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| The award-winning monthly publication of The Baltimore Radio Amateur Television Society P.O.Box 5915 Baltimore, MD 21282-5915 |
April, 2007
Attention All Amateurs ...
ARRL VEC still "busy, busy, busy!"
The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) reports business continues to be brisk
following the FCC's deletion of Morse code as a ham radio licensing requirement. "Busy,
busy, busy!" is how ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, described the situation in her
department. She says nearly 800 exam sessions are on the schedule for March with another
600 for April, "and it doesn't look like test session activity will be slowing down any time soon,"
she added. ARRL VEC hosts 450 exam sessions in a typical month. Despite the hectic pace, Somma says
personnel have been able to process most test session paperwork promptly. "The majority of our VE
teams are returning the sessions in good order and with all the needed forms," she noted. "Thank you!"
Even so, processing times are down a bit. Somma advises applicants to allow 15 days from the testing date
before checking on application status. To follow up, first use the FCC Universal Licensing System
(ULS)
"Search Licenses" tab, or check the ARRL Web license search engine.
To contact the FCC, call toll-free
during business hours 888-225-5322. Applicants who tested at ARRL VEC sessions whose applications have
not been granted within 15 days may call ARRL VEC, 860-594-0300.
Ham Radio Antenna Bills in Play in Three States
Lawmakers in three states -- Arizona, Maryland and Oklahoma -- are considering Amateur Radio
antenna bills that would put the essence of the limited federal pre-emption known as PRB-1 into each
state's statutes. The Arizona and Maryland bills go a step beyond most PRB-1 legislation. They not only
would require that municipal land-use or zoning regulations "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication
per PRB-1, spelled out in the FCC's Amateur Radio rules in §97.15(b), they would extend the same protections to
homeowners in certain private communities where deed covenants, conditions and restrictions
(CC&Rs) apply.
Full Story
Revised ARRL Band Chart available
A new ARRL band chart reflecting all changes to the FCC Amateur Radio Service rules as of February 23, 2007,
is available for downloading on the ARRL
Web site in either black and white or color versions. Created by ARRL Senior Technical Illustrator, Dave Pingree,
N1NAS, the attractive new chart represents a major change from earlier designs. This is the same chart featured in
the eight-page "Welcome" tear-out section in March QST (following page 48). The entire QST tearout also is available
for downloading in PDF format.
HELP WANTED FOR BRATS HAMFEST!
Please contact Les, W3GXT at lesmcclure@comcast.net to
volunteer for the hamfest, not just on hamfest weekend, but NOW. We need help with mailings, fairgrounds arrangements, and many other things ...
Mark Sunday, July 22 on your calendar.
| April, 2007 |  |
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