[South Florida DX Association] KP5 - AMATEUR RADIO NEWS ADVISORY

[Bill Marx]

KP1-5 Project    www.kp1-5.com

AMATEUR RADIO NEWS ADVISORY

Contact: Mike Thomas NA5U (817) 777-1321

KP1-5 Project at Dayton:

Members of the KP1-5 Project team will be at the Dayton Hamvention® May
20-21 at Booth 194.  Amateur Radio operators will be able to send a message
to their Congressman from Booth 194 in support of H.R. 1183, a bill that
would reopen Desecheo and Navassa islands to limited public use.

The KP1-5 Project team will present an update on the legislative and legal
front during the Hamvention's DX Forum on Saturday, May 21.  We invite you
to stop by Booth 194 and attend the DX Forum for more information.

Conference Call - May 23:

The KP1-5 Project will conduct a conference call for Amateur Radio media and
others on Monday, May 23 at 9:00 p.m. eastern time via telephone and
Echolink.  To participate in this conference call, contact Brad Farrell K4RT
at 202-623-5713 or farrell at clm.com for instructions.

Congressional Subcommittee Hearing - May 26:

Renowned DXer Bob Allphin K4UEE and court appeal plaintiff Brad Farrell K4RT
have been invited to testify before the House Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans on Thursday, May 26 in Washington, D.C.
The Subcommittee invited Mr. Allphin and Mr. Farrell to testify to hear the
Amateur Radio perspective on the issue of access to the nation's island
wildlife refuges.  We encourage you to staff this important Subcommittee
hearing, which will be open to the public.

Background:

The KP1-5 Project consists of a group of Amateur Radio operators who are
advocating the reopening of Navassa (KP1 / IOTA NA-098) and Desecheo Island
(KP5 / IOTA NA-095) to Amateur Radio operations.  Both islands, wildlife
refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), have been
closed to Amateur Radio and other lawful use for ten years despite many
successful operations from both islands by ham operators.  Unfortunately,
the FWS turns a blind eye to unauthorized and illegal use of these refuges
now that they are closed to the public.

The KP1-5 Project is attempting to change the situation through legislation
in Congress, H.R. 1183, and federal court review of the FWS's denial of
applications for permits for Amateur Radio use of the Navassa and Desecheo
refuges.

Navassa and Desecheo represent two DXCC entities, two IOTA entities, and two
contest multipliers.

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