January, 2007

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Amateur Radio Exam Question Pools Altered to Agree with New Rules
With numerous new FCC Part 97 rules soon going into effect, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has dropped two dozen questions from the three Amateur Radio examination question pools. The deletions will bring ham radio license exams offered starting December 15 into line with rule changes spelled out in the recent FCC "omnibus" Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 04-140. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, says ARRL VEC-sponsored examination sessions will go forward without interruption.

Attention All Amateurs...
FCC Corrects J2D Error in "Omnibus" Report and Order
The FCC today released an Erratum that corrects one error in the recent Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 04-140 -- the so-called "omnibus" Amateur Radio proceeding -- that inadvertently limited J2D emissions to an occupied bandwidth of 500 Hz. J2D emissions are data sent by modulating an SSB transmitter. Had it been left to stand, the error would have rendered illegal below 30 MHz PACTOR III at full capability as well as Olivia and MT63 when operated at bandwidths greater than 500 Hz bandwidth, 1200 baud packet, Q15X25 and Clover 2000.

FCC proposes to fine California amateur licensee $14,000
The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) to Jason Kaltenbach, KE6CND, proposing to fine him $14,000 for willfully and repeatedly selling non-certified VHF and UHF transceivers on the eBay auction site. Kaltenbach does business as Metamerchant of Laguna Nigel, California. The Commission's Los Angeles District Office released the NAL November 9. According to the NAL, an FCC agent found two models of KYD brand transceivers, one capable of operating on 136 to 174 MHz at 3 W, the other capable of operating on 400 to 470 MHz at 4 W. In January 2006, the FCC cited Kaltenbach d/b/a Metamerchant for violating §302(b) of the Communications Act and §2.803(a)(1) of the FCC rules by offering for sale non-certified General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) transceivers. Kaltenbach told the Commission the gear had been listed accidentally as GMRS and MURS radios and that he removed them from sale and corrected his auction listing. Nonetheless, the NAL recounts, an FCC agent was able to purchase a non-certified VHF transceiver via auction from Metamerchant in March. In July, the FCC's Seattle office received a complaint from someone who purchased a UHF transceiver from Metamerchant via eBay that turned out not to be certified or even FCC-certifiable. The Commission gave Kaltenbach 30 days to pay the fine or file a statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the forfeiture.

FCC Revokes Amateur Radio License of Convicted Felon
The FCC has ordered that David Edward Cox, W5OER, of Pride, Louisiana, be stripped of his Technician class Amateur Radio license. In October 2005,the FCC sent Cox an Order to Show Cause to initiate a hearing proceeding to determine if Cox, who's serving time on several felony convictions, possessed the requisite character to remain an FCC licensee or should face license revocation. Cox failed to respond to the show-cause order. A Commission administrative law judge subsequently concluded that Cox had waived his right to a hearing, terminated the proceeding and released an Order of Revocation December 4. The revocation order is effective 40 days after that date, unless Cox appeals. Over the past several years, the FCC has been applying its so-called "1990 Character Order," initially intended to apply to Broadcast Service licensees, to Amateur Radio licensees and applicants.

January, 2007

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