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FCC Releases Long-Awaited "Omnibus" Amateur Radio Report and Order
Ending a protracted waiting period, the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the so-called
"omnibus" Amateur Radio proceeding, WT Docket 04-140, was adopted October 4 and released October 10. In it, the FCC
adopted nearly all of the changes it had put forth in its 2004 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the proceeding.
The R&O the FCC released this week does not include action on the Commission's proposal to eliminate the Morse code
requirement for all license classes. A Report and Order in that proceeding, WT Docket 05-235, is pending. ARRL President
Joel Harrison, W5ZN, expressed the League's gratitude to the FCC for acting this week in the wide-ranging proceeding.
Apologetic Radio Jammer Jack Gerritsen Gets Seven Years, Fines
It was a day many radio amateurs in Southern California had been anticipating for a long time. On September 18,
US District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner sentenced convicted radio jammer Jack Gerritsen, now 70, to seven years
imprisonment and imposed $15,225 in fines on six counts -- one a felony -- that included willful and malicious
interference with radio communications and transmitting without a license. Before sentencing, Gerritsen apologized
to the federal government, the FCC and the local Amateur Radio community, which had endured the brunt of
Gerritsen's on-air tirades and outright jamming. "I'm sorry, and I apologize to everyone here,"
Gerritsen told those in the courtroom, which included more than a dozen radio amateurs and Gerritsen's family
members. Gerritsen's contrition did nothing to convince Klausner toward leniency.
Tuesday, December 19: BRATS Annual Elections and Holiday Party
7:15 PM, Randallstown Library; 8604 Liberty Rd, Randallstown
If you want to run for office or as a Board member, email w3gxk@verizon.net
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