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Thu Mar 8 06:28:51 EST 2007

Newsline. 

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And what about current Australian licensees?  They will have until October 1st 
to bring their stations into compliance with the new R-F exposure rules.  (Q-
News) 

** 

REGULATORY:  FCC INVITES COMMENTS ON NEW HAM BAND PROPOSAL 

Back on this side of the Pacific our FCC is seeking public comments on a 
proposal to create two new amateur bands and to upgrade the  Amateur Service 
to that of primary user in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz. An ARRL Bulletin says that 
if the proposal is approved, amateurs would gain a new, secondary, US-only 
High Frequency allocation at 5.25 to 5.40 MHz and a new Low Frequency spectral 
parcel from 135.7 to 137.8 kHz.  

The 5 MHz band would be the first new HF allocation since the early 1980s, 
when amateurs got 30, 17 and 12 meters. The Low Frequency band would be the 
first ever for US hams.  And most important for the long-term future of ham 
radio U-H-F exploration, the proposal will also elevate Amateur Radio from 
secondary to primary status in the 2400 to 2402 MHz band. 

All of this is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making titled ET Docket 
02-98 adopted May 2nd by the FCC. Comments are due July 29, and reply comments 
are due no later than August 12th.  Interested parties can file using the 
FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System.  That U-R-L is http://www.fcc.gov/e-
file/ecfs.html .  Click on ''Search for Filed Comments'' and enter ''02-98'' 
in the ''Proceeding'' field.  (ARRL) 

** 

REGULATORY: FCC CREATES SPECTRUM POLICY TASK FORCE 

Ham radio is not the only area where the FCC has been active in looking at 
spectrum usage.  In fact the agency has announced the creation of a  Spectrum 
Policy Task Force or S.P.T.F. to tackle the problems arising from an 
increasing demand for spectrum.   

The task force is headed by Dr. Paul Kolodzy.  Dr. Kolodzy is the Senior 
Spectrum Policy Advisor  for the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology.  
The rest of the committee will be made up of attorneys,  economists and even 
engineers.  Its not known whether or not a representative of Amateur Radio or 
any other personal radio service such as FRS, CB or the new Multi-Use Radio 
Service will be invited on.   

You can find out the complete  at 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-223142A1.doc  (FCC) 

** 

REGULATORY:  WRC 2003 IS ON AGAIN 

The on again and off again 2003 World Radiocommunications conference appears 
to be on again.  According to news reports, the conference which was canceled 
by Venezuela's telecommunications bureau has been moved to Geneva Switzerland.  
The dates are the same -- July and August of 2003.  The future of mandatory 
Morse code testing in the Amateur Radio Service is one of the items on the 
agenda for that meeting.  (Published reports) 

** 

REGULATORY:  FCC SAYS NO TO MANDATORY EMP STANDARDS 

The FCC has dismissed a petition for rule making that would have required all 
electronic equipment under its jurisdiction to be shielded against 
electromagnetic pulse or E-M-P damage.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Henry 
Feinberg, K2SSQ, has more: 

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The petition, filed last fall by Don Schellhardt and Nickolas Leggett, N3NL 
was put on public notice in December and designated as RM-10330.  According to 
the ARRL Letter the proposals would have applied to both new and existing 
equipment falling within the FCC's purview.  And yes:  It  would have included 
some Amateur Radio equipment.  

Schellhardt is a Connecticut attorney.  Leggett is a Washington, D.C.  
technical consultant.  In 1986 the two filed a similar petition with the FCC 
seeking a Notice of Inquiry on possible shielding of electronics against EMP.  
They say the September 11th terrorist attacks motivated them to approach the 
FCC on the topic once again.  Once again,  the FCC did not agree. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ. 
-- 

The ARRL did not comment on the proposal but fourteen others did.  And they 
were almost unanimous in asking that the petition be dismissed.  (ARRL) 

** 

REGULATORY:  FCC-NCVEC MEETING AGENDA ANNOUNCED 

The National Conference of Volunteer Examination Coordinators has released the 
agenda for its annual meeting with the FCC.  Among the topics to be discussed 
are the effect of restructuring on Amateur Radio testing, a report on the 
status of testing in sparsely populated areas and the status of regulatory and 
enforcement matters.  The gathering is slated for Friday, July 26th in 
Gettysburg Pennsylvania.  (NCVEC) 

** 

ENFORCEMENT:  FINE ISSUED TO BROADCASTER FOR ALLEGED LANGUAGE VIOLATION 

The FCC has issued a notice of forfeiture to Infinity Broadcasting 
Incorporated in the amount of $21,000.  The agency says that it is imposing 
the fine after it concluded that Infinity is apparently liable for the penalty 
for willfully and repeatedly broadcasting indecent language on three 
occasions.  Infinity is expected to appeal the forfeiture order.  (FCC) 

** 

ENFORCEMENT:  FLIPPO IS TRIED IN WEST PALM BEACH 

A non-ham who allegedly jammed ham radio communications has been convicted in 
West Palm Beach Florida on charges of operating a radio transmitter without a 
license.  We have this report. 

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A federal jury in Florida took less than two hours to convict a Jupiter Farms 
man of broadcasting without a license and maliciously jamming ham radio 
operations in northern Palm Beach County.  According to the Palm Beach Post, 
60 year old William Flippo sat with head bowed and eyes closed as court deputy 
James Caldwell read out eight counts of "guilty." 

But getting to this verdict took years of investigation by local hams and the 
FCC along with a trial that lasted 6 1/2 days.  It was described by the 
newspaper as an often bizarre trial that included testimony about mysterious 
jamming devices found in trees, strange events going back to Hurricane Andrew 
and a forged letter that surfaced at the last minute. 

Flippo's conviction caps years of conflict between him and the Jupiter-
Tequesta Repeater Group.  This is a 70-member Amateur Radio club whose members 
claimed that Flippo had jammed their transmissions and had made threats 
against them.  

So club members complained to the Federal Communications Commission.  An FCC 
Engineer involved in the investigation testified that he had tracked the 
interference to Flippo's home and two of his vehicles.  Club members said that 
the interference stopped when Flippo was arrested in July 2000.  

By way of defense, Flippo maintained that most of the radio equipment found in 
his home, in three of his vehicles and filling a 24-by-24-foot building behind 
his house belonged to other people.  He also asserted that some of it was 
given to him by Palm Beach County for emergency use after Hurricane Andrew in 
1992 and other gear was part of a vintage radio collection. 

Flippo also claimed to have a letter, written in 1994 by the emergency 
coordinator for amateur radio operators in Palm Beach County, authorizing him 
to test his emergency equipment daily.  But the alleged author of the letter, 
Charles Mulligan, testified that it was a forgery.  Mulligan believed it was 
created from a 1992 letter to Flippo dealing with events surrounding Hurricane 
Andrew. 

And this is where it got even stranger.  Halfway through the trial, U.S. 
District Judge Daniel Hurley took the extraordinary step of revoking Flippo's 
bail.  This, even though the charges were all  misdemeanors.  Hurley ordered 
Flippo into custody, saying that the defendant was trying to sabotage the 
trial by feigning illness. Flippo had checked into a hospital, claiming 
symptoms of a stroke, which delayed the trial for two days. 

After the verdict, Judge Hurley ordered Flippo to remain in custody until 
sentencing and to undergo psychological testing.  The judge said he was deeply 
concerned about the escalating cycle of violence in the case.  He singled out 
an incident in which Flippo rammed into a vehicle owned by club member Ed 
Petzolt, K1LNC.  The judge also questioned whether Flippo had perjured himself 
by repeatedly denying he ever used amateur radio frequencies.   

When he is sentenced, Flippo faces a maximum of 8 years in a Federal prison 
and an $80,000 fine.  This is in addition to an earlier 20,000 fine levied 
against him back in 1999 for unlicensed operation and other violations of the 
FCC's rules.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, KC5MFA.  Norm.   

-- 

More on the Flippo case in future amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (Palm Beach 
Post, Miami Sun, numerous others.) 

** 

HAM RADIO POLITICS:  I LINK VS. ECHOLINK - ROUND 1 

Politics appears to be starting to play a part Internet based radio linking.  
According to Lee Williams, N3APP, a ham considered as being the father of i-
Link named Graeme Barnes, M0SCH, has locked out all users running the EchoLink 
software from his servers.  Also, i-Link users have had to download new 
software to stay on-line.  

To counter the eviction, EchoLink proponent Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD, has set up 
new servers to allow users of that software to have connectivity.  At least 
for those who want it. 

Williams says that Barnes and Taylor are cooperating on the connectivity issue 
but caught in the middle are thousands of hams who do not care which program 
is in their computer.  All they want to do is to talk to one another and they 
really do not care whose server system their signal is routed through.  
(N3APP) 

** 

HAM RADIO POLITICS:  ELECTION TIME AT THE NFCC-NFCB 

Its election time at the National Frequency Coordinators Council or NFCC.  
Nominations to fill the seats of expiring National Frequency Coordinators 
Board  Directors opened on June 15th.  The closing date for candidate 
nomination is June 30th., with voting beginning on July 28th. and the election 
results announced on July 31st.  The directors elected this time shall take 
office effective on the 1st. of September and will serve for two years.  The 
incumbent directors whose terms expire on August 31st are Dave Baughn, KX4I,  
Dick Isely, W9GIG and Owen Wormser, K6LEW.  (ARNewsline) 

** 

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  2003 ARRL NATIONAL IN DALLAS 

The 2003 ARRL National Convention is now slated for June 20th through the 23rd 
at the Arlington Convention Center in the Dallas suburb of Arlington Texas.  
The national will be a part of Ham Com which is the very popular West Gulf 
Division convention held every year.  More information is on the web at 
www.hamcom.org.  (ARRL) 

** 

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  JSAR SHOREFEST AUGUST 11 

The Jersey Shore Amateur Radio Society is pleased to announce its 4th Annual 
ham radio Shorefest .  The event is slated for Sunday, August 11th at the 
Bayville Fire House on Route 9 in Bayville, New Jersey. The hamfest is all 
indoors in 4,000 square feet of air-conditioned pleasure.  More information is 
in cyberspace at  www.jsars.org. For advanced table reservations or tickets 
contact Bob Reed, W2CE,  by e-mail to w2ce at arrl.net.  (W2CE) 

** 

SPACE TECHNOLOGY:  SEEING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE WITH MICROWAVE EYES 

The June 10th partial solar eclipse attracted quite a bit of attention because 
the event could easily be seen.  However, the sun is also a powerful source of 
microwave signals, so the eclipse should have been visible in the radio 
spectrum as well.  And thanks to the efforts of Dr. Brian L. Dougherty of 
Caltech we now have graphs of the solar microwave eclipse.   

Dr. Dougherty operates a microwave dish in California's Owens Valley.  That 
antenna is tied to receivers that records the radio spectrum of the sun every 
9.6 seconds, covering roughly 100 frequencies between 1 and 18 GHz.  With a 
bit of data processing, we are all able to see the eclipse in the microwave 
region your own eyes at http://srbl.caltech.edu/020610.html   

There is also a real time Solar Radio Burst Locator during the day to see the 
sun's microwave events as they take place.  It's in cyberspace at 
http://srbl.caltech.edu.  (CGC Communicator) 

** 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  DIGITAL TV ANTI-PIRACY DEADLINE 

July 15th. is the deadline set by Representative Billy Tauzin for the 
Hollywood studios, the computer industry and consumer electronics 
manufacturers to develop a method to protect digital TV from being pirated 
onto the Internet. The chairman of the influential House Commerce Committee is 
growing impatient over the stalled transition to digital TV.  He also knows 
that the switch won't happen until movies and popular TV series can be 
protected from exposure to cyberspace piracy. If private negotiations fail, 
Tauzin says that he is prepared to step in and mandate government 
intervention.   (Published news reports) 

** 

INTERNATIONAL - CONTESTS: CHANGE IN THE ITALIAN WRTC2002 TEAM 

The 2002 World Radiosport Team Championship committee has announced a change 
to the team being sent by Italy. According to Ari Korhonen, OH1EH, Fabio 
Schettino I4UFH,  has replaced Maurizio Panicara, I4JMY on Team Italy.  
Schettino will operate with Stefano Brioschi, IK2QEI, in next summers games.  
(WRC 2003 Release) 

** 

DX 

D-X, a Y-L mini DX-pedition to Nauru planned for October has been dealt a 
major blow by officials.  VK4SJ tells Q-NEWS they are not going to C21 because 
the Australian Government has commandeered all rooms in the only two hotels on 
the island.  Without accommodations they can not get a Visa to stay on the 
island. 

But that's not all!  The group has been put to an additional expense as well 
as suffering cancellation fees for something completely beyond their control.  
It seems that their travel Insurance has an out in the contract.   It come 
under the clause of government intervention.  The government says no and that 
lets the insurance company off the hook.  (Q-News) 

Also, a reminder that as of the end of June the cost of mailing a postcard or 
Q-S-L card domestically will go from 21 cents to 23 cents.  Also, a domestic 
first class letter of up to one ounce will cost 37 cents. The increased rates 
will also affect your credits at incoming QSL bureaus, plus the cost of 
mailing magazines such as CQ, Worldradio, 73 and QST -- to name only a few.  
(CQ) 

** 

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL TV:  PART 1 

And finally this week, while the entertainment industry is concerned about 
digital piracy of its products, the public is wondering where digital 
television is today and where it is really going.  One of those asking is a 
listener to the D-X Audio Service named Victor Schmidt.  He wrote to Editor 
and host Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, for some answers.  Here is part one of W8HDU's 
reply as it originally aired on the May 2002 edition of the DX Audio Service 
magazine: 

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THIS IS AN AUDIO ONLY REPORT.  To hear it, go to www.arnewsline.org and 
download the MP3 audio version. 
-- 

Fred will be back next week with a look at the kinds of television receivers  
now in stores, those that go into your personal computer and what the future 
has in store.  Be sure to tune in.  (NRCDXAS) 

** 

NEWSCAST CLOSE 

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, 
the FCC, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and Australia's Q-News, that's all 
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