ARRL DIRECTOR/VICE DIRECTOR ELECTIONS SET
There will be contested elections for ARRL Director and Vice Director seats
in three divisions for terms beginning next January 1. In two other
divisions, the incumbent Director and Vice Director are running unopposed
and have been declared elected. Balloting for Director will occur in the
Atlantic, Great Lakes and Midwest divisions. Balloting for Vice Director
will take place in the Atlantic and Great Lakes divisions.
In the Atlantic Division: Current Vice Director William C. Edgar, N3LLR,
faces a challenge from Scott J. Bauer, W2LC, for the Director's seat. The
winner will succeed Bernie Fuller, N3EFN, who is not seeking reelection to
another term. Competing to replace Edgar on the back bench are Maryland-DC
Section Manager Thomas J. Abernethy, W3TOM, and Thomas G. Valosin, WB2KLD.
FCC Sets Aside Maine Amateur's License Renewal
The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has set aside its grant of license renewal to Glenn A. Baxter, K1MAN, of Belgrade Lakes, Maine. According to correspondence the FCC released this week, the WTB took the action soon after it had granted Baxter's renewal application, received on July 22 via the W5YI VEC.
"The application has been set aside for enforcement review," Associate Chief of Licensing Operations Tracy Simmons told Baxter in a July 25 letter from the FCC's Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, office. Simmons said the WTB took the action in accordance with 47 CFR §1.113(a). That section says: "Within 30 days after public notice has been given of any action taken pursuant to delegated authority, the person, panel, or board taking the action may modify or set it aside on its own motion." Baxter's Amateur Radio license is set to expire October 17, 2005.
In early June, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) proposing to fine Baxter $21,000. In the NAL, the FCC alleges that Baxter has violated several sections of the Part 97 Amateur Service Rules. The list includes rules proscribing interference with ongoing communications, transmitting communications in which he has a pecuniary interest, failure to provide information the FCC requested, engaging in broadcasting, and failure to exercise control of his station.
The FCC has not yet affirmed the NAL by issuing a Forfeiture Order. In his June 12 reply to the NAL, Baxter denied "any apparent liability for forfeiture in the amount of $21,000 or any other violations of FCC rules, state law or federal law." His response also cited the fifth and sixth amendments of the US Constitution and requested "all documentation regarding the alleged apparent liability and criminal violations" to prepare a defense.
On July 31, Baxter responded to Simmons' setaside notification to assert that the FCC had "intentionally violated my constitutional rights of due process" by not renewing his timely filed renewal application. Baxter asserted his "legal position" to continue operating K1MAN indefinitely, until a final legal determination in the case.
NCVEC Question Pool Committee announces new schedule
The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) has announced
that the Question Pool Committee (QPC) has adjusted its schedule for revising Amateur Radio examination
question pools.
This decision was prompted by recent FCC announcements, changes in radio communication technology and
recommendations from VECs. "The QPC feels it is imperative to produce a new Technician Class pool now to
better position the Amateur Radio Service for growth in the years ahead," the QPC said in a statement
released September 9. "The new schedule impacts previously announced release dates for all three question pools."
The Technician class (Element 2) pool now tops the schedule and is due for release in January 1, 2006,
effective July 1, 2006. General class (Element 3) pool updates, previously scheduled to become effective
on July 1, 2008, will be released December 1, 2006, and become effective July 1, 2007. The Extra class
(Element 4) pool originally scheduled for 2005, will be released on December 1, 2007, and will become
effective July 1, 2008. Barring any major rules changes, subsequent updates to all pools will follow
the traditional four-year cycle, the QPC said. Selected by representatives of the 12 VECs attending
the NCVEC's annual conference, the QPC consists of Chair Jim Wiley, KL7CC, Anchorage VEC; Perry Green,
WY1O, ARRL VEC, and Larry Pollock, NB5X, W5YI VEC. A team of associates representing various VEC
organizations as well as experts selected from the amateur community will assist the QPC. Interested persons
are encouraged to submit questions to the NCVEC QPC via the NCVEC Web site.
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