[South Florida DX Association] RE: Update regarding KP1 and KP5

[Esteban Romagni]

 I RX the following....

 Steve
 W4DTA

 KP1 & KP5 Update
 September 11, 2004
 Dear Amateur Radio Service Colleague and DXer,
 We want to update you on the efforts that have been underway to gain
 access to Navassa and Desecheo Island for the purpose of mounting a
 DXpedition and ensuring continued access to refuges under the control of
the
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). We unfortunately have to report that
the
 FWS denied Brad Farrell’s appeal. The FWS used the same rationale as
 previous negative rulings. This continues to be outrageous and
discriminatory
 toward the Amateur Radio Service and American citizens.
 For those who helped in our effort, we extend our sincere and heartfelt
 thanks. Several have gone ‘above-and-beyond’ and for that we will not
forget
 your hard work. Thank you all very much!
 Even though this is a setback; we continue to pursue a successful
 outcome. The next step will include a bifurcated strategy that will include
taking
 the appeal to federal court and exploring an alternate legislative
solution.
 Even though the outcome was not what we hoped, you should know that
 the legislative initiative yielded very positive results. We intend to
build on this
 with the ultimate goal of resolving this in such a way that American
citizens have
 access to these areas for legitimate reasons that do not harm refuges. Don’
t lose
 faith and please standby as we prepare to launch the next phase. We will
need to
 ask for your help again.
 Thanks again and CU in the pileups,
 Mike
 Mike Thomas, NA5U