[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1543 - March 9, 2007

Sat Mar 10 08:34:17 EST 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1543 - March 9, 2007

The following is a Q-S-T.  A big surprise as Dayton names its 2007 
award winners, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner 
Coordinators speaks out on maintaining a multi language question pool 
and a new excise tax could turn off Amateur Servive repeaters across 
Washington state.  Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline 
report number 1543 coming your way right now.

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  JIM HAYNIE, W5JBP, ED HARE, W1RFI AND DAVE CAMERAN, 
VE7LTD NAMED 2007 HAMVENTION AWARD WINNERS

The Dayton Hamvention has named its 2007 award winners and its truly a 
star-studded group of hams that have been chosen for the accolades. 
Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is here with the 
details:

--

Three hams who have made significant contributions to Amateur Radio 
will be honored at this years Dayton Hamvention.  This as the 
Hamvention Awards Committee chooses Jim Haynie, W5JBP, as 2007 Radio 
Amateur of the Year, along with Hare, W1RFI, as Special Achievement 
Award recipient and  I-R-L-P developer Dave Cameron, VE7LTD, to receive 
this years Technical Achievement Award.  

Jim Haynie, W5JBP, was selected as Radio Amateur of the Year based on 
his many contributions to Amateur Radio both before and during his 
tenure as President of the ARRL.  One of W5JBP's first successes as 
League president was to establish the "Amateur Radio Education and 
Technology Program."  Better known as "The Big Project" this is an 
effort to bring young people into amateur radio. 

Among the biggest challenges Haynie faced during his ARRL tenure was 
the Broadband over Powerline (BPL) battle. He made numerous trips to 
Washington to testify before Congress and the FCC regarding the threat 
BPL poses to radio communication. He went on camera in 2005 in the 
video "The ARRL Goes to Washington" to clearly state the ARRL position 
on BPL and has been a forceful advocate for limiting BPL communication 
interference worldwide. 

Homeland security was another priority for Jim Haynie.  In June of 
2003, he signed a formal Statement of Affiliation between the 
Department of Homeland Security and the ARRL.  He also helped get 
recognition for the contributions of amateur radio to emergency 
communication following the World Trade Center attack and Hurricane 
Katrina.   But the most important aspect of Jim Heynie's tenure as 
leader of the ARRL was that of transforming it from the service 
organization it was prior to 9/11 into the pro-active, vital emergency 
service clearing house and educational operation that it is today.  A 
change that truly brought the ARRL into the 21st century. 

The Dayton Hamvention 2007 Special Achievement Award winner is Ed Hare, 
W1RFI.  Hare was selected for his extensive work in addressing the 
Broadband over Powerline hazards to radio communication.  As one of the 
leaders in the project to educate the ham public to the potential 
hazards of BPL  Hare helped gather the evidence that showed the concept 
posed a credible threat of interference.  More important, his work in 
documenting the communications hazard that BPL represents has become 
the basis of most formal opposition to its wide-spread implementation 
both in the United States and other nations world wide.  

The Dayton Hamvention 2007 Technical Excellence Award winner is Dave  
Cameron, VE7LTD. Cameron was instrumental in development of the 
software, hardware, and technology that permits repeaters worldwide to 
be linked together through the Internet Radio Linking Project or 
IRLP.  His work literally transformed FM repeater communication from a 
local entity into a world-wide communication network.  One that has 
been of immense value in emergencies and has helped unite the world's 
radio amateurs over the internet and radio.

Our congratulations to all three of this years Dayton award winners and 
our thanks for the services that they have provided to all of Amateur 
Radio.

>From the studios in Los Angeles, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.

--

The winners will receive their honors at a special presentation 
ceremony to be held at the Dayton Hamvention the weekend of May 18th toi 
the 20th.   Amateur Radio Newsline will have reporters on the scene to 
bring you a first hand account of the ceremony and of all of this years 
Hamvention activities.  (ARNewsline, DARA)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  FCC TO HOST FIRST RESPONDERS SUMMIT

The Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau will host a First Responders Summit on Interoperable 
and Reliable Public Safety Communications on April 20th.  The location 
is Meeting Room TW-C305 at the FCCs headquarters in Washington and the  
meeting will include expert panel discussions led by representatives 
from the public safety community, the communications industry and 
government.  

As of now, the agenda includes three expert panel discussions.  The 
first deals with government agencies and public safety initiatives.  A 
second will cover the transition from Legacy to Future Architectures 
and the Integration of Current Systems into IP-based Networks and Radio 
Bridging.  The last of these is titled Beyond Voice - Broadband 
Applications for First Responders. In addition, the summit will close 
with an open roundtable forum for participants to raise key issues 
related to emergency preparedness and response.

Individuals who are interested in attending this important 
communications  summit may pre-register by contacting Sue Gilgenbach by 
e-mail to  sue.gilgenbach at fcc.gov.  For additional information please 
contact Leon Jackler also by e-mail to leon.jackler at fcc.gov.  (FCC, 
QRZ.com)

**

RADIO LAW:  WASHINGTON STATE REPEATER SITE EXCISE TAX

Amateur repeaters in Washington State could become an endangered 
species.  This, if a new interpretation of state Tax Law by the 
Washington State Department of Revenue is not amended to exempt them 
from a new interpretation of a state tax law.  Amateur Radio Newsline's 
Don Carlson, KQ6FM,  is here with the details:

--

Many of the amateur radio repeater systems in Washington state are 
located at  leased sites located on public land.  The Washington State 
Department of Revenue has now determined that these systems are subject 
to the states Leasehold Excise taxes.  That's a fee of 12.5% of the  
fair market value for the space used on the tower and site tom paid 
monthly.  

This leasehold excise tax is based on the fair market value of the site 
not on the value of the rent being collected.  In most cases the tax 
would exceed the actual rent charged for the space, and even would be 
collected if the ham radio system was there rent free.

By way of example,  Federal Way Amateur Radio Club's repeater in the 
city of Federal Way occupies space at a King County communications 
site.  They are not paying anything for the site but could be forced to 
pay the leasehold excise tax at the commercial rate.  The resulting 
bill is estimated to be about $125 per month.  Few ham radio clubs, if 
any, can afford that.  

While many Washington State Amateur Service repeaters provide a 
critical resource to governmental emergency management organizations, 
their public service role provides no protection against this Leasehold 
Excise Tax being assessed.  The current law simply does not provide an 
exemption for these amateur radio repeater systems.  Hopefully that 
could soon change.

Late word is that Washington State Representatives Skip Priest and Mark 
Miloscia have introduced House bill 2335 to the state legislature.  If 
passed, will provide an exemption from leasehold excise tax for amateur 
radio repeaters located on public property, but only for those used to 
support emergency management.  Hams organizing support for the measure 
say that it is very important that Washington State radio amateurs let 
their representatives on the Finance committee and the rest of the 
House know how important it  is for this bill to be approved.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, reporting.

--

The bill to exempt Amateur Service repeaters from the excise tax law is 
currently in the house finance committee.  It first needs to gain 
approval there before moving on.  (W7ZVD)

**

RADIO RULES:  OREGON ABANDONS PROPOSED LAWS BARRINGHAND HELD TWO WAY 
DEVICES

Some good news out of Oregon.  It now appears as if laws proposing a 
total ban on the use of hand held two way devices while mobile are both 
dead in the water. 

Bob Kuhn, KU7N, reports that the Oregon Legislature has apparently 
abandoned its efforts to prohibit the use of cell phones and two-way 
radios while operating a motor vehicle.  Instead, law makers are now 
focusing on legislation that allows police to ticket people for 
"distracted driving", which would include anything that causes a driver 
to drive erratically. 

Kuhn says that several hams came forward and testified on the original 
bills seeking exemption for federally licensed ham radio operators.  
Witnesses included ARRL Oregon Section Manager. Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ.

Everett Curry, W6ABM has been following the proposed legislation.  He 
says that the result is a significantly different approach than the 
straight ban.  This is because the penalty is based on actual driving 
behavior, not the mere use of a two-way device. 

Kuhn adds that that a Portland television news reports that the same 
type of legislation in the Washington Legislature has also lost 
momentum.  (KU7N)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  THE NCVEC SPEALS OUT ON MULTI LANGUAGE QUESTION POOLS

A follow-up to last weeks story on the denial of a petition by the FCC.  
One  that sought rules to force the National Conference of Volunteer 
Examination Coordinators to maintain the exan question pools in 
multiple languages.  This week we hear from the NCVEC itself.  Here's 
Mark Anramowicz, NT3V:

--

Tom Fuszard, KF9PU, chairman of the National Conference of Volunteer 
Examiner Coordinators, says he heard and read with interest our report 
last week on the bid to have the Amateur Radio license exam question 
pools translated into languages other than English.

You may recall from our report that the campaign is being spearheaded 
by Victor Madera, KP4PQ, whose petition to the FCC to have question 
pools translated was rejected.

Madera is the American Radio Relay League's Puerto Rico section manager 
and affiliated with the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League. Madera, with 
the blessing of the ARRL, guided a project to translate the question 
pools into Spanish and prepare study guides in Spanish for use in 
Puerto Rico.

Fuszard, who leads the volunteer examiner's group, spoke with Amateur 
Radio Newsline from the Milwaukee area about the issue.

He says Madera first brought the matter to his attention in early 2005.

"At that point, offered his services and his resources," Fuszard 
recalls. "He had mentioned to me that he and his organization had put 
together not only translated pools, but also study materials.

"And, he requested, I should say asked, if we at the NCVEC would 
consider using them and -  in fact -  certify them as the official 
Spanish language version." 

Fuszard says he told Madera he would put the matter on the July 2005 
agenda for the NCVEC annual conference in Gettysburg. But Fuszard says, 
other issues facing the group took precedence at the time.

"Well, as it turned out we had a very busy conference that year and 
unfortunately his topic got pushed aside, we were unable to cover it, " 
Fuszard says. "And, after that things kind of fell off the radar screen 
and didn't really come to mind until I heard about his most recent 
petition being rejected by the FCC."

Fuszard says he was surprised Madera had elected to go to directly to 
the FCC rather than getting back in touch with NCVEC members. Fuszard 
acknowledges the matter, however, did surface as a result of Madera's 
petition. And, Fuszard says, there doesn't seem to be any call for 
exams in languages other than English.

"Coming at it from our perspective up here, we don't see the need for 
foreign-language translations on a regular basis," Fuszard says. "In 
fact, in an informal survey of some of my colleagues I find out that 
they're getting few or no requests for foreign-language exams. Turns 
out the candidates are more than happy to take the exams in English."

Fuszard agrees that may not sit well with Madera, but he doesn't want 
to see it become a personal issue.

"Understand that Victor's coming from a different perspective that 
Puerto Rico is primary a Spanish-language country so his perspective is 
different than ours is up here," Fuszard says.

Now that the issue has resurfaced, Fuszard says one of the concerns he 
has surrounds the issue of translation.

"In a number of languages there are different you might say versions or 
dialects," Fuszard explains. "There are slight nuances between the 
language in a given country. For example, Puerto Rican Spanish can be 
slightly different from that spoken in Mexico or Central America, or, 
for that matter, Spain.

"So, one of the challenges for us at the NCVEC level would be, well if 
we were to translate a particular exam into a given language, which 
version would it be? Which dialect would it be? Would that be 
sufficient? It may sound minor but in fact it can raise interesting 
questions." 

Fuszard says that doesn't necessarily mean he and others on the NCVEC 
are opposed to exploring the idea again.

"Remember that we're all highly motivated, interested in getting more 
people involved in the hobby," Fuszard says. "I kind of gathered from 
Victor's impression that maybe we're trying to hold people away. Well, 
that's not actually true. We all love this hobby and do our darndest to 
get people involved and if we see that there's a need out there, an 
untapped resource or any kind of an issue, we're happy to address it at 
the conference level.

"Keep in mind that the VECs  and the VE teams that they support are 
always willing and have the freedom to adjust at their own level as 
their needs arise. They could turn to a source such as Victor's group 
or any other source that may provide the kind of translation or other 
resource that they need."

And, Fuszard says, he's willing to take it further when the members of 
NCVEC gather this July in Gettysburg.

"My initial thought is to place this topic back on our agenda for this 
year," Fuszard says. "I have bracketed a few moments of time to at 
least, again, survey the group and find out what their positions are on 
the matter, what their experiences are with foreign-language candidates 
and what they think might be down the road.

"Whether we will take any action, I don't know. We are a collection of 
14 entities of which at least 12 are often represented at the 
conference and they decide in totality what sort of direction we'll 
take."

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

--

Obviously there are numerous issues involved in maintaining a multi 
language question pool including what languages to translate into, who 
will perform the translations and how to maintain that vast amount of 
information in complete security.  These are questions not easy to 
answer when there is no money to cover these expenses and everyone 
involved in the program is an unpaid volunteer.  (ARNewsline)

**

RADIO EVENTS:  THE FCC TURNS AGE 80

The Federal Communications Commission is now an octogenarian.  This, 
following its 80th birthday two weeks ago.  

The current agency is a direct descendant of the old Federal Radio 
Commission.  It was created when President Calvin Coolidge signed the 
Radio Act of 1927 on February 23rd of that year. 

Fritz Messere, is an Associate Professor of Broadcasting at State 
University of New York in Oswego. According to an online history he has 
published, the Act created a five-member commission with each member 
representing a different geographic region of the country.  His history 
goes on to say that the Federal Radio Commission  was given licensing 
authority for only one year, after which licensing authority was to 
revert back to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor.  

Back then, the Commission's primary duty was to solve the interference 
problem which developed after the Radio Act of 1912 became 
unenforceable.  Some things seem to never change.  (RW)

**

RADIO BUSINESS:  CUSHCRAFT SOLD TO UK CONGLOMERATE

US antenna maker Cushcraft has been purchased by the United Kingdom-
based Laird Group PLC.  Laird is an electronics, security systems and 
distribution group  that paid $89 million dollars for the New Hampshire 
company that produces commercial antennas as well as some used by radio 
amateurs.  

A press statement quotes Martin Rapp, CEO of Laird Technologies as 
saying that the combination of the two companies uniquely positions 
Laird Technologies to grow the combined business in emerging markets of 
RFID and Wi Max related gear.  The future of the Amateur Radio antenna 
line was not mentioned in the release.  (Press release)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS :  1959 HAM PHIL MONT MOBILE ARA RADIO FILM NOW ON 
GOOGLE VIDEO

A ham radio movie produced back in the late 1950's is now on Google 
Video.  The film was made in 1959 by Philadelphia's Phil-Mont Mobile 
Radio Club and in part documents the work done by the club during the 
Delaware River floods of 1955.  You can see it on the Google Video 
website at 
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2943570522939177086&hl=en 
(K3XS)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  GLENN AYS THAT THE ISS IS UNDER UTILIZED

Former Astronaut and retired Ohio Senator John Glenn says that the 
nation is not getting its money's worth out of the international space 
station.  Glenn says that diverting money from the orbiting research 
outpost to assist President Bush in his goal of sending astronauts back 
to the moon and eventually on to Mars is preventing some scientific 
experiments from taking place on the I-S-S.  

Glenn made this remark on  Tuesday, February 20th before an audience of 
about 300 high school students and space enthusiasts at the COSI -- the 
Columbus Ohio Science Center.  He said that to not utilize that station 
the way it ought to be utilized is just wrong,

Glenn's appearance at COSI was in honor of the 45th anniversary of the 
day he became the first American to orbit the Earth inside the 
Friendship 7 capsule.  That flight took place on February 20th 1962.  
(Published reports)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  DAYTON TOPBAND DINNER. 

The 2007 Topband Dinner will again be held to coincide with this years 
Dayton Hamvention.  All 160 meter enthusiasts are cordially invited to 
the gathering on Friday evening, May 18th at the The Barnsider 
Restaurant on North Main Street not far from the HARA Arena..  
Reservations are required with the cost pegged at $29 per person 
prepaid.  Reservations go to George Guerin, K8GG, 14322  A Drive North, 
Ceresco  Michigan,  49033.  For more information e-mail George to  
k8gg at arrl.net.  (K8GG, others)

(OPDX)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  ED HOLDSWORTH, H2EH - S.K.

Some sad news to report.  The changing of the guard in Amateur Radio 
continues.  This, with word of the passing of Edwin "Ed" Holdsworth, 
N2EH.  

For many years Holdsworth was one of the key team members who put on 
the yearly Rochester Hamfest in New York.  He twice served as President 
of the famed Rochester Amateur Radio Association.  Holdsworth was also 
an Assistant Section Manager for the ARRL Western New York Section.  

According to his longtime friend, Rochester Hamfest Chairman Harold 
Smith, K2HC, Holdsworth became a silent key on February 11th.  An on-
line tribute to N2EH can be found at 
http://www.rochesterhamfest.org/n2ehtrib.htm  (K2HC)

**

KNOWLEDGE:  PEOPLE KNOW MORE BASIC SCIENCE TODAY

New research shows that Americans know more about basic science today 
than they did two decades ago. 

The topic was discussed at the recent annual meeting of the  American 
Association for the Advancement of Science held in San Francisco.  A 
study found that the percentage of Americans who know enough about 
science to understand reports of major importance in major newspapers 
rose from 10 percent in 1988 to 28 percent in 2005. The improvement is 
attributed to the requirement that all college students have at least 
some science courses.

At the same time, researchers caution that improvement is tempered by 
growth in the belief in pseudo-sciences. Pseudo-science is any body of 
knowledge, methodology, belief, or practice that claims to be 
scientific but does not follow the scientific methods of research.  
These include such things as astrology and visits by extraterrestrial 
aliens to name only two. (Science OnLine)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  AGRREMENT ON DTV CONVERTERS

Some good news on the digital television front.  A single standard for 
those set-top boxes that will let older analog sets display digital 
pictures.  Jim Damron, N8TMW, reports:

--

In a rare alliance, the National Association of Broadcasters, the 
Association for Maximum Service Television and the Consumer Electronics 
Association have actually agreed on something.  The three have filed 
joint comments with the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration regarding the $1.5 billion federal program under which 
consumers will get coupons for low-cost converter boxes that will 
display DTV programming on their current analog sets.  

The move was described as groundbreaking by members of both industries.  
This is particularly true since the comments include recommended 
receiver-performance standards for the digital-to-analog converter 
boxes.  That is something the manufacturing community has opposed for 
full-fledged D-T-V sets. 

Until now, broadcasters and consumer electronics manufacturers have 
often been at odds in regard to the total digitalization of 
broadcasting.  But the two industries have now found common ground in 
the challenge of how an estimated 70 million sets will continue to 
receive TV when analog broadcasts cease on Feb. 17,th of  2009.  That's 
the date that all television in the United States goes digital and 
analog is relegated to the scrap heap.

--

No word yet on what the converter boxes will actually sell for.  Back a 
decade ago when digital television standards were still being 
developed, the target price was to be under $100 each.  Now, depending 
whose opinion you read, the cost per box could be anything from $40 to 
well over $500 each but the actual companies that will supply them have 
not yet set any pricing.  (RW)

**

WORLDBEAT - INDONESIA:  THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION ARRIVES 

According to an article in the Jakarta Post, Indonesia's analog radio 
and television broadcasting will definitely migrate to digital 
technology in the very neat future. According to the Minister of 
Communications and Information, the trial for radio and television 
digital broadcasting as well as digital TV in mobile phones is in 
progress.  (Jakarta Post)

**

WORLDBEAT - JAPAN  NEW "BIG DISH" IN JAPAN

Fans of Earth-Moon-Earth activity will be pleased to hear of a 
fascinating project taking place in Japan. The GB2RS News service 
reports that the so-called Japanese Big Dish Project has set up a 32m-
dish E-M-E station in the city of Ibaragi.  Operators plan to use it to 
be active on  2 meters,  432MHz, 1,296MHz and 5.6GHz through the 24th of 
March.. You can find out more about the project on line at: 
http://8n1eme.jp/modules/news/ (GB2RS)

**

RADIO AWARDS:  SOTA COMES TO THE US AND FRANCE 

The United Kingdom's Summits on the Air or SOTA awards program is 
spreading world-wide.   Here in the United Sates a brand new Summits on 
the Air  Association, under the leadership of Andrew Pepper, KC2EUS, 
was launched on March 1st.  Right now it only covers the states of New 
York and New Jersey. 

And following close on its heels will be the French SOTA Association.  
It is  lead by Lionel Klein, F5NEP and will begin operations on April 
1st.  This group will cover the entire of the French mainland and offers 
no fewer than 2,500 summits.  

And to mark the launch of the French association, April 1st has also 
been designated Summits On The Air Day.  It is expected that several 
French hilltops  will be activated during the event. 

The Summits On The Air program has already gained a foothold in 
Ireland, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, South Africa, Austria and 
Hungary, as well. Further information is available at www.sota.org.uk.  
(Southgate)

**

DX

In D-X, word that German special event DQ50SAAR is on the to celebrate 
the 50th anniversary of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Clubs Distrikt SAAR.  
A special QSL will be issued and available via DO7VLR. QSL via the 
Bureau.  (OPDX)

EK6TA, EK6YL, SP9LJD and DJ0MCZ will be active as EK0B from Armenia 
from March 24th to the 25th .  This, for the CQ World Wide SSB Contest.  
If you work them QSL via SP9ERV.  (OPDX)

Lastly, G3PJT, will be active as E51PJT from Raratonga in the South 
Cook Islands through March 17th.  He will operate mainly CW and will be 
on for the RSGB Commonwealth Contest.  QSL this one as directed on the 
air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  SATCASTERS SUFFER BROADBAND INTERFERENCE

And finally, if you think that BPL is bad news, how about having your 
satellite phone call or television transmission knocked out by 
terrestrial broadband operations.  That's what is happening in one part 
of the world as we hear from Jim Davis, W2JKD:

--

Broadcasters in a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region have 
reported interference to their satellite transmissions from broadband 
wireless services, a meeting in Washington DC has heard.  Australian, 
New Zealand and Fiji broadcasters are among those affected.  The 
interference is apparently caused by Broadband Wireless Access 
operators using the same C-band spectrum used by the satellite uplink.  
AsiaSat's General Manager of Engineering, Barry Turner, said C-band 
satellite transmissions in Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan and the 
Philippines were also being affected. 

--

Even if the source of the interference is pinpointed, its not known 
what, if anything can be done to force it to go away.  (Media Network, 
Asia-Pacific News Net)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ 
Magazine, the FCC, Media Network, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio 
Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A 
News, 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 only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.  
You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, P.O. 
Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066. 