Ham Radio/Ham Radio CD-ROM (Emerald Software) (1995).ISO/news/al890925/al890925.txt

Text File | 1989-10-16 | 15KB | 321 lines

ARRL LETTER      Volume 8  Number 19


HUGO STRIKES CARIBBEAN
    Hurricane Hugo, showing wind strengths of up to 140 miles per
hour, slammed into the Leeward Islands on September 17 and began
its march across the Caribbean toward Puerto Rico. Many of the
first reports from the affected islands were from Amateur Radio
stations. Emergency traffic nets were set up and awaited
information from these stations on three main 20 meter
frequencies.
     The ARRL sponsored International Assistance and Traffic Net
(IATN) at 14.303 MHz, the Friendly Carribus Connection on 14.283
MHz, and the International Amateur Radio Network provided front
line communication as amateur stations in the affected areas
reported in with damage assessments and assistance needs.  The
Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz kept in touch with the storm's
progress. A net on 28.450 MHz was also instrumental in providing
damage assessment reports from Puerto Rico.
    W1AW reverted to an emergency operating schedule on Saturday,
September 16. Informational bulletins were sent out and the
station monitored on-the-air activity. Field Services Manager
Rick Palm, K1CE, headed up HQ operations.  Rick contacted the US
Office of Foreign Disaster Aid and the National Red Cross in
Washington DC to let them know of our availability in preparation
for the storm.  ANERCOM members Joel Kandel, KI4T, of Miami and
Geri Sweeney, N4GHI, of Alexandria, Virginia, were also vital in
organizing the first ARRL response.
    W1AW had the opportunity to check into IATN and the net on
28.450 MHz, which served the needs of Spanish speaking amateurs
in Puerto Rico.  The HQ staff was assisted by Jose Santiago, a
representative of La Casa de Puerto Rico of Hartford, who
translated damage reports for the HQ staff. Contact with the net
was maintained for several hours after the net controllers asked
for assistance from the US mainland.
    ARRL made telephone contact with Puerto Rico Section Manager
Alberto Valldejuli, WP4CSG, on Tuesday afternoon and by
Wednesday, an emergency network on 28.450 was announced for
messages going into Puerto Rico. Health and Welfare traffic was
also being passed on 14.270 MHz for any affected location. At
press time, hurricane-related traffic is also being handled on
numerous other frequencies and via packet radio.
    The American National Red Cross asked the Dayton Amateur
Radio Association to form a jump team to accompany Red Cross
officials to the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Ron Moorefield, W8ILC,
informed HQ that Dave Morris, N8EEK, and Bob Reckner, W8IQJ, were
scheduled to travel with a complete portable station including an
electric generator.


CONGRESS MOVES AHEAD WITH LICENSE FEE PROPOSAL
    Discussions in Congress about possible fees for Amateur Radio
licenses have alarmed many ARRL members. The ARRL position on
license fees was reported at minute 83 of the July ARRL Board
meeting and in ARRL Bulletin number 40. Fees were simply under
discussion in Congressional Committees and there was no bill
before Congress proposing them.
     On Wednesday, September 20, while many amateurs were using
their licenses to provide emergency communications in the wake of
hurricane Hugo and others were preparing for it to hit the
mainland later this week, a budget bill containing a license fee
proposal was introduced into the House as HR 3299.
    Action is expected in both houses of Congress early in
October. ARRL members wanting to express their opposition to the
Amateur Radio license fee aspects of HR 3299 will want to contact
their Congressional representatives without delay. Senator Carl
Levin of Michigan has indicated a desire to work with amateurs to
defeat the license fee proposal.


FCC RELEASES ERRATA LIST IN PART 97 REWRITE
   On July 19, ARRL submitted a Request for Issuance of Errata
List to the FCC in the Part 97 rewrite proceeding. It was
submitted to "change the rules which were, in the League's
opinion, unintentionally changed; where typographical errors were
made; or where errors of omission appeared."
    FCC responded with its Errata list released on September 7.
After a review of FCC's corrections list, ARRL Executive Vice
President David Sumner, K1ZZ, said in a letter to the Directors,
"This satisfies some, but not all, of the concerns expressed in
our request for the issuance of errata."
    Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor of the newly rewritten FCC Rule Book,
said that the Errata will be included in the appendix of the Rule
Book.


PETITIONS FILED TO AMEND PART 97
    On September 14, FCC issued a Public Notice listing filings
from ARRL and eleven other petitioners for amendment of FCC's
Part 97 Rules. ARRL along with six other petitioners filed for
the creation of a codeless class of amateur license. Two
petitioners filed for a change to the code speed requirements.
Two others filed to restructure amateur operator licensing
requirements and operating privileges and one petitioner filed to
eliminate all license classes. The ARRL petition was designated
RM-6995.
    Interested persons have 30 days to file comments opposing or
supporting these petitions with the FCC. The full text of these
documents are available for viewing and copying in Room 239, 1919
M Street, NW., Washington, DC or may be purchased from the
Commissions's copy contractor International Transcription Service
(202-857-3800).

SCOUTS ON THE AIR OCTOBER 21-22 DURING WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE
     Here is an opportunity to introduce Amateur Radio to the
Scouts in your area  during the 32nd Jamboree on the Air (JOTA).
    Boy and Girl Scouts and Amateur Radio operators the world
over will communicate with each other using the amateur bands
during the event.
    Sponsored by the World Scout Bureau, Geneva, Switzerland,
JOTA will run from midnight Friday through midnight Sunday (local
time) during the the weekend of October 21-22.  World Scout
calling frequencies are: voice--3.940 7.290 14.290 21.360 28.350
MHz. The frequencies on CW are--3.590 7.030 14.070 21.140 28.190
MHz, plus the RTTY, SSTV, and packet-radio sub-bands. Look for
K2BSA, BSA HQ Amateur Radio station in Dallas Texas, K2BSA/6 in
Ridgecrest CA, K2BSA/0 in Boulder CO, K2BSA/1 in Boston MA and
HB9S, World Scout HQ ham station in Geneva.
    Amateurs are encouraged to contact their local Girl or Boy
Scout councils (see the White Pages) and offer to put on a
demonstration. Special Amateur Radio/Scout brochures are
available from ARRL HQ to hand out during the Jamboree. For more
information contact Rosalie White, WA1STO, at ARRL HQ.


ARRL DIRECTOR AND VICE DIRECTOR ELECTIONS
    The ARRL Election Committee has completed its examination of
nominating petitions filed by members in seven Divisions for ARRL
Director and Vice Director for two year terms of office beginning
January 1, 1990.
    The following candidates are unopposed and so were declared
elected without balloting.

PACIFIC DIVISION
Director:
    Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV

SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
Director:
    Frank M. Butler, W4RH

GREAT LAKES DIVISION
Vice Director:
    George E. Race, WB8BGY

PACIFIC DIVISION
Vice Director:
    Charles P. McConnell, W6DPD

Ballots were ordered mailed to full members in six Divisions, as
follows:

ATLANTIC DIVISION
For Director:
    Hugh A. Turnbull, W3ABC
    Robert B. Weinstock, KN1K

For Vice Director:
    Kay C. Craigie, KC3LM
    James M. Mozley, W2BCH

DAKOTA DIVISION
For Director:
    Richard P. Clem, W0IS
    George E. Frederickson, KC0T
    Howard B. Mark, W0OZC

DELTA DIVISION
For Director:
    Joel M. Harrison, WB5IGF
    Arthur P. Kay, W5APX

For Vice Director:
    James A. Amundson, W5TRD
    Henry R. Leggette, WD4Q
    John M. Wondergem, K5KR

GREAT LAKES DIVISION
For Director:
    Leonard M. Nathanson, W8RC
    Allan L. Severson, AB8P

MIDWEST DIVISION
For Director:
    Paul Grauer, W0FIR
    Robert S. McCaffrey, K0CY

For Vice Director:
    Lyndell C. Miller, WA0KUH
    Laurance S. Staples, W0AIB

SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
For Vice Director:
    Evelyn D. Gauzens, W4WYR
    Alan H. Page, KE4WO

There is no candidate for Vice Director in the Dakota Division.
    In the six divisions where there are contests, ballots are
being mailed to Full Members as of September 10. Ballots must be
returned by noon, November 20.


FEMA OFFERS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
    "Millions of Americans Have Experienced Disaster - Are You
Prepared?". This is the title of the July 1989 publication
offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This
18 page booklet reviews the Civil Defense organizations in the
country, how they work in times of natural and man made
disasters, and heightens public awareness of the value of such an
organization in their communities. At the end of the brochure is
a list of additional "Self-Help" publications such as "In Time of
Emergency - A Citizen's Handbook," "Planning For Survival" and
"Emergency Preparedness Checklist." An order form is included.
    FEMA is responsible for a wide range of emergency planning
and response activities. They work with state and local
governments as well as national organizations to help communities
plan for emergencies of all types.
    "...Are you Prepared?" may be obtained at no cost by writing
to: FEMA, PO Box 70274, Washington, DC, 20024.


PART 97 RULES COVERING INTERNATIONAL RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS
    The FCC has issued a Public Notice concerning communication
with amateurs in foreign countries. Here is a recap.
- Permissible countries: Section 97.111 states when the
administration of a country objects to its amateurs contacting US
hams, it becomes a "banned country." Currently there are no
banned countries.
- Prohibited transmissions: Section 97.113 says that
communications for the purpose of facilitating the business or
commercial affairs of any party is prohibited. Use of amateur
communications as an alternative to other broadcast, common
carrier, maritime, land mobile or other authorized radio services
is also prohibited.
- Third-party arrangements: Section 97.115 "...authorizes an
amateur station licensed by the FCC to transmit messages for a
third party to any amateur station within the jurisdiction of a
foreign government whose administration has made arrangements
with the United States to allow amateur stations to be used for
transmitting international communications on behalf of third
parties."
    Countries that have made the necessary arrangements with the
US to permit third-party messages are: Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia,
Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Christopher and
Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone,
Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (special event
stations with call sign prefix GB followed by a number other than
3), Uruguay, and Venezuela.
    United Nations stations 4U1ITU in Geneva, Switzerland and
4U1VIC in Vienna, Austria, have also made arrangements with the
US to permit third-party communications.


FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
    In conjunction with the San Francisco FCC Field Office, the
US Attorney's Office in Fresno, CA, has initiated a second
criminal prosecution against Donnie Ray Johnson, doing business
as Red Monkey Communications in Fresno, CA for the marketing of
illegal Citizens Band (CB) radio equipment. On August 14, 1989
engineers from the FCC San Francisco Office, along with US
Marshals, conducted a search and seized $2000 worth of illegal CB
linear amplifiers.
    In 1985, Mr. Johnson was convicted for the same offense and
was fined $5000 and placed on 2 years probation.
    Johnson's prosecution is part of a continuing enforcement
program to assure that the FCC ban on manuafacturing and selling
CB linear amplifiers and other non-type accepted transmitters is
observed. Federal law (47 USC 302 (b)) prohibits the marketing
and manufacture of such non-compliant electronic equipment. A
second conviction for violation of this law carries a maximum
fine of $100,000 and/or two years imprisonment.
    In another action, US Marshals and investigators from the San
Fransisco Office of the FCC seized $3000 worth of illegal CB
radio equipment from the residences of John Robinson, Andrew and
Mary Lou Calloway, and Ted Green.
    The seized equipment included two non-type accepted
transmitters capable of operating on frequencies not authorized
for use in the Citizens Radio Service. Also seized were six CB
linear amplifiers.
    FCC Engineers from the San Francisco Office investigated and
identified the locations of the three operators after receiving
many complaints of interference to TV and radio reception from
their neighbors. Robinson, Calloway and Green repeatedly refused
to permit FCC personnel to inspect their CB radio stations. FCC
Rules (47 CFR 95.426) require that all CB radio stations be made
available for inspection upon request of an authorized FCC
official.
    In total, $3200 in fines were issued to Robinson, Calloway
and Green.


FCC ISSUED CALL SIGN UPDATE
     The following is a list of most recently issued FCC call
signs (September 1).

DIST    GRP"A"  GRP"B"      GRP"C"  GRP"D"
        Extra   Advanced  Tech/Gen  Novice

0       WW0G    KF0EV       K0KZG   KB0FDO
1       NY1M    KC1QF       N1GXH   KA1UJF
2       WS2R    KE2PD       N2JVZ   KB2IND
3       NW3C    KD3OS       N3HLK   KA3VCY
4       AB4QF   KM4XI       N4WTV   KC4MFK
5       AA5NR   KG5XY       N5PDG   KB5KMF
6       AA6QE   KJ6ZE       N6WET   KC6FOP
7       AA7BR   KF7WI       N7NLL   KB7IOC
8       WU8Z    KF8BE       N8LGA   KB8IBG
9       WK9E    KE9SB       N9IVP   KB9DIU
Guam    KH2K    AH2CF       KH2ED   WH2AMH
Hawaii  ***     AH6JV       NH6UK   WH6CFB
Alaska  ***     AL7LM       NL7SO   WL7BVN
USVI    NP2F    KP2BQ       NP2DI   WP2AGY
P.R.    ***     KP4QH       WP4WR   WP4INE

*** indicates that all 2 x 1 call signs have been assigned in
those areas.