The ARRL Letter, Volume 8, No. 2, January 27, 1989 Published by: The American Radio Relay League, Inc. 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111 Editor: Jay Mabey, NU0X Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and to the American Radio Relay League, Inc. ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETS The ARRL Board of Directors held its annual meeting in Hartford on January 20 and 21. President Price, Executive Vice President Sumner and Counsel Imlay all reported on aspects of the tireless and many-faceted campaign to retain the entire 220 to 225 MHz band. The most recent action was to request oral argument on the ARRL Petition for Reconsideration of the FCC decision last August to reallocate 220 to 222 MHz to the Land Mobile Service. In other matters, the Board set out guidelines for Reply Comments in PR Docket 88-139, concerning rewrite of the amateur rules. ARRL will file in favor of expanding the six meter repeater subband down to 51 MHz in PR Docket 88-527, with use of the band to be determined by detailed band planning. The Board asked its officers to follow up on PRB-3, concerning special call signs. It has been more than a year since the close of comments, with no action by the FCC. The Board reaffirmed the League position that all amateur communications for news media must meet all the elements of the FCC four-part test. The Executive Committee is to develop and implement plans of action to bring about a higher level of FCC enforcement of the amateur rules and to cause FCC to use the authority given it by Congress to control the immunity of electronic devices to RFI. Regular summaries of government activity related to Amateur Radio are to be published by the League. Turning to ARRL affairs, Directors Turnbull, Grauer, Mendelsohn and Frenaye were elected to the Executive Committee, Directors Metzger and Butler, and Dick Eilers, W0YZV, were elected to the ARRL Foundation Board, and EVP Sumner will replace Perry Williams as ARRL Secretary. HQ was authorized to proceed with development and purchase of a system to automate the DXCC process. Washington State was divided into two ARRL Sections along the Cascade Mountains. A statement of purpose was adopted for the ARRL VEC. The eighth ARRL Computer Networking Conference was set for October 7 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. HQ is to implement an Educational Advisor Program. Several motions were adopted in support of the ARRL National Emergency Response Committee (ANERCOM). Several motions were adopted to improve the process of electing Directors and Vice Directors. The ARRL will vote to ratify the nominations of Richard Baldwin, W1RU, for reelection as President and Michael Owen, VK3KI, to be Vice President of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). The Board also voted to support four of six proposed changes in the IARU Constitution and Bylaws. The Board commended ARRL volunteers involved in the pilot new ham recruitment project in Florida. Appreciation was expressed to AMSAT and especially Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, for bringing amateur work in connection with SkiTrek to the attention of young people. Outgoing Chairman John Parrott, W4FRU, was applauded for his work with the DX Advisory Committee. Complete minutes of the meeting will be printed in the March issue of QST. 87-14 BATTLE RAGES ON The battle to save all of 220 MHz for Amateur Radio rages on in the FCC docket files. Back in November, 1988, United Parcel Service filed a Petition for Rulemaking, RM-6595, to "assist the Commission in the formulation of service rules for the 220-222 MHz band and to ensure that the much-needed spectrum is available on a timely basis." This is an apparent effort to speed up the release of 220-222 MHz frequencies for private Land Mobile use. The ARRL has now filed comments strongly opposing the UPS Petition. We said: "It is apparent that UPS submitted its petition primarily as an attempt to justify the frequency allocation relative to the Docket 87-14 appeals, rather than to establish permanent operating parameters for the private land mobile use of the band. The first half of the petition, for example, makes no reference at all to the specifics of the UPS proposal for implementation of the band, but rather is a statement of the alleged justification for the frequency allocation...the UPS petition is thus no more than an unauthorized pleading submitted with the intent to influence the Commission's deliberations on reconsideration in Docket 87-14." Our petition also pointed out: "The UPS petition, however, seeks to implement a frequency band which may well never be available to the land mobile service. It would be highly premature, and a waste of the Commission's time and resources, to commence a proceeding which may be rendered moot by action on any of the more than 500 reconsideration petitions now on file." Even assuming, for argument's sake, that 220-222 MHz was ultimately reallocated to both the government and non-government land mobile services, paragraph 57 of the 87-14 Order noted there would have to be a coordination procedure developed for the band between the two users. It would certainly be premature to propose any channelization plan prior to the development of sharing arrangements between government and non-government services. The ARRL concluded by urging the Commission dismiss the UPS Petition. IEEE FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE Members of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) who are interested in serving as IEEE Congressional Fellows for the 1989-1990 term are invited to apply for one of the two positions available. Those selected will serve a one-year term on the personal staff of individual Senators or Representatives or on the professional staff of congressional committees, with the IEEE paying half of their salary. Candidates are selected on the basis of technical competence, ability to serve in a public environment and evidence of service to the IEEE and the profession. Prospective Fellows must have been in the IEEE at the member grade or higher for at least four years. Applications are available by contacting W. Thomas Suttle at 202-785-0017 or by writing: Secretary, Congressional Fellows Program, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc, 1111 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036. Applications must be postmarked by March 31, 1989. If you apply, please advise ARRL Washington Area Coordinator Perry Williams, W1UED. CORRECTION ARRL Letter Number 1, January 13, 1989, listed C. Mike Lamb, N7ML, as CEO of Amateur Electronic Applications. Mike is, in fact, CEO of Advanced Electronic Applications. FCC-ISSUED CALL SIGN UPDATE The following is a list of most recently issued FCC call signs (January 1). DIST GRP"A" GRP"B" GRP"C" GRP"D" Extra Advanced Tech/Gen Novice 0 WQ0H KF0AD N0KAN KB0DTE 1 NU1Z KC1NA N1GEO KA1SZU 2 WM2X KE2KT N2IVX KB2GVJ 3 NT3F KD3KX N3GSU KA3TZF 4 AB4MH KM4LX N4UQF KC4IGC 5 AA5JM KG5QJ N5NQV KB5IDT 6 AA6MB KJ6PM N6TYB KC6BKJ 7 WV7Z KF7QI N7MBB KB7GLA 8 WN8K KE8VX N8KEP KB8GCA 9 WE9X KE9OC N9IAG KB9BWQ Guam KH2K AH2CD KH2DN WH2ALU Hawaii ** AH6JM NH6SH WH6CBP Alaska ** AL7KR NL7PJ WL7BTD USVI NP2E KP2BN NP2CT WP2AGE P.R. ** KP4PV WP4SY WP4IGP ** indicates that all 2 x 1 call signs have been assigned in those areas. FAR ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS The Foundation for Amateur Radio, Inc. (FAR), a non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C., plans to award 32 scholarships for academic year 1989-90 to assist licensed radio amateurs. The Foundation, composed of fifty local Washington area Amateur Radio clubs, fully funds four of these scholarships with the income from grants and its annual hamfest. It administers, without cost to the donors, seven scholarships for the QCWA; five for the Baltimore (MD) ARC; three for the Radio Club of America; and two each for the Dade (FL) Radio Club, the Amateur Radio News Service, the 10-10 International Net, and the West Allis Radio Amateur Club of Milwaukee. It also administers one each for the Richard G. Chichester Memorial, the YLRL, the Columbia (MD) Amateur Radio Association, the Frederick (MD) Amateur Radio Club and the Vienna (VA) Wireless Society. Licensed radio amateurs may compete for these awards if they plan to pursue a full-time course of studies beyond high school and are enrolled in or have been accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical school. Some of the scholarships require the holding of at least an FCC General class license. The awards range from $500 to $2000 with preference given in some cases to residents of specified geographical areas or the pursuit of certain study programs. Additional information and application forms can be obtained by letter or QSL card postmarked prior to May 31, 1989 from: FAR Scholarships 6903 Rhode Island Av. College Park, MD 20740 The Foundation for Amateur Radio is devoted exclusively to promoting the interests of Amateur Radio and those scientific, literary and educational pursuits that advance the purpose of the Amateur Radio Service. TOP TEN 80-METER SINGLE-BAND DXCC ANNOUNCED The first ten recipients of the 80 meter single band DXCC awards have been announced. They are as follows: 1) John Devoldere, ON4UN/326 2) Bob Eshleman, W4DR/304 3) Russel Martin, W3MFW/294 4) Randy Schaaf, W9ZR/288 5) Albert Hix, W8AH/284 6) Austin Regal, N4WW/283 7) Robert Dixon, K4MQG/282 8) Robert Mitchell, W1NH/280 9) Leslie Murphy, K4DY/279 10) Richard Roderick, K5UR/276 HEATH'S POCKET PACKET TNCs DONATED FOR USE IN SHUTTLE Two representatives from the Heathkit Company recently presented three HK-21 Pocket Packet TNCs to the Johnson Space Center ARC for use in a proposed experiment on a future space shuttle flight. The primary purpose of the presentation was for use on the proposed Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) tentatively scheduled for March 1990. If the project is approved, NASA will mount one of the TNCs into the SAREX casing unit, with modifications for use in zero gravity. FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTION In the continuing crackdown by the Commission on unauthorized radio use, Kingsville (Texas) FCC investigators visited several station operators, who, when asked, said they were unaware that an FCC license was required for operation of these stations on frequencies in and around the amateur bands. The stations are now silent, awaiting license applications to be acted upon, and the Commission hopes that the interference to authorized operations in the area will be curtailed. ATLANTA RADIO CLUB SCHOLARSHIP The Atlanta Radio Club announces it will have up to $2000 available to award in its 1989 scholarship program. Applicants must be licensed amateurs graduating from high school and entering an approved college or university as freshmen for the first time. Awards will be made on a basis of scholarship, Amateur Radio achievements, citizenship and/or leadership, and financial need. Some preference will be given to people living in Georgia and its adjoining states. For further information and application forms write: Phil Latta, W4GTS, 259 Weatherstone Parkway Marietta, GA 30068 HAVE YOU HELPED W1AW YET? If you haven't already given a donation to help with the renovation of Amateur Radio's premiere station, W1AW, now is the time! You have always counted on W1AW for the latest bulletins concerning subjects of concern to amateurs all over the world, and now W1AW needs your assistance to continue to be the flagship station of Amateur Radio. Tax deductible contributions can be made by phone or mail. Just address your donation to W1AW Fund Drive, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. Make checks payable to "W1AW Renovation Fund." By phone, credit card contributions can be made by calling Jennifer at ARRL HQ (203-666-1541) between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM (EST) daily, except weekends. Please help W1AW maintain its leadership on the front lines of Amateur Radio technology. Thanks! TAPR ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCED Attention packet radio followers! The Annual meeting of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) will be held in Tucson, Arizona (where else?) on February 25-26. The meeting location is the Best Western "Inn at the Airport" located at 7060 South Tucson Boulevard. Special rates are available to TAPR Convention attendees. Call 1-800-772-3847 for further info. There are plenty of exciting presentations on new packet developments, Microsat, Networking, BBS, DSP and other topics. There are also some new TAPR developments not previously announced! Developers desiring a time slot on the agenda should advise the TAPR office (602-323-1710) as soon as possible. PACKET RADIO VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) has received expressions of interest from a UN agency in the Sudan for two operators to spend 3-4 weeks there setting up HF packet stations in various locations around the country. Assignment would begin at the end of February. Preference will be given to those who have HF packet experience, can do this for expenses only (or a low fee), and have lived/traveled in developing countries previously. Anyone interested should contact the following: VITA Gary Garriott 1815 N. Lynn St. Arlington, VA 22209 Phone: 703-276-1800 703-243-1865 (FAX)