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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