March, 2007

< Prev Page 6 Next >

ARRL Puts Antenna Restrictions at Top of Legislative Agenda
The ARRL Board of Directors adopted a five-point legislative action plan at its January meeting, with antenna restrictions at the top of its list. According to the ARRL, its top five legislative objectives for the 110th Congress are:

1. Seek legislation to extend the requirement for "reasonable accommodation" of Amateur Radio station antennas to all forms of land use regulation.
2. Seek legislation requiring the FCC to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the interference potential of broadband over power line (BPL) system to public safety radio services and other licensed services. US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), has submitted such a bill, HR 462, in the current session (see separate item below).
3. Oppose legislation that diminishes the rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed -- and especially unintentional -- emitters.
4. Seek recognition of Amateur Radio's "unique resources, capabilities and expertise" in any legislation addressing communication issues related to emergencies, disasters or homeland security, and
5. Support the legislative objectives of other radio services, especially public safety and scientific services, as they relate to spectrum access and interference protection.

ARRL Announces Headquarters Reorganization
ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, has announced several organizational changes at ARRL Headquarters. The changes, which were shared with the ARRL Board of Directors when it met January 19 and 20, became effective today. Under the modified organization, most functions of the former Membership Services Department and Field and Educational Services will be combined into a single unit, tentatively called the Programs and Services Department.

2007 DXCC Honor Roll deadline approaching
The deadline for inclusion in the next DXCC Honor Roll listing is March 31. Submissions must be postmarked by that date. The Honor Roll list will appear in August QST. There are 337 current entities on the DXCC List, and you must be at 337 to qualify for Top of the Honor Roll or within the numerical top 10 to qualify for Honor Roll. The current minimum number for Honor Roll is 328. (Deleted entities do not count toward Honor Roll). "Top of Honor Roll" and "Honor Roll" plaques and lapel pins are available to all past and current Honor Roll members. Visit The ARRL DX Century Club Program Web page for information on how to order.

FCC Now Processing Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Backlog
The FCC has resumed processing new Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications. An initial stab at whittling down the backlog began February 8 -- five weeks to the day after the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) issued the last vanity call sign prior to the resumption. The Commission stopped processing new vanity call sign applications received on or after December 18 while it readied the Universal Licensing System (ULS) vanity application software to accommodate a December 15 rule change to discourage the filing of multiple applications for the same call sign. The FCC has continued to accept new vanity applications and to process vanity renewals. According to a WTB staff member, speaking on background, the Commission could wrap up backlog processing and be back on track by next week.

New England's "Hosstraders" hamfest calls it quits
Sponsors of the "Hosstraders Tailgate Swapfest -- a New England Tradition for more than 30 years -- have announced that last October's event was the last. "After careful consideration, we have decided to discontinue hosting the event," said a statement on the Hosstraders' Web site. "A combination of factors have led to this difficult decision. We want to take things out on a high note, while we can still be proud of our efforts." Demaso, Blake and Tiffany cited problems with site logistics, competition from Internet auction/sales sites and the change in the direction of Amateur Radio coupled with "the fact that we have done it for a third of a century and we are getting old and tuckered out," as reasons for throwing in the towel. They say they plan to "relax and play radio" now.

March, 2007

< Prev Page 6 Next >