The ARRL Letter: Volume 6, Number 24 December 2, 1987 Published by: The American Radio Relay League, Inc. 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111 Editor: Phil Sager, WB4FDT 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. Here are the results of the Director and Vice Director elections. The first listed candidate has been declared elected for the 1988-89 term of office beginning January 1. Delta Division, for Director: Joel M. Harrison, WB5IGF, 725 Arthur P. Kay, W5APX, 628 Lionel A. Oubre, K5DPG, 521 John M. Wondergem, K5KR, 513 At the time of his election, Joel, WB5IGF, is in the midst of serving his third term as Section Manager of Arkansas. He is active on all modes from 1.8 through 432 MHz, including Packet and OSCAR. He has received a number of ARRL operating and public service awards. At age 29, Joel will be the youngest current ARRL Director. He is employed by the Independent Testing Laboratories Utility Plant Service Group in Searcy, Arkansas. Delta Division, for Vice Director; Joseph A. Butler, K5OS, 1341 Jimmy Roller, N4IR, 1015. Joe, 59, is an active DXer and is on the DXCC Honor Roll. He is also a former member of the DX Advisory Committee. Joe is a past officer of the Northern California DX Club, a Charter Member of the Northern California DX Foundation, and president of the Mississippi Coast Amateur Radio Association. He is a life member of ARRL and QCWA. Joe's work background is in manufacturing and sales management with a number of large electronic firms, including GE, Westinghouse, and Motorola. Great Lakes Division, for Director: Leonard M. Nathanson, W8RC, 2425 George S. Wilson, W4OYI, 2405 Leonard was first licensed in 1948 as W8DQL, and received his present call in 1974. He served as Director of the Great Lakes Division from 1980-84, and served as First Vice-President of ARRL from 1984-86, and has been Second Vice President since 1986. While Director, he was Chairman of the Federal Pre- emption Task Force which was instrumental in securing PRB-1, the FCC ruling that declared limited federal pre-emption over local zoning ordinances that seek to regulate amateur antennas. He also founded the ARRL Volunteer Counsel program. Leonard holds BSEE and law degrees. Nathanson is presently a practicing attorney, is an active contester, and has held office in numerous local clubs. Midwest Division for Vice Director: Lyndell C. "Chuck" Miller, WA0KUH, 1405 Claire R. Dyas, W0JCP, 1190. Chuck is a Life Member of ARRL who has served as an Assistant Director for the past 10 years. He appeared before both houses of the Missouri legislature in a successful effort to regain call sign license plates, and was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri, committee that worked successfully for a 60-foot high tower ordinance. He is Chairman of the PHD VEC which has given over 1800 examinations and active in numerous clubs. Chuck is 61 and a retired USMC veteran. Since there was only one candidate in the following Divisions, these candidates have already been declared elected: Atlantic Division, Director Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC. Vice-Director, James M. Mozley, W2BCH. Great Lakes Division, Vice-Director, Allan L. Severson, AB8P. Midwest Division, Director, Paul Grauer, W0FIR. Pacific Division, Director, Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV. Vice-Director, James D. Knochenhauer, K6ITL. Southeastern Division, Director Frank M. Butler, W4RH. Vice-Director, Evelyn D. Gauzens, W4WYR. PACKET SATELLITE PLANNED Within the next two years, packet radio users may be able to pass their signals through an orbiting satellite. There is a crash program underway to build and launch such a bird according to Jan King, W3GEY, AMSAT Vice President of Engineering. The satellite, generally referred to as "PACSAT," has been dreamed about for nearly half a decade since the conception of the TAPR TNC. There are several "fertile" launch opportunities within calendar 1988 and 1989, and the AMSAT Board has authorized the formation of a PACSAT team and funded it at $50,000 to take advantage of any feasible launch that would be compatible with the PACSAT mission. According to Tom Clark, W3IWI, a major portion of the design for PACSAT is complete, and the construction of a prototype will commence immediately. All packet radio enthusiasts will be able to make use of the PACSAT satellite when it is launched, possibly within the next two years. Attainment of this very ambitious goal will entail financial support, and a special fund has been set up for this purpose. Contact AMSAT, P.O. Box 27, Washington DC 20044 for further details. ANARC NEW ADDRESS Effective December 1, the new mailing address of the Association of North American Radio Clubs is ANARC, P.O. Box 143, Falls Church, VA 22046-0143. AMSAT ELECTION RESULTS The 1988 AMSAT Board of Directors election results are as follows: John Browning, W6SP, Chairman of the Board; Vern Riportella, WA2LQQ, President; John Champa, K8OCL, Executive Vice President; Jan King, W3GEY, Vice President, Engineering; Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, Vice President, Engineering; Bill Tynan, W3XO, Vice President, Manned Space Projects; Doug Loughmiller, KO5I, Vice President, Field Operations; Art Feller, KB4ZJ, Treasurer; Martha Saragovitz, Secretary. All were incumbents with the exception of KO5I. A committee was also formed to study the recommendation of a dues increase for 1988 to offset increasing costs of membership services. JOBS AT HQ An opening exists in the Technical Department at HQ for a Laboratory Supervisor. We are looking for a licensed and experienced amateur with a BSEE degree, or equivalent experience. The candidate must have sufficient experience in industry to know laboratory procedures and test standards, and must have the ability to train and counsel laboratory personnel. The ideal candidate would have a design background, and an ability to work with experimenters in the field. Starting salary is $(edited); excellent benefits. Contact Chuck Hutchinson, K8CH, at HQ. Want to combine your writing and Amateur Radio skills in an exciting job offering a broad range of hands-on editorial responsibilities? The Production/Editorial Department is looking for a ham with an English or Journalism background (education or paid work experience) for the position of Editorial Assistant. Starting salary range is $(edited). Send your resume and cover letter to Jeff Kilgore, N1FGB, at HQ. ARRL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP Are you a licensed amateur planning to attend college next fall? The ARRL Foundation is administering six scholarships for the 1988-89 academic year: the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, $5000; the Paul and Helen Grauer Scholarship, $500; L. Phil and Alice Wicker Scholarship, $500; the Perry F. Hadlock Memorial Scholarship, $500; You've Got A Friend in Pennsylvania Scholarship, $500 and the Edmond A. Metzger Scholarship, $500. Send for information and applications to the ARRL Foundation, c/o HQ. NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN The FCC has adopted policies and rules for a National Plan for Public Safety Services, that insures that the new six megahertz of spectrum (821-824/866-869 MHz) previously allocated to public safety services are to be used for crime control, firefighting, and emergency medical services. One of the most important objectives of the plan is to provide improved communications to public safety agencies during disaster situations. There were three specific provisions to assist in attaining this goal; (1) five channels are dedicated on a nationwide basis for mutual aid among federal, state, and local services; (2) regional plans may designate additional mutual channels to satisfy local requirements; and (3) technical requirements are established to enable communications with existing public safety systems in the 800 MHz land mobile band. CALL FOR PAPERS FOR ANTENNA COMPENDIUM The ARRL Antenna Compendium, Volume 2, is in its beginning stages. Volume 1 of this publication was quite popular, and plans for the second volume include all new material and an even better cover appearance. HQ is soliciting papers for publication on the subject of antennas, transmission lines, propagation effects and related topics. Standard author's fees will be paid. Additional information will appear in a future issue of QST, or write to the Technical Department at HQ for a Compendium author's kit. FCC ON OBSCENITY The FCC, on November 24, reaffirmed three April rulings that called for strict enforcement of the criminal code's prohibition of obscene broadcasts. The Commission wished to make clear that the broadcast of obscene programming is a criminal offense, and that such broadcasts are banned from the airwaves at all times of the day. According to the FCC, obscene speech is not protected by the First Amendment, and may not be broadcast at any time. The FCC will use the following definition of obscene material in accordance with a US Supreme Court opinion: (1) An average person, applying contemporary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (2) The material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way as measured by contemporary community standards, sexual or excretory conduct; and (3) The material, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973)). According to the Commission, it's action last April, demonstrated that it intends to enforce limitations against indecent broadcasts. Although under present constraints it may not prohibit indecent programming totally, it can prohibit the airing of such broadcasts at a time of day when there is a reasona- ble risk that children may be in the audience. Under existing Supreme Court precedent, however, non-obscene broadcasts, even though sexually explicit, may not be banned altogether, but are subject to reasonable channeling constraints in order to restrict the ability of children to see them. The broadcast of this type of program would be permissible after midnight and until 6 a.m. In light of this, the Commission emphasized that obscene programming could never be broadcast and that indecent programming could not be legally broadcast before midnight, as the bulk of complaints it received were regarding indecent broadcasts aired prior to that time. NEW CORDLESS TELEPHONE RULES The FCC has amended Part 15 of its rules to allow for the indefinite importa- tion, marketing, and manufacture of cordless telephones in the 46-49 MHz range. Additionally, the Commission modified Part 15 enabling the use of more spectrum-efficient narrow band technology that effectively doubles the ten available channels. In 1984, the FCC allocated 10 pairs of frequencies in the 46-49 MHz band to the cordless telephone service for a period of five years, while alternatives were considered. The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) requested a five-year extension, stating that time would be needed to re-design and manufacture new equipment for the new frequencies. The FCC has concluded that because operation of the cordless telephones in the 46-49 MHz band has been satisfactory, operation will be allowed to continue for the foreseeable future. The FCC emphasized that devices operating under Part 15 must not cause inter- ference to authorized services, and must accept interference from other ser- vices. In a companion proceeding, the Commission denied an EIA request for 4 MHz in the 800/900 MHz land mobile band for use by cordless phones. FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTION Roger Williams, proprietor of the San Diego retail CB store "Mud Shack", was sentenced to seven months imprisonment for selling Citizens Band radios modified to operate on unauthorized radio frequencies, according to an FCC news release. Williams was also placed on probation for two years, issued a $1000 fine, and must devote 80 hours to community service. According to the FCC news release, Williams had been warned by the FCC of penalties of non-compliance with FCC rules on three separate occasions, but continued to sell the unlawful equipment while negotiating the settlement of a $2000 civil fine imposed by the FCC in 1986. AMATEUR RADIO CALL SIGNS As of the first of November: Radio Gp. "A" Gp. "B" Gp. "C" Gp. "D" District Extra Adv. Tech./Gen. Novice -------- ------- ------ ------ ------ 0 WC0J KE0RG N0IQG KB0BHU 1 NN1R KC1GT N1FHI KA1RDM 2 WA2U KE2DA N2HRD KB2EMW 3 NM3D KD3FF N3FVR KA3SHB 4(*) AB4EJ KK4ST N4RLQ KC4CCE 5(*) AA5DJ KG5FC N5LQT KB5EOP 6(*) AA6FG KJ6AJ N6QVN KB6UME 7 WG7Q KF7EQ N7KBH KB7DAK 8 NZ8A KE8OM N8IXH KB8DHW 9 NV9I KE9HB N9GZU KA9ZOJ Alaska(**) AL7JH NL7LO WL7BPP Virgin Is KP2T KP2BK NP2CG WP2AFS Puerto KP4OL WP4MM WP4HPX Rico(**) * All 2-by-1 format call signs have been assigned in the 4th, 5th, and 6th radio districts. 2-by-2 format call signs from the AA-AL prefix block are now being assigned to Extra Class amateurs. ** All Group "A" (2-by-1) format call signs have been assigned in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Group "B" (2-by-2) format call signs are now being assigned to Extra Class amateurs. FCC EXTENDS DEADLINE IN DOCKET 87-389 Just at press time the FCC issued an Order extending the deadline for comments on FCC Docket 87-389. This Docket revises Part 15 of the FCC's rules regarding the operation of low power RF devices without a license. The new deadline is March 7, 1988, with reply comments due May 9, 1988. The ARRL, as well as 10 other organizations, had petitioned the FCC for the time extension. The FCC said that each petitioner had expressed the same basic reasoning; because the proposed changes are extensive, and quite technical in nature, additional time would be necessary to determine the impact of the proposed regulations on existing equipment and to have more reasoned replies. NTIA REVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS POLICIES On November 20, Assistant Commerce Secretary Sikes announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be undertaking a comprehensive review of U.S. Domestic and International communications policies. The last time the Executive Branch undertook such a sweeping review was in 1968. The "Telecom 2000" study will survey conditions in some 20 different communications and information industry markets and sub- markets -- everything from local telephone service, to consumer electronics, to radio and TV broadcasting, and computer services. Then, NTIA will use this core information to identify both existing and future challenges, and make national policy recommendations. NTIA plans to work with other Commerce and Federal Government agencies, as well as the public and industry. (edited) to remove direct $ reference K6IYK