[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 26

[Bill Marx]

 ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 23, No. 26
> June 25, 2004
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +ARRL says FCC has its mind made up about BPL
> * +Contact is key to gaining visibility for ham radio
> * +ISS astronaut uses packet system to announce daughter's birth
> * +Short-term renewal closes out enforcement case
> * +The FCC is 70!
> * +Vintage station now on the air at W1AW
> * +W3IZ is newest ARRL Headquarters staffer
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      W1AW Field Day message to be transmitted on both US coasts
>     +Vanity call sign fee to rise
>      Oklahoma ARES group assists in mass immunization drill
>      Scott Redd, K0DQ, receives commendation
>      Deadline looms for Young Ham of the Year nominations
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>FCC TURNING BLIND EYE IN BPL PROCEEDING, ARRL CHARGES
>
> The ARRL says the FCC apparently has already made up its mind about
> broadband over power line (BPL) and "wants no bad news" about the
> technology. In reply comments filed June 22 on the FCC's Notice of
> Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket 03-47, the League called on the
> Commission to take "a fresh look" at BPL before enabling its deployment.
> Again asking the FCC to put the proceeding on hold for a year, the League
> recommended that the Commission in the meantime require BPL providers to
> conduct FCC-monitored interference testing with all stakeholders. The ARRL
> charged that while an overwhelming majority of comments oppose BPL due to
> interference concerns, the FCC continues to rely on what the League called
> "vacuous assurances that BPL would not cause harmful interference." Test
> data and a growing record of unresolved complaints indicate otherwise, the
> ARRL said.
>
> "ARRL is of the view that this proceeding has been prejudged and will, in
> the end, be decided not on the technical issues that should control the
> outcome of this proceeding, but on the politics of the matter," the League
> commented. "Given the evidence on the Commission's table, it cannot now
> authorize BPL at the radiated emission levels proposed, and without
> substantial restrictions."
>
> Among those restrictions, the League recommended keeping BPL altogether
> away from all Amateur Radio allocations, should the FCC decide to
> authorize BPL under its proposed rules. As an alternative, the FCC should
> guarantee that an interfering BPL system can be shut down immediately in
> the face of a valid complaint, "not after a BPL provider has taken months
> to discover that the interference cannot be resolved."
>
> To date, the ARRL contended, the FCC has seemingly ignored the League's
> BPL technical studies as well as the National Telecommunications and
> Information Administration (NTIA) Phase 1 BPL study that clearly
> demonstrate BPL's interference potential. Five additional technical
> evaluations accompanied the ARRL's reply comments.
>
> "The Commission is obligated by the Administrative Procedure Act to look
> for fire where it is shown a good deal of smoke," the League said. "Here
> there is far more than smoke in the record." Any decision in the BPL
> proceeding "must be supported by substantial evidence," the ARRL asserted.
>
> The League said the results of both its studies and the NTIA's "are
> entirely consistent." Referring to the NTIA Phase 1 analysis, the ARRL
> said it's "quite reasonable to assume that the interference potential of
> BPL systems to fixed HF Amateur Radio stations is on the order of 460
> meters (approximately 1509 feet) from the nearest BPL device." No
> proposals address BPL interference mitigation for mobile stations, the
> ARRL noted.
>
> While commenting extensively on--and in some instances agreeing with--the
> NTIA's late-filed comments, however, the League said they depict an agency
> that must "balance dual and, in this case, conflicting roles" as the White
> House telecommunications policy advocate. The League questioned the NTIA's
> contention that BPL is a "win-win" situation and its deployment would lead
> to lower power line noise.
>
> "Not so," the ARRL countered. "Licensed radio services operating in the
> sensitive HF environment should not have foist upon them a substantial
> interference risk from unlicensed devices or systems whatsoever." The
> League said replacing one interference source with another in the same
> bands is "not in any way beneficial."
>
> The ARRL also faulted the FCC for neglecting to acknowledge or respond to
> a mounting number of interference complaints, most from amateur licensees
> living in BPL field trials areas. "The Commission has, as of this writing,
> adjudicated not a single one and has ignored repeated requests from
> licensed radio amateurs for even a confirmation of receipt of their
> complaints!" the ARRL emphasized. The League also expressed little
> confidence in utilities that have failed to resolve power line noise
> complaints to do any better with BPL complaints.
>
> Earlier this month, the ARRL filed a well-documented and supported
> complaint on behalf of Jim Spencer, W0SR, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The
> League suggested such BPL complaints deserved careful analysis, but not
> the Commission's cold shoulder.
>
> "What ARRL is unwilling to tolerate is the continuation of the
> Commission's sweeping of these complaints 'under the rug,' which is
> exactly what has happened in this proceeding," the League commented. The
> Commission must put its zeal over BPL aside and "take a fair look at them
> before any action is taken in this proceeding."
>
> "The Commission has not proposed any rules which would predictably and
> reliably protect HF and low-band VHF radio systems from interference,"
> ARRL concluded. "The interference resolution mechanisms that are adopted
> should be real, rather than merely illusory."
>
> ==>CONTACT KEY TO GETTING HAM RADIO ON CONGRESSIONAL RADAR SCREEN
>
> If radio amateurs want to get their concerns on the congressional radar
> screen, they need to let their elected senators and representatives know
> about them, says the US Senate sponsor of the Amateur Radio Spectrum
> Protection Act of 2003. Idaho Republican Michael Crapo notes that the
> hundreds of topics lawmakers face each day--from the Iraq war to the
> budget and health care--already make it an uphill battle to get ham radio
> matters noticed. Amateurs, he suggests, have to take a little initiative.
>
> "It's not Mount Everest, but it's very difficult to get the attention of a
> senator or congressmen these days, unless their constituency engages them
> on it," Crapo said. "Every Senator and every Member of Congress focuses on
> those issues which their constituency tells them are of importance to
> them." In turn, when radio amateurs write, e-mail or call their elected
> officials, Crapo pointed out, it makes it a lot easier for him to gain
> attention for Amateur Radio issues.
>
> ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says he couldn't agree more. He
> maintains that a high level of membership constituent contact not only
> puts ham radio on the map for lawmakers but paves the way for League
> officials to follow up during their periodic visits on Capitol Hill.
> Contacting Congress on Amateur Radio measures such as the Spectrum
> Protection Act of 2003 and the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
> Consistency Act of 2003--HR 1478, the so-called CC&R bill--may not pay off
> now, Haynie says. But, increased awareness of Amateur Radio in general
> could prove important down the road.
>
> "There are other issues that we have to deal with and other issues that
> will come up in the future," Haynie said. "The better visibility we have
> in Congress, the easier it will be to deal with them." That includes
> broadband over power line (BPL). Haynie cautioned that if BPL deployment
> becomes a major problem for amateurs, "we're going to have to have a lot
> of muscle on the Hill and try to influence the FCC in other ways."
>
> Taking 10 minutes to write a letter or e-mail or even to send a QSL card
> that includes a brief message can go a long way toward lifting Amateur
> Radio out of the noise level for senators and representatives, Haynie
> said.
>
> So far, 103 House members have signed on as HR 713 cosponsors. The Senate
> version, S 537, has eight cosponsors. The CC&R bill, HR 1478, has 35
> cosponsors.
>
> Sample letters and additional information--including the bills' texts and
> information on how to write members of Congress--is on the ARRL's "The
> Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003" Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html> and on the "HR 1478, The
> Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003" Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr1478/>. The sample letters cite
> Amateur Radio's role in public safety and emergency communication, but the
> League encourages members to adapt the substance of the sample letters to
> their own style and emphasis.
>
> Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are
> asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail
> <specbill03 at arrl.org>. Those writing on behalf of the Amateur Radio
> Emergency Communications Consistency Act, HR 1478, are asked to copy their
> correspondence to <ccr-bill at arrl.org>.
>
> ==>ASTRONAUT RADIOS BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT, CELEBRATES SPECIAL FATHER'S DAY IN
> SPACE
>
> International Space Station astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and his wife
> Renita became parents for the second time Friday, June 18. Unable to
> contain his paternal pride, Fincke altered the beacon message on the
> RS0ISS Amateur Radio packet system aboard the spacecraft to transmit "It's
> a girl! Tarali Fincke" about once every minute as the ISS circled Earth.
>
> "Sure beats a stork sign in the front yard," quipped ISS Ham Radio Project
> Engineer Kenneth Ranson, N5VHO, at Johnson Space Center. Fincke is the
> first US astronaut to celebrate the birth of a child from space. Father's
> Day was Sunday, June 20. Tarali is the couple's second child. She'll join
> a brother, Chandra, in the Fincke household.
>
> Fincke said his childrens' names have astronomical significance. "Her name
> is Tarali Paulina, and Tara is the Indian dialect meaning star," he
> radioed Mission Control in Houston shortly after the birth. "Our first
> boy, his name is Chandra, which means moon. So, my wife had already given
> me the moon, and now she's given me a star, and it's a privilege to happen
> aboard the International Space Station."
>
> Of Indian heritage, Renita Fincke, an engineer for Wyle Laboratories,
> works at Johnson Space Center. Until her husband returns to Earth in
> October, she says she'll help him experience the first few months of their
> daughter's life via teleconferences, video and e-mails.
>
> "This is a wonderful, exciting adventure for both of us," she said. "I
> hope that everything is successful for his mission, that he comes home
> safely." The couple has been married since 1999.
>
> NASA and Russian mission controllers extended congratulations to Fincke,
> who is NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer. He and ISS Commander
> Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, have been in space since April.
>
> US and Russian flight controllers decided to end Expedition 9's first
> spacewalk June 24 after about 14 minutes when it was observed that
> Fincke's primary oxygen bottle was losing pressure faster than expected.
> The crew will try again the week of June 28.
>
> More info is available on the NASA Web site
> <http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/fincke_baby.html>.
>
> ==>PENNSYLVANIA HAM AGREES TO SHORT-TERM RENEWAL
>
> General class licensee Henry Schott Jr, KA3BMS, of Newtown Square,
> Pennsylvania, has agreed to a short-term renewal of his license to settle
> what the FCC called "enforcement issues related to the operation of your
> station." Although Schott vigorously denied any wrongdoing, FCC Special
> Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth says Schott signed the
> deal--spelled out in a May 10 letter--in which the FCC will grant him a
> two-year license renewal instead of the normal ten-year term.
>
> "At the end of the two-year period, you may routinely renew your license
> for a full term if there have been no valid complaints regarding the
> operation of your station," Hollingsworth told Schott. Last December, the
> FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau referred Schott's renewal
> application to the Enforcement Bureau for review based upon enforcement
> issues and "questions regarding your qualifications to be a licensee."
>
> Complaints filed with the FCC regarding operations attributed to Schott
> date back to 2000. In January, Hollingsworth wrote Schott to summarize the
> litany of complaints and asked him to respond to each. Schott essentially
> denied involvement or responsibility for all of them and expressed the
> belief that someone else may have been pirating his call sign.
>
> "Amateur Radio has provided me with enjoyment over the years," Schott told
> the FCC. "I wish to retain my Amateur Radio license and will abide by all
> of the laws, rules and regulations! The accusations filed against me are
> wrong."
>
> Nonetheless, Schott signed the voluntary short-term agreement, and the FCC
> renewed his license May 20.
>
> ==>THE FCC TURNS 70!
>
> The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) <http://www.fcc.gov>, the
> agency that regulates the Amateur Radio Service, turns 70 years old on
> Thursday, July 1--the effective date of the Communications Act of 1934.
> Passed by Congress on June 19 of that year, the Act established the FCC as
> an independent US government agency.
>
> Although amended since, the Act--all 333 pages of it--remains in effect
> today and establishes the authority of the FCC to, among other things,
> issue license grants. It also spells out the official definition of an
> amateur station: "The term 'amateur station' means a radio station
> operated by a duly authorized person interested in radio technique solely
> with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest."
>
> Upon its creation 70 years ago, the FCC directly inherited the personnel,
> funds and records of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), then just seven
> years old. The FRC had shared regulatory duties with the Department of
> Commerce and the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Communications Act of
> 1934 put all the responsibilities under one roof. Most of the significant
> changes the Communications Act of 1934 introduced affected broadcasting.
>
> Directly responsible to Congress and charged with regulating interstate
> and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and
> cable, today's FCC jurisdiction covers all 50 states, the District of
> Columbia, and US possessions.
>
> When the FCC came into being in 1934, QST expended surprisingly little ink
> announcing the regime change to the Amateur Radio community.
>
> "The radio part of the law is almost exactly the same as before, and there
> is no change in any amateur regulation," said a short article in the
> August 1934 issue. "The League kept in close touch with this legislation
> as it progressed, and is assured that nothing in the new law adversely
> affects Amateur Radio."
>
> The original FCC was authorized to have seven members and up to three
> divisions. Today's FCC has five members--all appointed by the president
> and confirmed by the Senate--and six bureaus.
>
> ==>W1AW NOW SPORTS VINTAGE AMATEUR STATION
>
> At least one corner of Maxim Memorial Station W1AW has taken on a "retro"
> look with the installation of a vintage AM-capable station--thanks to the
> generosity of entertainer Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, and audio pro Bob Heil,
> K9EID. The gear, which arrived June 18, consists of a National NC-303
> receiver and Johnson Viking Valiant transmitter, along with a customized
> Heil microphone and other accessories. Neither Walsh nor Heil were able to
> be on hand for the installation.
>
> The gear, which dates from the late 1950s, began its journey in Studio
> City, California. It changed hands at Dayton Hamvention and then made a
> stop at the radio repair and restoration shop of Larry Yaw, W9AMR, who
> spiffed up and rigorously tested the units. Yaw, Jeff Wynegar, KA9TOC, and
> Jeff Benedict, AA9JC, then accompanied the vintage station on a nonstop
> drive from South Bend to Newington for the delivery.
>
> The idea for the station arose during an early March visit to ARRL by
> Walsh and Heil. Following the delivery and installation, W9AMR, KA9TOC and
> AA9JC came back the next day to make some W1AW/90 contacts on 75 and 40
> before heading back to Indiana.
>
> The W1AW vintage/AM station is available for visitors to use.
>
> ==>ARRL WELCOMES W3IZ TO HEADQUARTERS STAFF
>
> Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, is the newest member of the ARRL Headquarters family.
> As ARRL Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Manager, Fusaro--who joined the
> ARRL Field and Educational Services (F&ES) staff May 17--is responsible
> for ARRL Affiliated Club support as well as for inaugurating a volunteer
> mentor program and an enhanced volunteer instructor program. The position
> is a new one at Headquarters, and Fusaro said he plans to make the most of
> his past informal experience as an "Elmer"--or mentor--helping new
> licensees to get up and running in Amateur Radio.
>
> "Something I did on the local level was to be the guy to go out there and
> extend a helping hand, offer some guidance, open the station up for
> visitors," said Fusaro, who notes that he would have liked similar support
> when he first got his ticket some 20 years ago. F&ES Manager Rosalie
> White, K1STO, says the League created Fusaro's position after recent
> survey results indicated that far too many new licensees either never get
> on the air at all or don't remain active.
>
> "We want people to enjoy Amateur Radio or to keep enjoying Amateur Radio,"
> White said. She believes Fusaro's background in retail sales and customer
> service will stand him in good stead in his new post. In addition to
> Elmering many new hams in the past, Fusaro has also taught ham radio
> licensing classes. In his new position, he'll work with both clubs and
> individuals to establish a network of mentors. "The goal is to get the
> newly licensed ham some practical guidance and maybe some hands-on
> training," he said. He hopes to offer eventually a Web mentoring database
> new licensees can use to find assistance in their localities.
>
> In addition to contesting, Fusaro enjoys ragchewing and RTTY. His favorite
> on-the-air events include the Pennsylvania QSO Party, the ARRL November
> Sweepstakes and the ARRL International DX Contest. He's an active HF
> mobile and portable operator too. His wife, Debbie, is N3ZXF.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Solar Seer Tad "Hey, Mister Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports:
> This is Field Day
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2004/rules-fd-2004.html> weekend!
> Conditions don't look bad, although there is the chance of geomagnetic
> conditions becoming unsettled.
>
> This week the sunspot numbers have improved, while geomagnetic conditions
> were quiet, which is a great combination. Average daily sunspot numbers
> rose more than 50 points from last week to 116. Average daily solar flux
> was up almost 18 points to 113.7. Sunspot numbers were the highest on June
> 20 and 21, Sunday and Monday, and both the planetary and mid-latitude A
> indices were very low--in the lower single digits.
>
> Sunspot groups 634 and 635 provided most of the activity. Today they are
> moving out of view. The solar flux forecast for Friday through Monday,
> June 25-28,is 100, 95, 95 and 90. Predicted planetary A index for the same
> four days is 12, 12, 15 and 15.
>
> For Field Day 2004, 20 meters will be your best band, and possibly 15 as
> well. Ten meters may be good for some sporadic E skip. Forty and 80 meters
> should be good after dark.
>
> Sunspot numbers for June 17 through 23 were 106, 118, 90, 142, 139, 113
> and 104, with a mean of 116. The 10.7 cm flux was 111.3, 107.8, 112.7,
> 119.1, 115.8, 116.7 and 112.5, with a mean of 113.7. Estimated planetary A
> indices were 7, 8, 5, 3, 4, 4 and 5, with a mean of 5.1. Estimated
> mid-latitude A indices were 7, 10, 4, 3, 3, 1 and 2, with a mean of 4.3.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: ARRL Field Day, the UK DX Contest (CW), the
> Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest, the Marconi Memorial HF Contest, ARCI Milliwatt
> Field Day and His Majesty the King of Spain Contest (SSB) are the weekend
> of June 26-27. JUST AHEAD: The RAC Canada Day Contest is July 1. The
> Venezuelan Independence Day Contest (SSB/CW), the World Lighthouse
> Contest, the DL-DX RTTY Contest, the Original QRP Contest and the DARC
> 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of July 3-4. The Michigan QRP
> July 4th CW Sprint is July 4-5. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW)
> is July 5. The ARS Spartan Sprint is July 6. See the ARRL Contest Branch
> page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration for the ARRL HF Digital Communication (EC-005), ARRL
> VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) and ARRL Technician Licensing
> (EC-010) courses remains open through Sunday, June 27. Classes begin
> Tuesday July 6. Students participating in VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater
> (EC-008) will enjoy exploring some of the lesser-used and more intriguing
> aspects of VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital Communication students will
> become acquainted with and use a variety of HF digital modes. With the
> assistance of mentor students in Technician Licensing (EC-010) will learn
> everything they need to know to pass the FCC Technician class amateur
> license test. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing
> Education (C-CE) Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Program Department, cce at arrl.org.
>
> * W1AW Field Day message to be transmitted on both US coasts: Correctly
> copying the W1AW Field Day message is an easy way to earn bonus points for
> Field Day 2004, Saturday and Sunday, June 26-27. For the first time, the
> Maritime Radio Historical Society's K6KPH will transmit the Field Day
> message for the benefit of West Coast stations on 3581.5, 7047.5, 14,047.5
> and 21,067.5 kHz, CW only. K6KPH will transmit the 2004 Field Day message
> Saturday, June 26, at 1430 UTC, and Sunday, June 27, at 0030 and 1430 UTC.
> The K6KPH club station in California is comprised of past operators of the
> former commercial shore station KPH, now maintained--and occasionally
> operated--as a historical site, with receiving station in Pt Reyes and
> transmitters in Bolinas. The K6KPH transmissions will complement the
> traditional W1AW Field Day message transmissions on CW, digital (including
> PSK31) and phone. W1AW will transmit the Field Day bulletin Saturday, June
> 26 on CW at 0000, 0300, and 1400 UTC; on RTTY (teleprinter) at 0100 UTC;
> and on phone at 0145 and 1500 UTC. The Field Day bulletin will air Sunday,
> June 27, on CW at 0000 and 1400 UTC; on RTTY (teleprinter) at 0100 UTC; on
> phone at 0145 and 1500 UTC; and on PSK31 at 1600 UTC. CW frequencies are
> 1.8175, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555
> MHz. Teleprinter frequencies are 3.625, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095,
> 28.095 and 147.555 MHz (includes PSK31). Phone frequencies are 1.855,
> 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590 and 147.555 MHz.
>
> * Vanity call sign fee to rise: The FCC regulatory fee to obtain an
> Amateur Radio vanity call sign will rise from $16.30 to $20.80 later this
> year. The FCC announced the new fee in a Report and Order (R&O) in MD
> Docket 04-73, "Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal
> Year 2004." The FCC says it anticipates 7800 applications for FY2004--2000
> fewer than the previous fiscal year. The FCC expects revenue collected
> from the vanity call sign regulatory fees in FY2004 to rise by more than
> $2100. The R&O becomes effective 30 days after it's published in The
> Federal Register. ARRL will announce when the new, higher vanity fee
> becomes effective.
>
> * Oklahoma ARES group assists in mass immunization drill: The Southern
> Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma,
> recently participated in a mass inoculation drill. The Carter County
> Health Department sponsored the exercise in association with the Oklahoma
> Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The
> drill scenario, a smallpox release, marked the third of its type in
> Oklahoma this year. Although the local Amateur Radio community was not
> included in planning the drill, ARES District Emergency Coordinator, Mike
> Key, N5KEY, said health officials told the hams to show up during the
> "walk-around" day, and "they would see if they needed us." When the hams
> arrived, the incident commander presented them with a box of Family Radio
> Service (FRS) transceivers from the state health department--units that
> had not proven up to the task in the first two drills. The ARES group
> determined the FRS units would work okay within a building but not between
> buildings. At the officials' request, Key developed a plan to coordinate
> communication between buildings and cleared it with the incident commander
> and the primary communications manager. After checking in the morning of
> the drill, the team set up stations in the command center and at strategic
> locations, including the inoculation station and triage area. The VHF FM
> simplex net had two or three operators at each station. Traffic passed
> from the command center to the appropriate station via ham radio and to
> its final destination via FRS. Key reports the net was very busy and ran
> smoothly. Following the drill, Mindy Spohn, director of the Carter County
> Health Department said, "I am now a firm believer in your group and your
> abilities." A dozen amateur volunteers participated, and Key said Amateur
> Radio definitely will take part in the planning of any future drills.
>
> * Scott Redd, K0DQ, receives commendation: Iraq Coalition Provisional
> Authority (CPA) Administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer recently presented
> retired Vice Admiral Scott Redd, K0DQ, with the Secretary of Defense Medal
> for Exceptional Public Service. Redd served as deputy administrator and
> chief operating officer for CPA with responsibility for reconstruction
> projects in Iraq. The award commends Redd's "extraordinary leadership and
> vision" while serving in Baghdad as one of Bremer's two deputies. Redd has
> returned to Washington to assume duties as executive director of the
> Presidential Commission on Intelligence Capabilities of the United States
> Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. Redd said he left Baghdad with
> mixed emotions but reiterated his strong belief that the "strategic course
> we are pursuing is right and enduring."
>
> * Deadline looms for Young Ham of the Year nominations: The deadline is
> Wednesday June 30 to nominate a deserving young amateur for the 2004
> Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award. A nomination form is
> available on the Newsline Web site
> <http://www.arnewsline.org/yhoty/yhfrm204.doc>. The YHOTY Award goes to an
> amateur licensee aged 18 or younger and living in the contiguous 48 states
> who has made a significant contribution to the community or the nation
> through Amateur Radio. More information is available on the Newsline Web
> site <http://www.arnewsline.org>.
>
> ===========================================================
> The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
> Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main
> St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
> <http://www.arrl.org>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
>
> The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
> interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely,
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>
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> in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
> The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.
>
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> ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl at arrl.org
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>
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> membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change
> your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all
> automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.)
> Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE:
> HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do
> this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.)
>
> The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
> sources:
>
> * ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
> be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
>
> * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
> Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
> cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this
> listserver.)