Access to Navassa, Desecheo may require Act of Congress
A bill calling on the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to permit public access to Navassa (KP1) and
Desecheo (KP5) islands has been introduced in the 109th Congress. Both islands are under FWS
jurisdiction. US Rep Nick Rahall (D-WV) introduced HR 298 January 25, "To require the Secretary of the
Interior to provide public access to Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, Navassa National Wildlife Refuge
and Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge." Such action would open the islands to future DXpeditions.
US Rep Richard Pombo (R-CA) co-sponsored the measure, which has been referred to the House
Committee on Resources. Rahall sponsored identical legislation in the last Congress. Citing unexploded
ordnance and potential danger from drug traffickers in the area, the FWS recently denied a group of Ohio
DXers permission to land on Desecheo. The agency has not issued Amateur Radio permits since 1993.
Navassa and Desecheo are among the top 10 most-wanted DXCC entities, according to the 2004 The DX
Magazine survey. The KP1/5 Project Team, in conjunction with the Lone Star DX Association, is
encouraging members of the DX community to contact their congressional representative to urge
co-sponsorship and support of HR 298.
FCC levies $10,000 fine for unlicensed operation
The FCC has
fined a Jacksonville, Florida, CBer $10,000 for transmitting without Commission
authorization. The Commission released the Forfeiture Order (NOF) to Tommie
Salter on December 27. The FCC says that in March 2004 its Tampa Field Office,
responding to interference complaints, restricted Salter's hours of operation.
The FCC lifted the quiet hours two months later, providing Salter "operated in
full compliance with the Commission's rules." When interference complaints
resumed, the FCC last July 15 again notified Salter it was restricting his hours
of operation. The FCC NOF said a family member signed for the notice but that
Salter told Commission officials he had not read it. As a result he transmitted
while his operation was prohibited--between 6 AM and 11:59 PM. An August 2004
station inspection of Salter's CB station revealed that he was operating a non
FCC-certificated transmitter, in violation of Part 95 rules. A Notice of
Apparent Liability (NAL) proposing the $10,000 fine followed in October. The
FCC's NOF upholds the fine, despite Salter's protests that his violation was not
willful because he did not understand that use of non-certificated transmitters
violated the rules and did not know about the reinstated quiet hours. Salter
also claimed he couldn't pay the fine, but the FCC says he failed to provide tax
returns or other necessary documentation to back up that claim. The FCC
authorizes CB operation "by rule"--essentially a blanket license.--FCC
FCC proposes to hold the line on vanity call sign fee
The FCC has proposed retaining the current $20.80 Amateur Radio vanity call sign regulatory fee for the
10-year license term. The fee went from $16.30 to $20.80 last August. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM), "Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2005" (MD Docket 05-59), the FCC
says it's proposing to collect more than $280 million in regulatory fees for fiscal year 2005, as mandated by
Congress "to recover the regulatory costs associated with the Commission's enforcement, policy and
rulemaking, user information, and international activities." The FCC says it anticipates 8000 vanity call sign
applications during FY2005, up from 7800 applications in FY2004. The FCC expects to raise $166,443 from
vanity call sign fees in FY2005.
Who won the 2005 Jeopardy "Teen Tournament"?
ARRL member Michael Braun, K3LNT! Asked what he'll do with his $75,000 grand prize, he replied:"Most
of my money will be in savings for college and future expenses. However, I may use a small fraction for
radio equipment."
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