The K7RA Solar Update
I think you'll agree the general trend is down. An average daily sunspot number of 18.1
for the first quarter of the year easily compares to the minimum between cycles 22 and 23.
From the fourth quarter of 1995 to the second quarter of 1997, the average daily sunspot numbers
for each quarter were 21.3, 13.1, 13, 12.4, 14.2, 11.3 and 25.4. Our recent quarterly average of
18.1 fits right in toward the bottom of the last cycle.
FCC invites comments on ARRL spread spectrum petition
The FCC has invited comments on the ARRL's Petition for Rule Making designated RM-11325, which seeks
to modify a Part 97 rule governing spread spectrum (SS) operation on Amateur Radio frequencies. The
League has asked the Commission to drop all but the first sentence of §97.311(d), which now requires the
use of automatic power control (APC) for SS stations running more than 1 W. The ARRL request would retain
the 100 W overall power limitation for SS. "The effect of the rule change would be to eliminate an
automatic power control provision that has proven over time to be impractical" in terms of compliance, the
League said in its petition, filed March 13. Comments are due Wednesday, May 3; reply comments are due
Thursday, May 18.
FCC Warns Radio Amateurs to Settle Personal Differences Off the Air
The FCC has advised four Texas licensees to take an "ongoing dispute" off the Amateur Radio bands
or face enforcement action. Special Counsel in the FCC Enforcement Bureau Riley Hollingsworth sent
essentially identical warning letters February 28 to Luis A Caraballo, N7PLC, and Sharon E. Millhouse,
KC5PRX--both of Floresville, and to Thomas O. Caldwell, WD5GXH, and Gary Sheets, WD5FWP—
both of San Antonio. Hollingsworth said the dispute has "led to allegations of slander and deliberate
interference" on the ham bands.
Vanity Call Sign Fee May Drop Slightly Later this Year
The FCC wants to reduce the Fiscal Year 2006 regulatory fee to obtain an Amateur Radio vanity call sign
by $1.80 to $20.10 for the 10-year license term. The current vanity call sign fee is $21.90. The Commission
proposed the new fee in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), "Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006, in MD Docket 06-68, released March 27. If ordered as proposed,
the new vanity fee would become effective in August or September. The FCC is obligated to collect nearly
$289 million in regulatory fees during FY 2006 to fund its operations.
FCC Affirms $21,000 in Fines Levied on Maine Radio Amateur
The FCC has affirmed a total of $21,000 in fines it proposed last year to levy on Glenn A. Baxter, K1MAN,
of Belgrade Lakes, Maine. The FCC's Forfeiture Order (NoF), released March 29, comes nearly 10 months
after a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) in the case. The FCC has alleged that Baxter
violated several sections of the Part 97 Amateur Service Rules.
Amateur Radio to Remain within FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
The FCC today approved a proposal to create a new Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PS&HSB)
that would assume some functions now under the umbrella of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
(WTB). But it appears that the Amateur Radio Service--now within the WTB's Public Safety and Critical
Infrastructure Division, headed by Michael J. Wilhelm, WS6BR--will remain within the WTB, according to
Anthony Dale, Acting Director of the FCC's Office of Managing Director (OMD).
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