[K6BW] Historical Maritime Station KSM at Point Reyes needs your help!

[Bill Smith]

KSM (with the historical call KPH) is a Living Historical Maritime
communications station located in Point Reyes and Bolinas.  Beginning from
the earliest days of spark-gap transmitters, CW, and later radioteletype,
has been used over shortwave frequencies to establish point-to-point
contacts to the Pacific and Pacific ship-to-shore communications.  Satellite
communications replaced the use of shortwave frequencies only in the 1990's.

Stations KSM and KPH still transmit CW on special occasions as a historical
tribute to the radio system and the years of service provided by the
operators of the marine station.  If you haven't visited the station, it is
worth the trip to the coast.  The URL of the Maritime Radio Historical
Society is http://www.radiomarine.org.


Here's what's happening:

Every few years an international radio conference is held. The next is the
World Radio Conference 2012 (WRC-12). The FCC is the US representative to
these conferences.

For WRC-12 the FCC proposes to support recommendations that would make
digital data dominant in the maritime service to such an extent that KSM and
other stations could be forced off the air.

Here's what you can do:

In a Public Notice the FCC has solicited comments from the public regarding
the recommendations to be supported at WRC-12. You can file a comment on
line to recommend that KSM and other stations using A1A (Morse code) and
NBDP (Narrow Band Direct Printing or RTTY) be allowed to continue operation.

But time is short!

The deadline for filing comments is 13 August 2010.

If you'd like to help keep KSM on the air, follow these steps:

1. Read the FCC Public Notice HERE:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-1408A1.doc

2. Read the comments the MRHS has filed with the FCC HERE:

http://ddillman.home.igc.org/Radiomarine/Comment.doc

3. File your comment on line in support of KSM. You can do this by uploading
a prepared document like the comments the MRHS has filed. Or you can use an
on-line form to file brief comments.

The proceeding number is 04-286. To file a prepared document go HERE:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display?z=lg4h3

To file a brief comment go HERE:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/hotdocket/list?z=g4v1a

If proceeding number 04-286 is not listed click on the "click here" option
to add it.

Suggested text:

If you wish to upload a prepared document like the comments the MRHS has
filed we've provided suggested template for your use. Add your own name and
address and modify the text to include your own words as needed. The
template may be found HERE:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/hotdocket/list?z=g4v1a

If you wish to file a brief comment you might use wording similar to this:

"My name is xxx xxxx. I'm writing to support the comments filed by the
Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) regarding WRC-12. Specifically, I
agree with the MRHS position that the FCC should not support those portions
of the recommendations for WRC-12 that would adversely effect MRHS station
KSM and other stations in the maritime service."

Full information may also be found on our Web site:
http://www.radiomarine.org

Thanks and VY 73,

RD

=================================
Richard Dillman
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
=================================