August, 2006

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ARRL "DXCC Dialog" blog debuts
The ARRL DXCC Desk has inaugurated the "DXCC Dialog Weblog" -- containing news and notes about the ARRL DXCC program. "This page will have up-to-date information about the DXCC program," says ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG. "It does not provide for users to post responses, but authors and e-mail addresses are listed." The blog will be updated as needed to inform and update the DXing community regarding news of interest.

FCC to Seek Comments on Katrina Panel Recommendations
The FCC will invite public comments in response to recommendations presented this month by the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks. A Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-83A1.pdf in EB Docket 06-119, released this week, contains wide-ranging proposals and considerations that could involve FCC rule or administrative changes, a few of which deal with the Amateur Service. "The devastation of Hurricane Katrina highlighted the importance of telecommunications and media to our daily lives, and our dependency on our national communications infrastructure," remarked FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin. "With this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, we are asking for comments and suggestions from the public on how to best address and implement the Independent Panel's recommendations." The Independent Panel's report points out that Amateur Radio stations were among those segments of the communications infrastructure adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. "Equipment was damaged or lost due to the storm, and trained amateurs were difficult to find in the immediate aftermath," In its NPRM, the FCC asked if should explore amending its rules to permit automatic grants of certain types of waivers or special temporary authority (STA) in declared disaster areas. "As a condition of the waiver or STA, the FCC could require verbal or written notification to the Commission staff contemporaneously with activation or promptly after the fact," the NPRM suggested. Following last year's devastating hurricanes, the FCC issued a handful of STAs to permit licensees lacking HF privileges to operate on HF for emergency purposes. The NPRM offered these specific areas for consideration.

• Waiver of Amateur Radio and license-exempt rules, permitting transmissions necessary to meet essential communications needs.
• Waiver of application filing deadlines, something the FCC did last fall for amateurs who lived in hurricane- stricken states.
• Streamlined STA process, so parties in the affected area may simply notify the FCC in writing or orally of a need to operate in order to restore service.

2006 Scout Jamboree On The Air -- It's Not Just for Kids!
Jamboree on the Air, or JOTA, takes place each year on the third weekend of October; in 2006, it is scheduled for October 21-22. Each year, more than 400,000 Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world participate in this 48 hour event. As the author found, it also provides an opportunity for adults to rediscover their enthusiasm for Amateur Radio.