[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 48

[Bill Marx]

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> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 23, No. 48
> December 10, 2004
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +BPL field trial must work with ham club, FCC says
> * +Georgia city legislates around CC&Rs for ham antennas
> * +Long Island, Quebec students speak with ISS via ham radio
> * +DXpedition puts rare Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the air
> * +FCC slaps former California amateur licensee with second fine
> * +SCAMP not just a conference topic anymore
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
>      ARRL holiday greeting cards still available
>      Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, wins November QST Cover Plaque Award
>     +Foundation For Amateur Radio solicits scholarship applications
>     +FCC denies petition seeking to require licensed radio repairers
>      Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade
>      Guinness World Records recognizes high-speed telegraphy achievement
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>FCC REQUIRES ARIZONA BPL FIELD TRIAL OPERATOR TO WORK WITH AMATEUR CLUB
>
> The FCC has required Electric Broadband LLC (EB), which is running a BPL
> field trial in Cottonwood, Arizona, to maintain contact with a local
> Amateur Radio club. The Commission granted EB a Part 5 Experimental
> license WD2XMB for the company's BPL pilot on November 19, although the
> ARRL earlier this year asked the Commission to withdraw its authorization
> for the operation. Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA)
> <http://www.vvara.org/> BPL Committee Chair Robert Shipton, K8EQC,
> believes it might be the first time the FCC has ever imposed such a
> requirement.
>
> "Our BPL committee in Cottonwood  was surprised to see this stipulation,"
> Shipton told ARRL. "Time will tell if it really matters or not."
>
> Under a "Special Conditions" section in the WD2XMB experimental license,
> the FCC stipulated that the licensee "must establish and maintain a
> liaison relationship with the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association." The
> Commission also required EB to respond to interference complaints "in a
> timely manner." System operators indicated earlier this fall that they
> would notch amateur frequencies, including 60 meters. Interference is
> still being experienced in the 60 meter band, VVARA says.
>
> Shipton said Mountain Telecommunications Inc, which handles system
> operations, has worked with the VVARA and "expressed sincerity" in
> resolving interference to any amateur frequencies affected by their
> equipment. "Although progress with notching has been made, the
> representative samples in a trial that is statistically too small in
> geographical area will not demonstrate any significant results," Shipton
> said. "Our club questions whether a buildout that involves many more HF
> segments would be able to avoid the use of amateur spectrum."
>
> EB and utility APS have been operating the BPL experiment at two Yavapai
> County, Arizona, sites since June, and relations with the amateur
> community have not always been so placid. The first Amateur Radio
> complaint, filed in June, cited VVARA testing at HF that asserted BPL
> interference was making attempts at ham radio communication useless. VVARA
> submitted a lengthy and comprehensive report to the two companies and the
> FCC in late July detailing interference issues.
>
> In support of the VVARA effort, the ARRL has twice asked the FCC to shut
> down the Cottonwood BPL field trial for interfering with Amateur Radio
> communication. The League's own testing of the Cottonwood system this past
> summer indicated "extremely high" levels of radiated RF energy on amateur
> HF allocations--well in excess of the FCC Part 15 levels with which EB
> told the FCC it would comply.
>
> The League's second shutdown request, sent October 11, accused the FCC of
> doing "absolutely nothing" to enforce its rules or to protect licensed
> services from interference. The ARRL said the Commission should not
> reinstate or extend the Special Temporary Authorization, under which the
> EB system had operated until the STA's expiration in September, and "no
> experimental authorization should be permitted for this system."
>
> In an accompanying 12-page technical analysis, the ARRL also cast serious
> doubt on the accuracy--and possibly the integrity--of the BPL system's
> FCC-required six-month report, filed more than two months late.
>
> The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, which handles grants
> applications for STAs and Part 5 Experimental licenses, has yet to respond
> to the League's assertions and requests regarding operation of the
> Cottonwood BPL field trial.
>
> Replying to FCC inquiries prompted by Amateur Radio interference
> complaints, Electric Broadband has claimed to have spent "significant time
> and effort" looking into interference complaints from hams, running tests
> and "taking steps to mitigate any possible interference" the system might
> be causing, and it invited the FCC to visit and see for itself.
>
> For additional information, visit the "Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and
> Amateur Radio" page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/bpl/>. To
> support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web
> site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>.
>
> ==>GEORGIA COMMUNITY TO ALLOW HAM ANTENNAS IN CC&R-GOVERNED SUBDIVISIONS
>
> Tim Richardson, W4IOU, an alderman in Acworth, Georgia, reports that his
> city has added language to its Residential Development Standards that
> allows antenna installations for amateurs living in subdivisions governed
> by deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) and homeowners'
> associations.
>
> "While a special stipulation previously was added to each new residential
> zoning request before the city, this incorporates the language directly in
> the zoning and development standards," Richardson explains. According to
> the language incorporated into the ordinance November 5, "Antennas for
> amateur radio stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
> will not be prohibited by Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and
> Restrictions or homeowners' association, and the installation of such
> antennas must be reasonably accommodated."
>
> Richardson emphasizes that the CC&R restriction only applies to
> residential development occurring on or after the ordinance's date of
> adoption. "Any neighborhoods with existing CC&Rs will not be affected,
> since those constitute a legal agreement accepted by the property owner at
> the time of purchase," he said. Nonetheless, he called the city's action
> "a step forward" and said he hopes other hams will work to get similar
> provisions enacted in their communities. He had help in Acworth. Bob
> Weatherford, KI4COP, also sits on the Board of Aldermen.
>
> A city of some 20,000, Acworth is about 35 miles northwest of Atlanta,
> and, Richardson says, one of the state's fastest-growing cities.
>
> ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the Acworth ordinance was the first to
> come to his attention. "Congratulations to you and the City of Acworth for
> your vision," he told Richardson.
>
> The ARRL has supported the repeated introduction of a bill in
> Congress--"the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act,"
> designated HR 1478 in the current session--to require private land-use
> regulators such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate"
> Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal
> preemption. Introduced by Rep Steve Israel (D-NY) the CC&R bill attracted
> 36 cosponsors during the current Congress, which is about to adjourn.
>
> ARRL discusses a variety of amateur antenna restrictions on its Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/antenna-restrictions.html>.
>
> ==>SPACE CHATS EXHILARATE LONG ISLAND, QUEBEC SCHOOLS
>
> Teacher April Pokorny's fifth graders at Westhampton Beach Elementary
> School on Long Island, New York, had reason to be grateful the day before
> Thanksgiving. That's when they got a chance to speak via Amateur Radio
> with International Space Station Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao,
> KE5BRW, at NA1SS. Secondary school students in Quebec spoke with Chiao via
> ham radio on November 30. Both contacts were arranged via the Amateur
> Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Pokorny said the
> Long Island school's November 24 contact provided a connection between
> classroom learning and real life.
>
> "What could possibly be more exciting than talking to an astronaut while
> he is in space," she told a reporter for TV Channel 12. In addition to TV
> coverage, one radio station and two newspapers reported the event.
>
> Among other things, Chiao told the Westhampton Beach pupils that the food
> aboard the ISS was pretty good, that the orbit of the ISS could be altered
> "a little bit," and that the 2003 shuttle Columbia tragedy, in which seven
> astronauts died, did not deter his desire to go into space. "We're all
> professional astronauts, and this is what we do, and we know what the
> risks are" he said.
>
> Chiao said he enjoys looking out the window and taking pictures, and he
> sometimes spends his spare time watching movies. "I also like floating
> around a lot," he said. Chiao told another youngster that it would be
> easier to pitch a fast ball on Earth than in zero gravity.
>
> Members of the Peconic Amateur Radio Club (PARC) set up the W2AMC Earth
> station and made other technical arrangements to enable the contact. PARC
> also assisted in a 2002 ARISS contact with Quogue School, also on Long
> Island.
>
> "Second time around was not as scary as the first time, but it was not
> without the usual need for backup planning," PARC President Roberta Keis,
> N2RBU, said. An auxiliary generator ended up running all the radio and
> videoconferencing equipment after power at the school kept cutting out due
> to damp, rainy conditions that day. PARC members also needed to make a
> last-minute antenna controller repair.
>
> "The after-contact comments were all positive," Keis said. "Words like
> 'amazing' and 'wow!' were mixed with tears of emotion and a general
> feeling of floating on air."
>
> On November 30, youngsters at the Fernand Lefebvre Secondary School in
> Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, chatted with Chiao during a somewhat
> curtailed contact. Calls by Earth station operator Luc Leblanc, VE2DWE,
> were met with packet bursts during the first several minutes of the
> 10-minute pass. When Chiao's voice finally came through loud and clear,
> "all in the auditorium started to breathe again," said ARISS-Canada's
> Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA.
>
> Chiao told the students he had trained for about three years before going
> into space in October. In response to other questions, Chiao again said he
> enjoyed being able to float around, but that zero gravity did have its
> downside.
>
> "Everything's a little trickier in zero gravity because there's no gravity
> to help keep things in their place," he said. "It's easy to lose things.
> Just small, little things go floating away. You have to pay attention to
> what you're doing and know where everything is."
>
> Remarked Lamoureux afterward, "Despite the shortened contact, the ARISS
> spirit was present, and all will remember the event for a long time."
>
> Members of the Sorel-Tracy Amateur Radio Club, VE2CBS, set up the Earth
> station for the contact. An audience of some 450 parents, teachers and
> visitors looked on, and 1800 students outside the auditorium heard the
> contact via an intercom link.
>
> ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach
> with US participation from ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
>
> ==>RARE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS (VU4) DXPEDITION ON THE AIR!
>
> The National Institute of Amateur Radio-sponsored DXpedition to Andaman
> and Nicobar Islands (VU4) took to the air December 2 at 1831 UTC,
> generating a lot of HF excitement. The five-member NIAR team, headed by
> Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, will operate as VU4RBI and VU4NRO from the
> capital city of Port Blair through the end of December.
>
> Andaman and Nicobar Islands is considered among the top most-wanted DXCC
> entities--some listings put it at number 1. While the DXpedition's first
> and primary activity has been on 20-meter SSB, operation has begun to
> expand to other bands and modes. As of week's end, numerous US stations
> were still reporting trouble even hearing either VU4 station, much less
> working them. DX spot comments such as "zilch in Ohio" and "nuttin in NNJ"
> reflected the frustration of those witnessing the success of fellow
> amateurs elsewhere. An opening to the East Coast December 9 eased the
> pressure a bit. While some CW operation using the VU4 call signs early on
> was apparently the work of a pirate, the DXpedition did start up briefly
> on 15 CW on December 8.
>
> The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com> this week had reported that US
> amateur Charly Harpole, K4VUD, might join the Andamans DXpedition as a
> guest op, but things did not work out. On December 10, The Daily DX
> reported Harpole would visit the DXpedition "as a tourist" to take photos
> and video, but not to operate. "However there is nothing that will stop
> him from listening, making suggestions or helping with any projects in
> order to keep the operators QRV around the clock," added The Daily DX
> Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR.
>
> McClenny, who also edits "How's DX?" for QST, said Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ,
> has generated PropView short and long-path propagation forecasts between
> each continental US call area and the Andamans
> <http://www.ambersoft.com/Amateur_Radio/VU4>. The projections used are
> optimistic, McClenny said.
>
> VU4RBI and VU4NRO are the only call signs authorized from Andaman and
> Nicobar Islands. QSL to NIAR, Rajbhavan Road, Hyderabad-500 082, Andhra
> Pradesh, INDIA. More information is available on the NIAR Web site
> <http://www.niar.org/>.
>
> ==>FCC PROPOSES ADDITIONAL FINE FOR FORMER CALIFORNIA AMATEUR LICENSEE
>
> Fast on the heels of a $10,000 Forfeiture Order (FO), the FCC has now
> proposed to fine Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell, California, an
> additional $21,000 for interfering with Amateur Radio communications.
> Gerritsen has been the target of copious complaints of insistent
> interference to numerous ham radio repeaters. The FCC affirmed the $10,000
> forfeiture in October. The latest proposed fine stems from further
> specific alleged instances of interference earlier this year.
>
> "Gerritsen's threats against other operators and his abusive use of
> amateur frequencies are the antithesis of good amateur practice and
> engineering," the FCC said in its December 2 Notice of Apparent Liability
> (NAL). The FCC concluded that Gerritsen willfully and repeatedly violated
> §333 of the Communications Act of 1934 by maliciously interfering with the
> communications of authorized Amateur Service users.
>
> In 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) swiftly
> rescinded its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen after learning of
> his earlier state conviction for interfering with police communications.
> His application remains on hold for now. As a result of the conviction,
> which he's appealed, Gerritsen ultimately spent some time in jail. But he
> continues to maintain erroneously that the FCC can't take away his
> operating privileges without a hearing, and that he still has a ham
> ticket.
>
> The NAL cites three specific instances of interference attributed to
> Gerritsen and mentioned several others in proposing the huge fine, which
> includes an "upward adjustment" from the base forfeiture amount of $7000.
> "Despite warnings and a prior NAL and Forfeiture Order, Gerritsen's
> unauthorized willful and malicious interfering radio operations have been
> ongoing for several months," said the NAL, signed by FCC Los Angeles
> Office District Director Catherine Deaton.
>
> In one instance in September, the FCC said, a complaint from an ARRL
> Official Observer alleged that Gerritsen "deliberately and maliciously
> interfered with the Young Hams Net" on a 2-meter repeater. On other
> occasions, an individual identifying himself as Jack Gerritsen and/or
> using the KG6IRO call sign, has monopolized various LA-area repeaters for
> long periods, the FCC said, preventing other users from accessing the
> machines.
>
> Several times, FCC agents have tracked interfering transmissions to
> Gerritsen's residence. Commission representatives have advised him that he
> does not have authority to transmit on amateur frequencies and warned him
> to keep off the ham bands.
>
> Gerritsen has not been heard on LA-area repeaters for more than three
> weeks now, and there's evidence he's staying south of the US border--at
> least for the time being. The FCC gave Gerritsen 30 days to pay or appeal
> the proposed fine.
>
> ==>SCAMP ON-AIR TESTING COMMENCES
>
> The Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol--or SCAMP--is not just a
> conference paper topic anymore. On-the-air testing of the digital
> communication protocol began in late November, and the first
> transcontinental communication using SCAMP occurred on December 4. SCAMP
> is designed to eliminate the need for pricey external hardware for passing
> e-mail traffic on relatively narrow-bandwidth channels. Rick Muething,
> KN6KB, prepared a presentation on SCAMP for the ARRL-TAPR Digital
> Communications Conference in September.
>
> "SCAMP is an example of what is now possible with sound card, computer and
> software technology using cooperative amateur efforts," he says. "SCAMP
> and similar programs like DIGTRX for image transmission offer low-cost
> alternatives to dedicated or proprietary hardware."
>
> As Muething explains, SCAMP is intended for transmitting messages--text
> with binary attachments--via 2-kHz bandwidth HF and VHF voice channels.
> The program is compatible with Winlink2000. SCAMP uses the Redundant
> Digital File Transfer (RDFT) transport layer, developed by Barry
> Sanderson, KB9VAK, with the addition of Automatic Repeat Request
> (ARQ)--the technique all "linked" modes use to ensure error-free
> transmission--and message layer protocols that Muething developed. He says
> SCAMP offers a moderate-throughput, error-free protocol that works using
> conventional sound cards and modestly powered computers.
>
> The RDFT utilities and documentation for the Windows and Linux operating
> systems have been released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
>
> Muething says a dozen dedicated testers began initial on-air testing on HF
> and VHF November 27 using the alpha version of a Windows-based SCAMP
> client called Paclink SCD that he and Vic Poor, W5SMM, developed.
>
> In addition to Muething and Poor, alpha testers included Scott Thile,
> K4SET; Bud Thompson, N0IA; Bill Hickey, AB7AA; Howard White, VE3GFW; Dave
> Wagner, WA2DXQ; Lor Kutchins, W3QA; Larry Trullinger, KB0EMB; Mike Burton,
> N6KZB; Bill Kearns, WB6JAR, and Steve Waterman, K4CJX. Primary testing was
> done on 40, 30 and 20 meters, and VHF testing was carried out on 2-meters
> using both FM and SSB. Alpha testing will continue over the next several
> weeks, and beta testing is set to crank up in February, Muething says.
>
> The first successful transcontinental exchange of Amateur Radio e-mail
> messages using SCAMP took place December 4 on 20 meters between N6KZB in
> Temecula, California, and W3QA in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Each station
> ran 70 W.
>
> "Several other two-way exchanges were also made over the weekend as
> operational and protocol bugs were fixed in the alpha software," Muething
> reports. "The throughput of SCAMP adjusts to the channel quality, reaching
> a current net maximum of about 4800 bytes per minute before compression
> gains."
>
> Muething says SCAMP doesn't require anything more than a 1-GHz class
> Pentium or Celeron processor with a minimum of 128 MB of memory to reach
> full throughput. Lesser systems may be used at reduced throughput.
>
> The complete SCAMP specification is available and will be released under
> the GPL as a blueprint for client developers to insure compatibility
> across different implementations. Muething says further protocol
> optimization continues to up system throughput and improve its robustness
> in poor HF multipath channels.
>
> He'd also like to see some band plan restructuring to "open up spectrum
> for digital modes and encourage new experimentation and development like
> SCAMP." The ARRL has sought comment from the amateur community on draft
> proposals <http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html> seeking to
> regulate subbands by emission bandwidth rather than by mode. At this
> point, the proposals remain a work in progress, and the ARRL has not
> petitioned the FCC for any changes.
>
> Muething has more information on SCAMP. Contact him via e-mail
> <kn6kb at arrl.net>. Information on RDFT is available on the Web
> <http://www.svs.net/wyman/examples/hdsstv/index.html>.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Astral aficionado Tad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Cook, K7RA,
> Seattle, Washington, reports: This weekend is the ARRL 10-Meter Contest.
> Conditions aren't great at this point in the solar cycle, but this can be
> a fun single-band operating activity. Unfortunately, we may see a
> recurrence of some unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions from the
> last solar rotation.
>
> Predicted planetary A index for December 10-13 is 8, 20, 30 and 12, so
> that suggests some rough conditions on Sunday. The predicted solar flux
> for those same days is 85-90, with the values rising gradually and peaking
> around 105 from December 22-25.
>
> Average daily sunspot numbers for this week were 46, down from 55.1 for
> the previous week. Average daily solar flux dropped nearly 14 points to
> 97.
>
> Sunspot numbers for December 2 through 8 were 62, 58, 43, 46, 47, 26 and
> 40, with a mean of 46. The 10.7 cm flux was 105.6, 100.8, 97.4, 95.9,
> 93.2, 89.7 and 96.5, with a mean of 97. Estimated planetary A indices were
> 4, 3, 1, 8, 19, 15 and 10, with a mean of 8.6. Estimated mid-latitude A
> indices were 4, 1, 0, 7, 11, 9 and 9, with a mean of 5.9.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL 10-Meter Contest, the Fall NA Meteor
> Scatter Rally and the Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are the weekend of
> December 11-12. JUST AHEAD: The Russian 160-Meter Contest is December 17.
> The OK DX RTTY Contest and the RAC Winter Contest are December 18. The
> MDXA PSK DeathMatch, the Croatian CW Contest, the Stew Perry Topband
> Challenge and the International Naval Contest are the weekend of December
> 18-19. The RAEM Contest and the DARC Christmas Contest are December 26.
> ARRL Straight Key Night is January 1, 2005 (UTC). See the ARRL Contest
> Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest
> Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
> through Sunday, December 12. Classes begin Friday, December 24. With the
> assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
> to pass the FCC Technician class license examination. To learn more, visit
> the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL Certification and
> Continuing Education Program Department <cce at arrl.org>.
>
> * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
> for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line
> course (EC-002) opens Monday, December 13, 1201 AM EST, and remains open
> until all available seats have been filled or through the December 18-19
> weekend. Class begins Friday, December 31. Thanks to our grant
> sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and United
> Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment
> will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course. Radio
> amateurs 55 and up are strongly encouraged to participate. During this
> registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a
> first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
> For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
> Miller, K3UFG, cce at arrl.org; 860-594-0340.
>
> * ARRL holiday greeting cards still available: For the first time, the
> ARRL is offering holiday greeting cards for those radio amateurs on your
> list. It's not too late to order 20 cards/envelopes for just $9.95. These
> colorful greeting cards feature a design based on the December 2004 QST
> cover composed by ARRL Graphic Designer Sue Fagan. The Santa Claus
> illustration and type design by Harry R. Hick, 1ESS, appeared on the
> December 1954 cover of QST. The message on the front reads "Season's
> Greetings to All." The inside is blank for you to add your own message or
> personal greeting. Order Item # 9536 via the ARRL Web catalog
> <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9536>.
>
> * Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, wins November QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner
> of the QST Cover Plaque Award for November is Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, for
> his article "Winlink 2000 in the Jungle." Congratulations, Lou! The winner
> of the QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author or authors of the best
> article in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST
> Cover Plaque Poll Web page, http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html.
> Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the December issue by December
> 31.
>
> * Foundation For Amateur Radio solicits scholarship applications: The
> Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR) <http://www.amateurradio-far.org/>,
> a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, plans to
> administer more than 55 scholarships for the 2005-2006 academic year to
> assist radio amateurs. Awards range from $500 to $2500. FAR invites
> Amateur Radio licensees now enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at an
> accredited university, college or technical school to compete for these
> scholarships. Preference in some cases goes to residents of specific
> geographical areas or to those pursuing certain programs of study. FAR
> encourages Amateur Radio clubs--especially those in Delaware, Florida,
> Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin--to announce
> these scholarship opportunities at meetings, in newsletters, during
> training classes, on nets and on Web pages. Additional information and an
> application form is available by sending a letter or QSL card postmarked
> prior to April 30, 2005, to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD
> 20738. The Foundation for Amateur Radio is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization.
>
> * FCC denies petition seeking to require licensed radio repairers: The FCC
> has turned down a June 2003 Petition for Rule Making filed by Dale Reich,
> K8AD, of Seville, Ohio, asking the Commission to permit only licensed
> commercial radio operators to maintain and repair radios operating under
> Part 90, 95 and 97 rules, which would have included the Amateur Radio
> Service. The FCC's December 1 Order denied Reich's latest petition for
> failing to demonstrate that such a requirement would be in the public
> interest or that unauthorized radio modification is enough of a problem to
> require such action. The Commission also deemed Reich's petition
> "procedurally defective" because he failed to provide text for the various
> modifications to the five FCC rule parts his petition covers. The FCC last
> year denied a similar petition from Reich requesting the Commission to
> require licensing of technicians who program frequencies for radios
> operating under Parts 90, 95 and 97.
>
> * Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade: The Tournament of
> Roses Radio Amateurs (TORRA) <http://torra.us/> will not be providing any
> support for the New Year's Day 2005 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
> The traditional event precedes the Rose Bowl college football game.
> Although TORRA and the Tournament of Roses were unable to agree on 2005
> Amateur Radio communication support arrangements, TORRA initially intended
> at least to provide some Amateur Television coverage. Now, the group now
> says the Tournament of Roses has decided not to use ATV either. A November
> 17 statement from the TORRA Steering Committee to TORRA members outlined
> the chain of events that led to the eventual disconnect, beginning with
> the Tournament's reallocation of building space after the 2004 event and
> the consequent removal of TORRA's equipment from the net control position
> and ATV storage facilities. While TORRA and Tournament personnel did sit
> down to explore the role of Amateur Radio and changes necessary for 2005,
> TORRA eventually concluded that "there was still too much to do and not
> enough time to do it" for a successful operation. TORRA announced November
> 22 that ATV coverage was out as well. TORRA indicated it will meet with
> Tournament officials in January "to restructure our role and the
> communication services we provide." Amateur Radio has had a communication
> support role in the Tournament of Roses parade since the 1970s. "We have a
> longstanding relationship with the Tournament of Roses, and both
> organizations wish to maintain that relationship," the November 17 TORRA
> letter said.
>
> * Guinness World Records recognizes high-speed telegraphy achievement:
> Guinness World Records Ltd has recognized the high-speed telegraphy
> achievement of Andrei Bindasov, EU7KI. "On 6 May 2003 Andrei Bindasov
> (Belarus) transmitted 216 marks of mixed text per minute during the 5th
> International Amateur Radio Union World Championship in High Speed
> Telegraphy in Belarus," the Guinness database listing states. Witnessing
> the accomplishment in Minsk were HST International Referee Oscar Verbanck,
> ON5ME, Region 1 Executive Committee member Panayot Danev, LZ1US, and IARU
> Region 1 HST Coordinator Oliver Tabakovski, Z32TO. Bindasov says he
> received the official certificate from Guinness November 24. Bindasov also
> sent 271 letters per minute and 230 figures per minute during those phases
> of the 2003 HST competition <http://www.qsl.net/yo4kca/hstrules.htm>.
>
> ===========================================================
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