[TWIAR] TWIAR EDITION #557 GENERAL RELEASE

[w2xbs]

This Week in Amateur Radio - Edition # 556
Airdates: 12.13.03 > 12.20.03

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Here is a summary of news items covered in edition # 557 of "This Week in
Amateur Radio", North America's only satellite-delivered, on-the-air audio
bulletin service, for the week ending December 20, 2003.

This weeks edition, overflowing with all the latest amateur radio news and
special features, is anchored by Shannon Ratigan, N0JAM, from our bureau in
Central Florida, Gary Clements, KC0JDT from our bureau in Lima, Ohio,
and by our Technical Director, George Bowen, W2XBS from our headquarters
studio facility in Albany, New York.

Approximate total program running time for this weeks edition is 55 minutes.

1.  New report suggests the White House oversee spectrum use, not the FCC/NTIA
2.  FEMA says BPL will "severely impact" essential emergency HF communication.
3.  The FCC warns hang-gliders and sky-divers about unlicensed operation.
4.  Congressional recess provides opportunity to promote amateur radio bills.
5.  Morse code gets "@" added to the character set, and a new home!
6.  Australian amateurs may loose 420 to 430 MHz to outside interests.
7.  ISS Commander talks via amateur radio to students in Dresden Germany.
8.  Special event station listings for week of December 14, 2003.
9.  The Gateway 160 Meter Net Report with Vern Jackson, WA0RCR.
10. Weekly propagation forecast.
11. Baghdad, Iraq station appears on EchoLink.
12. First Afghanistan Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contact takes place.
13. Idaho RACES group to provide "Talk To Santas Workshop" net.
14. "A Hams Night Before Christmas" read by Bill Continelli, W2XOY.
15. TSR/The Space Report with Chris Peterson, KG0BP.
16. The FCC announces a make over to the ULS/Universal Licensing System.
17. 2004 FCC enforcement funding in place at same level as this year.
18. Ogden Utah college students make successful 802.11 contact over 82 miles.
19. MariTime Mobile Service Network handles a "Mayday" call.
20. Expedition 8 commander makes first QSO's for Roy Neal K6DUE special event.
21. UK amateur copies signal from Mars Express spacecraft.
22. Radio Amateurs of Canada announces its amateur of the year.
23. TECH: If you shot your TV remote, will it transmit before destruction?

Transmission and production expenses have been underwritten by
a grant from Daniel Nick, KB0NVH, of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

TWIAR needs your support to continue through the winter season, and the
new year ahead.

The winter season is always a busy time for amateur radio. Hams are spending
more time indoors and on-the-air. And, along with amateur radios increased
profile in public service these days, you will need a reliable, up-to-the-
minute source of amateur radio news to stay informed.

Help keep This Week in Amateur Radio on the air, by supporting our service
financially, or by clearing our bulletin service on your local repeater
system, or simplex frequency.  We will give you or your repeater system/club
on-air credit in up-coming editions!

There is alot happening within the amateur service such as
the threat from BPL (Broadband over Power Lines), the petitions at the FCC to
drop the morse requirement in the US, and more. Stay up to date with North
America's premier on the air news-magazine service. This Week in Amateur
Radio.

This Week in Amateur Radio is proud to be your source for the latest,
up-to-the-minute amateur service news and special features.

"This Week in Amateur Radio" is a weekly amateur radio audio, on the air,
bulletin service, produced by Community Video Associates, Inc.,
a New York State not-for-profit corporation.  Our mailing address
for questions, comments, or support is -- P.O. Box 30 -- Sand Lake,
New York 12153.

This Week in Amateur Radio is distributed each Saturday evening
on the internet (www.twiar.org) and also on commercial C-Band satellite via
the "W0KIE Satellite Network" Saturdays at 9:00 PM (EST) on SES Americom
AMC-7 communications satellite, transponder 5 (H), 7.5 Mhz wide band
analog audio sub carrier, located at 137 degrees west longitude in
equatorial geosynchronous orbit.

On the World Wide Web, program audio can now be found in several formats
(including streaming Real Audio and MP3) at our primary web site
http://www.twiar.org with thanks to our web guru Greg Williams, K4HSM,
and Dale Sargent, N0WKF, our audio file guy.  Our mirror site is also
available at http://www.qsl.net/twiar with thanks to Al Waller, K3TKJ of
QSL.Net.

This Week in Amateur Radio is licensed under the Creative Commons
Atrribution-NonCommericial-ShareAlike license. Visit our web site to view
a copy of this license.

Contact your local amateur radio club or repeater operator if "This Week in
Amateur Radio" is not being heard in your area.

Production and transmission expenses are underwritten by donations from
repeater operators, amateur radio clubs, and individuals.  Further
information is available by calling W2XBS at 518.283.3665, or e-mail to
w2xbs@twiar.org.

We look forward to hearing from you or your organization soon!

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