious teenage electronic whizze's.  Characters created by 
the late John T. Frye, W9EGV, for his long-running magazine series of the 
same name.

The Carl and Jerry stories appeared in Popular Electronics from October 
1954 through December 1964.  They told of the adventures of two perennial 
teenage boys who shared a special bond because of their shared love of 
music, electronics and radio.  Now, many of these stories are again 
available to read to enjoy thanks to a new spot on the 
world-wide-web.  Better yet, they are the kind of stuff you may want to 
read to your grandkids, especially if they have the same wonderment as you 
when you were their age.

Where are they and how do you these Pop Com classics?  Thats easy.  Just 
follow to link you will find in this weeks print edition of this Amateur 
Radio Newsline report.  And good news for our sight impaired 
listeners.  Word is that the print works well with most devices to help the 
blind to read as well.

Traveling back in time for the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, enjoying the past.

--

So far there are only 21 of the stories in the seriers on the web, but 
enough to keep you glued to your computer screen for several hours.  They 
are there to read at 
http://home.gwi.net/~jdebell/pe/cj/cnjindex.htm  (ARNewsline(tm)) **

INTERNATIONAL - IARU:  NEW IARU REGION 2 ARDF WEBSITE

Back to the present and word that Region II of the International Amateur 
Radio Union now has web site to serve as the voice of its Amateur Radio 
Direction Finding Working Group.  The site provide links to official rules 
and regional results along with contact information for A-R-D-F groups and 
individuals throughout the Region.

Plans call for the site to be in four languages that include English, 
Spanish, French, and Portuguese. If you have any comments or wish to 
volunteer with the translations, please contact Dale Hunt, WB6BYU or Ken 
Harker ,WM5R.  Their respective e-mails are wb6byu at arrl.net and 
wm5r at arrl.net.  The website can be found at www.ardf-r2.org   (Press 
release)

**

INTERNATIONAL - UNITED KINGDOM:  OFCOM NEW TELECOM REGULATOR

 From the international wire, word that Ofcom is name of the new regulator 
of Amateur Radio in the United Kingdom.  The agency also holds 
responsibility for control other services that include broadcast 
television, radio, and numerous wireless communications services.  More 
about Ofcom is on-line www.ofcom.org.uk (GB2RS)

**

INTERNATIONAL - VK:  AN AUSTRALIAN LICENSE IS REQUIRED

A note to those of you who intend to operate from Australia on an extended 
visit.  It appears that many amateurs, including those operating maritime 
mobile from within Australia's territorial waters, are using their own 
callsign with the 'stroke VK' suffix.  Under Australian telecommunications 
law, this is not permitted for any lengthy stay.  Once past the grace 
period, all radio amateurs operating from Australia, and more 
importantly,  from Australia's territorial waters must obtain an Australian 
license and individual VK callsign from the Australian Communications 
Authority.  If you don't you will be told to go off the air.  (Q-News, 
RSGB)

**

INTRUDER WATCH:  HARMONICS BOTHER 20 METERS

An unidentified broadcaster on 14.280 MHz, has been identified as a 
harmonic of a Radio Liberty.  The transmitter in question operates on 4.760 
MHz and it's the 3rd harmonic that been heard in V-K-Land.

Meantime, another intruder on 14.320 MHz has been found to be Radio 
Uzbeckistan. This time it's the 2nd harmonic of a transmitter on 7.160 
that's responsible for what's being heard.  (Q-News)

**

WITH THE ARRL:  MAJOR CHANGE IN DXCC POLICY ANNOUNCED

A major change in the criteria for determining what is a new DXCC 
entity.  An ARRL news release says that the organizations Board of 
Directors has removed the guideline that provides for an entity to be added 
to the DXCC list if it has a separate International Amateur Radio Union 
member society.   The ARRL says that this provision had the unintended 
consequence of bringing in applications for IARU membership that do not 
further the objectives of the organization.  In fact, all it has done is to 
create what ARRL terms as an unfortunate and unnecessary administrative 
burden for the IARU.  (ARRL)

**

DX

In DX, Dwayne Barbee KE4RVT is the latest ham on  the air from war-torn 
Iraq. Q- R-Zed dot com reports that Barbee received his Amateur radio 
license from the Ministry of Communication on January 25th.  He has been 
assigned YI9RVT and will be operating SSB and CW on all bands for the next 
12 to 18 months from the city of Al Kut.  (qrz.com)

And word that SM5DIC was scheduled to return to the Democratic Republic of 
Congo on the 20th of January.  He will be there for two months and will 
operate the club call 9QZ0AR in his spare time.  (GB2RS)

Also, AA1M and W1USN will be active as J3 stroke their home calls from 
Grenada to the 6th of February.  They will operate CW, SSB and some PSK on 
the High Frequency bands.  For all of these  operations, QSL as directed on 
the air. (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  RADIO FROM SPACE - THE SETI INSTITUTE IS MONITORING

Lastly this week, scientists searching the stars for aliens are convinced 
an E.T. is out there -- it's just that they haven't had the know-how to 
detect such a being.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the 
rest of the story:

-- Science Online says that technological advances have opened the way for 
scientists to check millions of previously unknown star systems, 
dramatically increasing the chances of finding intelligent life in outer 
space in the next 25 years.

The article quotes Seth Shostak.  Shostak is the senior astronomer at 
California's non-profit Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute 
says that it is like looking for needles in the haystack that is our 
galaxy, but there could be thousands of needles out there.  But on a recent 
visit to Australia to attend a conference on extraterrestrial research, 
Shostak said detecting alien life is only the start.

Since it was founded in 1984, the SETI Institute has monitored radio 
signals, hoping to pick up a transmission from outer space.  Its Project 
Phoenix conducts two annual three-week sessions on a radio telescope at 
Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Project Phoenix, is the privately funded successor to 
an original NASA program that searched the heavens for signals from 
extra-terrestrial beings.  That program was canceled in 1993 amid much 
skepticism in the Congress regarding the possibility of life in outer 
space.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP

--

But Science Online says that the search has been slow. About 500 of 1,000 
targeted stars have been examined and no extraterrestrial transmissions 
have been heard.  (ScienceOnLine)

**


NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, 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 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.

A reminder that the newly created Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring 
Project is up and operating.  We already have signed up close to a dozen 
hams who are willing to assist others.  If you can help, or if you need 
assistance please drop a note with your name, address, hone number and area 
of expertise to mentor at arnewsline.org

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don 
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening."  Amateur Radio 
Newsline(tm) is Copyright  2004.  All rights reserved.  Now please stand by 
for a special mesaage regarding Amateur Radio Newsline's current financial 
situation from Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.  It  following this 5 second pause.

-- 5 sec pause --

This is Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, Chief Financial Officer of the not-for-profit 
organization you know as the Amateur Radio Newsline. And once again, I am 
using the single word -- HELP! If you value this service, please help. We 
try to keep these kind of thing as subtle as we can.

You responded so wonderfully to our plea last April, and we haven't really 
asked for anything since. But, unfortunately, your response dwindled in the 
waning months. The expenses of bringing you the up-to-date news on Amateur 
Radio did not.

We'd really like to hear from you. And we'd really like to hear from the 
repeater clubs out there. These are the wonderful folks who re-transmit our 
broadcasts, bringing your nets increased value, and giving your members the 
latest in Amateur Radio news and information to enhance their hobby.

But Amateur Radio Newsline cannot continue without the funding needed to 
pay the monthly bills. And right now, we can't.

In the quarter century that it has existed, no one at the Amateur Radio 
Newsline has ever taken a salary. We all volunteer our time and talents. 
But what we ARE faced with are monthly expenses for gathering and 
delivering the news to YOU! We are talking telephone, Internet access and 
the like. This has not changed.

The bottom line is this: I'm asking that you try to find it within your 
organization or yourself as an amateur to continue this service. As we've 
said before, whether Amateur Radio Newsline continues to provide this 
service or if it disappears is totally your decision. We're here to serve 
you for as long as you want us. Your response over the next several weeks 
will provide the answer.

The address for the Amateur Radio Newsline is Post Office Box 660937, 
Arcadia California, 91066.

Looking forward to hearing from you REALLY soon, I'm Andy Jarema, N-6-Tiny 
California Quake.