[Letter-List] The ARRL Letter for August 12, 2010

Thu Aug 12 15:38:40 EDT 2010

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            The  ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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August 12, 2010

Editor: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA <k1sfa at arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- + ARRL in Action: Oklahoma Town Agrees RFI Ordinance Does Not Apply
to Hams
- Spectrum Defense Matters -- to Everyone
- + FCC: ARRL Files Petition with FCC to Deny Applications with
ReconRobotics
- + FCC: ARRL Comments on FCC 5 MHz Proposals
- + FCC: FCC Denies Petitions on Call Sign Usage, Expanded Privileges
- + Authorities Believe Gary Haas, N5VGH, and Wife Killed by Escaped
Convicts
- On the Air: Rookies to Raid the Airwaves for Second SSB Rookie
Roundup
- On the Air: "Dark Time" Is the Right Time for the Perseids
- + On the Air: International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2010
- + Dayton Hamvention® Committee Announces 2011 Theme
- This Week on the Radio

+ Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>

==> + ARRL IN ACTION: OKLAHOMA TOWN AGREES RFI ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY
TO HAMS

   Acting on behalf of an ARRL member in Midwest City, Oklahoma -- who
had been sent a notice by the town asserting that he was in violation
of a town ordinance regarding radio frequency interference -- the ARRL
notified Midwest City officials that only the FCC is empowered to
regulate such matters. On August 4 -- two weeks after ARRL General
Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, sent the letter to town officials -- Midwest
City Assistant City Attorney Randal D. Homburg sent an e-mail to the
ham to let him know "the previously delivered notice is hereby
rescinded. There will be no citations issued and thus, the issue is
moot." Midwest City is in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/oklahoma-town-agrees-rfi-ordinance-does-not-apply-to-hams>.

==> SPECTRUM DEFENSE MATTERS -- TO EVERYONE

In July 2010, the ARRL launched a newsletter called Spectrum Defense
Matters to keep its members informed on issues related to the
protection of Amateur Radio frequencies. This newsletter -- published
on the ARRL Web site a few times each year -- will cover both domestic
and international topics. Your financial support is vital to support
ARRL's work to protect your operating privileges by contributing
generously to the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund.

   Saying that ARRL volunteers and staff work tirelessly every day to
protect our spectrum access, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner,
K1ZZ, notes that the ARRL is in partnership "with radio amateurs
throughout the world, coordinating our efforts through the
International Amateur Radio Union. In future issues of this newsletter
we plan to report to you on the status of those efforts as we prepare
for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference and as we meet other
challenges."

"You can take an important step right now to support ARRL's commitment
to defending the Amateur Radio Spectrum," Sumner explained. "Please
make a generous contribution to the Spectrum Defense Fund by mail, on
the Web or by phone. Perhaps you'll consider a very easy way to
contribute by pledging $10 or $20 or $100 a month. Your financial
commitment, over and above your annual dues, will ensure that ARRL has
the resources to represent you and protect your operating frequencies."
Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/spectrum-defense-matters-to-everyone>.

==> + FCC: ARRL FILES PETITION WITH FCC TO DENY APPLICATIONS WITH
RECONROBOTICS

   On August 4, 2010, the ARRL filed a Petition to Deny Applications
with the FCC to deny 68 pending Public Safety Pool license applications
associated with the ReconRobotics Video and Audio Surveillance System.
Each license application is accompanied by a waiver request to permit
operation of the devices in the 433-445 MHz band. The applications were
coordinated by APCO International Inc Licensing Services -- the
frequency coordinator for the public safety land mobile radio services
-- and would allow the use of the Recon Scout product currently being
marketed by ReconRobotics pursuant to an FCC waiver. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-petition-with-fcc-to-deny-applications-with-reconrobotics>.

==> + FCC: ARRL COMMENTS ON FCC 5 MHZ PROPOSALS

   On July 13, the ARRL filed its comments in response to the FCC's
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in ET Docket No. 10-98. The NPRM
was issued in response to an ARRL Petition for Rule Making -- RM-11353
-- filed in October 2006. In its 2006 Petition, the ARRL had sought
modest improvements in operating privileges in the so-called "60 meter"
band, which presently consists of five channels on which General,
Advanced and Amateur Extra class licensees may use upper sideband (USB)
emission and no more than 50 W effective radiated power (ERP) relative
to a dipole antenna. Amateur use of these five channels is on a
secondary basis and must not cause harmful interference to authorized
stations in the mobile and fixed services. US amateurs were first
authorized to operate on 60 meters in 2003-- thanks to agreement by the
Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration -- that with such
limits, amateur use would be compatible with federal government
requirements. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-comments-on-fcc-5-mhz-proposals>.

==> + FCC: FCC DENIES PETITIONS ON CALL SIGN USAGE, EXPANDED PRIVILEGES

On August 9, the FCC denied two Petitions for Rule Making: one to
prohibit what the petitioner called "the false or unauthorized use of
an Amateur Radio call sign," and one to expand privileges on the 15
meter phone band for General and Amateur Extra class licensees. Read
more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-denies-em-petition-em-s-on-call-sign-usage-expanded-privileges>.

==> + AUTHORITIES BELIEVE GARY HAAS, N5VGH, AND WIFE KILLED BY ESCAPED
CONVICTS

   The remains of Gary Haas, N5VGH, and his wife Linda of Tecumseh,
Oklahoma, were found in a charred camper on a remote ranch in eastern
New Mexico on the morning of Wednesday, August 4. Authorities believe
they were killed by convicts, along with an accomplice, who had escaped
from an Arizona prison on July 30. Authorities said that the Haas'
bodies and camper were found by a rancher on his property, not far from
Santa Rosa, one of the New Mexico cities that the couple frequented;
their truck was found in Albuquerque, 100 miles away. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/authorities-believe-gary-haas-n5vgh-and-wife-killed-by-escaped-convicts>.

==> ON THE AIR: ROOKIES TO RAID THE AIRWAVES FOR SECOND SSB ROOKIE
ROUNDUP

   With the rip-roaring success of the first-ever ARRL Rookie Roundup
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup> this past April -- modeled on the
popular Novice Roundups from a decade or two ago -- the ARRL is pleased
to announce that a second Rookie Roundup is coming this Sunday, August
15 from 1800-2359 UTC. You don't have to be a rookie to participate.
For the purpose of the Rookie Roundup, a "rookie" is defined as someone
who has been licensed for three years or less, regardless of license
class. If you received your license in 2008, 2009 or 2010, you are
eligible to compete as a rookie. Non-rookies are encouraged to work the
rookies and be an Elmer to those just starting out. It is an immediate,
hands-on way to teach good operating practices to those just getting
started. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/rookies-to-raid-the-airwaves-for-second-ssb-rookie-rounduphttp:/www.arrl.org/news/rookies-to-raid-the-airwaves-for-second-ssb-rookie-roundup>.

==> ON THE AIR: "DARK TIME" IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE PERSEIDS

 <http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/perseidmap_strip.jpg>   The last
time the annual Perseids meteor shower happened during a run of
moonless nights -- known by astronomers as "dark time" -- was in 2007;
there was a new moon on August 10, so this is a prime time to view a
spectacular sky show. Not only are the meteors fascinating to watch,
they also leave short-lived streams of ionized gas in their wake. As
hams have known for years, these meteor trails are excellent reflectors
of radio waves. Read more here
<http://www.arrl.org/news/dark-time-is-the-right-time-for-the-perseids>.

==> + ON THE AIR: INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND 2010

   Almost 300 lighthouses in more than 40 countries and territories --
from Argentina to Wales -- will be on the air for 2010 International
Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW <http://illw.net/>), organized by
Scotland's Ayr Amateur Radio Group (AARG <http://www.gm0ayr.org/>). The
event, held for the 12th year in a row, takes place Saturday, August 21
0001 UTC through Sunday, August 22 2359 UTC. While not a contest, the
ILLW is more of a QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The ILLW
aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and the
need for their preservation and restoration, promote Amateur Radio and
foster international goodwill. Stations at more than 40 US lights are
expected to be on the air for the event, and several stations will
identify with special event call signs. Participating
lighthouse/lightship stations do not have to be inside the structure or
on the vessel itself; a Field Day-type setup at or adjacent to the
light is sufficient. More information about the event, including a
registration form
<http://illw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=56>
and list of all lights scheduled to be on the air
<http://illw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=55>,
is available on the ILLW Web site <http://illw.net/>. The ILLW also has
a Facebook page <http://www.facebook.com/pages/ILLW/108422039190274>.

==> + DAYTON HAMVENTION® COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES 2011 THEME

   When the Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>® opens May
20, 2011 for its 60th consecutive year, its theme -- Global Friendship
-- will reflect an important part of ham radio, said 2011 Hamvention
General Chairman Michael Kalter, W8CI: "The theme emphasizes how the
technology continues to bond Amateur Radio operators from all over the
world." The 2011 Dayton Hamvention runs May 20, 21 and 22 at Hara
Arena, just outside Dayton in Trotwood, Ohio.

==> THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO

 <http://www.arrl.org/multimedia>   This week:

- August 20 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- August 14 -- Feld Hell Sprint
- August 14-15 -- Maryland/DC QSO Party; WAE DX Contest (CW)
- August 15 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB)
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup>
- August 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- August 18 -- QRP Fox Hunt

Next week:

- August 20 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder
- August 21-22 (local time) -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/10-ghz-up>
- August 21-22 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest; North American QSO Party (SSB)
- August 21-23 -- New Jersey QSO Party
- August 25 -- SKCC Sprint; QRP Fox Hunt

All dates, unless otherwise specified, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/The-ARRL-Contest-Update> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
information. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out
the ARRL Special Events Station Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/special-events>.

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