HAMFEST HUGE SUCCESS!
The BRATS Maryland Hamfest and Computer Fest on Sunday July 24 at the Howard
County Fairgrounds was a huge success on a bright and sunny day. The breeze wafted 
through the two buildings as The BRATS weather committee did their usual fantastic job. 
Buyers drifted in quite steadily all day and left with much "stuff".   We look forward to doing 
it again next year.  
   
A PAN-EUROPEAN PORTABLE NOVICE LICENSE
A pan-European Novice class license under the Conference of Postal and  Telecommunications 
Administrations or CEPT umbrella has taken another step forward.  This, with the release of a proposed 
syllabus and other  information. With a look at where things stand, here's Since Britain introduced its 
Foundation License in 2002,  that demonstrated how such an entry point license can be of benefit to  
amateur radio. However there are regulatory or legislative difficulties in some countries  that prevent their 
introduction of a Novice license. The CEPT is now considering at two measures. Firstly, seeking agreement 
on a  Novice license syllabus that can  be used as a template for those countries  who can,  and want to 
introduce such a license.     And it's also proposing that current Novice licenses issued by CEPT and  
non-CEPT nations, that are deemed equivalent in standard, be recognized for  visitor or guest  licenses by 
CEPT participating countries. This could enable holders of a Novice license to take their hobby with them  
on a  holiday by simply using their home callsign slash the country in which  they're  holidaying  and even 
if that nation doesn't have its own  Novice license.  Community consultation on these matters closes in 
September, but there's no indication of when a decision  is likely.  If a full agreement is ever reached it 
would mean that  even entry level hams could travel and bring their hobby with them.  (WIA News Service)
 
   
PRESIDENT MAY NOMINATE TWO NEW FCC COMMISSIONERS SOON
A   White House aide has emerged as a top contender for one of two Republican seats on the Federal 
Communications Commission. This according to published news reports Tuesday, July 26th. Reports that 
quote unidentified administration sources who say that Michael Meece is a front-runner for an FCC seat. 
An Internet search reveals that Meece is currently the Deputy Director of the White  House Public Liaison 
Office. Prior to that he worked as  Deputy Chief of Staff U.S. Commerce Secretary to Don Evans during 
President Bush's first term in office.  Meece would replace the now departed Michael Powell. And with 
Republican Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy having  announced her intention to depart the agency in 
the near future a list of names has emerged as her possible  successor. These include Deborah Tate, 
a director on the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, and Suzanne Terrell, who unsuccessfully tried to 
unseat Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in 2002. Why all the secrecy?  According to one 
news story the sources declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the selection process 
and because there has been no comment  from the White House on any of those named. 
(Published news reports)  
   
RAC Studies 136 kHz
RAC together with radio amateurs in BC, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland have been undertaking 
studies to support our case for an amateur band at 136 kHz, and in cooperation with Hydro Quebec and 
Manitoba Hydro, preparing to investigate the interaction between amateur operation at 136 kHz and 
control signals on the power distribution lines of some  Canadian electrical utilities.  As a result of these 
studies, Industry Canada and the Canadian delegation  have supported the 136 kHz amateur band 
proposal at the meetings in  Geneva. Since most of Europe, and several South American countries also 
support the Canadian proposal, the possibility of approval of a new LF  amateur band at WRC 07 is 
looking more promising.   The next round f meetings begin this September.  (Ken Pulfer, VE3U via RAC)
   
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