
The ARRL Letter
Electronic Update
May 17, 1996
__________________________________
IN THIS UPDATE:

* FCC issues reminder about HF transceivers
* FCC streamlines PC certification
* FCC launches new Family Radio Service
* Wisconsin PRB-1 bill fails
* Solar flux is up
* New call Puerto Rico sign blocks issued
* Vanity call sign filing tips
* FCC backfills 7th District holes
* Howard M. Crosby, W2CCG, SK
* Dick Pitner, W0FZO, SK
* In Brief: New hams and upgrades up;
   Students plan SAREX activity; Mir update;
   W8ZR named university president;
   SETI League inaugurates search
__________________________________

FCC ISSUES REMINDER ABOUT HF TRANSCEIVERS

The FCC has issued a friendly reminder about those HF transceivers 
ostensibly marketed for "amateur" use, but actually designed and intended 
specifically for the so-called "freeband" radio operators, who operate 
primarily in the 26 to 28 MHz frequency range.

In a May 13 Public Notice, the FCC points out that it's a violation of FCC 
regulations to import or market a transmitter designed or intended to 
operate outside the amateur bands unless the equipment has been issued a 
grant of equipment authorization for the radio services it's capable of 
operating. The FCC says it wanted to clarify its rules on equipment that's 
"intended to operate in various radio services in the high frequency radio 
spectrum, including '10-meter' Amateur Radio Service (ARS) equipment." The 
notice--directed to "manufacturers, importers, vendors and users of these 
transceivers"--emphasizes that transmitters intended for use by 
FCC-authorized radio services except the Amateur Radio Service must be 
type-accepted.

In the words of the Public Notice: "The Commission considers that the 
transceivers discussed above are intended to be operated on frequencies 
where the use of type-accepted equipment is required, because of the 
simplicity of modifying them to extend their operating frequency range."

The FCC also noted that it's illegal to import, market or operate a 
transmitter that requires a grant of equipment authorization but for which 
no grant has been issued, and that it's a violation to transmit on 
frequencies allocated to a licensed radio service "without the appropriate 
Commission-issued station license." Violators could be subject to fines or 
imprisonment as well as equipment seizure and forfeiture.--FCC

FCC STREAMLINES PC EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS

In a move aimed at getting personal computers and PC accessories to market 
faster, the FCC has adopted new rules to relax the equipment authorization 
requirements for such products. Instead of requiring FCC certification, the 
new rules allow a self-authorization process where PC manufacturers or 
suppliers issue a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) with FCC standards for 
limiting radio frequency emissions. The new rules permit manufacturers and 
suppliers of personal computers and PC peripherals to put a product on the 
market after testing it to ensure compliance and including a DoC in the 
accompanying literature, instead of having to apply for equipment 
authorization and await FCC approval.

The FCC anticipates the new rules will significantly speed up the process of 
getting the products to market and will save the PC industry some $250 
million a year.

To ensure that equipment continues to comply with FCC standards, 
laboratories testing products under the new procedures must be accredited by 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the American 
Association for Laboratory Accreditation or by other organizations approved 
by the FCC. Manufacturers and suppliers also may continue to use the FCC 
certification process, which can take a month or longer.

The new rules also permit the separate authorization of main computer boards 
and power supplies under a DoC and marketing of personal computers assembled 
from separate components that have themselves been authorized under a DoC. 
Under the old rules, PCs and PC accessories had to be tested and authorized 
based on the specific configuration of parts, and separate testing and 
authorization was required every time the configuration changed.

PCs and accessories are subject to authorization to make sure they don't 
cause interference to broadcasting, aeronautical and maritime communication 
and Amateur Radio.--FCC

FCC ESTABLISHES FAMILY RADIO SERVICE

The Federal Communications Commission amended Part 95 of its rules May 10 to 
establish a new, unlicensed personal radio service, to be called the Family 
Radio Service. This service was created in response to a petition filed by 
the Radio Shack Division of Tandy Corporation, requesting that the 
Commission establish a new radio service aimed at providing small groups 
with an affordable and convenient means of direct, short range (up to 
one-half mile), two-way voice communication. FRS radios would use 14 
channels in the 462 to 468-MHz band. Transceivers would have to be 
FCC-certified.

The Commission suggests the FRS could be used by hunters, campers, hikers, 
bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts to keep in contact with one another 
during outings. It could also be used by parents to keep in touch with 
children playing in the neighborhood ,or families or friends to keep in 
contact with one another while at shopping malls, sporting events, 
amusements parks and similar locations.--FCC

WISCONSIN PRB-1 BILL DEAD FOR NOW

A busy legislative agenda and political infighting are being blamed for the 
failure of a bill in the Wisconsin legislature that would have gone further 
than PRB-1 in limiting local control over Amateur Radio antennas. The bill, 
SB-544, had state Senate approval. Supporters had hoped to get approval of 
the state Assembly during a brief special session, but it never made it to 
the floor.

According to Gary Schwartz, K9GS, who tracked the proposed legislation, the 
bill would have prevented localities from restricting ham radio towers on 
the basis of height or aesthetics, unless there was a specific health or 
safety concern. The bill also would have kept localities from enacting laws 
affecting placement, screening or height of Amateur Radio antennas "if the 
ordinance or resolution is based solely on aesthetic considerations." The 
bill was modeled after existing provisions of Wisconsin law that restrict 
localities from regulating certain satellite TV antennas. Supporters have 
vowed to try again next year.

SOLAR UPDATE: FLUX IS UP

Propagation guru Tad Cook,  KT7H, reports the average solar flux was up just 
a few points during the first full week of May, and the average A index 
moved from 5.7 the previous week to 6.1. After peaking around 80, solar flux 
should drop below 70 after May 20 and rise above 70 again after June 1. The 
geomagnetic field is expected to be most stable between May 21 and 27. Best 
worldwide DX at this low point in the solar cycle is expected on 30 and 40 
meters. Look for 20 meters and even higher bands to open up, especially on 
north-south paths, when the solar flux is at 80 or higher.

Sunspot numbers for May 2 through May 8 were 0, 0, 0, 12, 26, 27 and 19 
respectively, with a mean of 12. The 10.7-cm flux was 67.9, 68.3, 69.4, 
70.8, 74.6, 74.9 and 76.1 respectively, with a mean of 71.7.

NEW CALL SIGN BLOCKS ISSUED FOR PUERTO RICO

On Monday, May 7, the FCC began issuing call signs in Puerto Rico from one 
of the new--and long-awaited--call sign blocks, NP3. For some time now, the 
Amateur Radio community has been awaiting FCC action to begin issuing new 
call sign prefixes (blocks) for areas in the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii 
that are running low on--or are already are out of--available call signs for 
higher class licensees.

The FCC already has granted NP3AA through NP3AR, as of May 13. So far, it 
appears that no new call signs have yet been granted from the new Alaska and 
Hawaii prefixes. The FCC has said it no longer will restrict Alaska call 
signs to the number 7, so future call sign prefixes could contain any 
numeral from 0 to 9, such as NL1 or AL0. New Hawaiian prefixes may contain 
the number 7, such as AH7 (prefixes for Kure Island already contain a 7, but 
suffixes begin with K).

MORE ON VANITY CALL SIGN PROCEDURES

Here are some tips about filing for a vanity call sign. Most of these 
resulted from members' frequently asked questions in the wake of the FCC's 
announcement to open filing Gate 1 on May 31:

You don't need to include proof that you or your deceased close relative 
formerly held the call sign applied for, but the FCC can require proof. 
Remember that making a false statement on an FCC application is against the 
law and is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

The FTP version of FCC Form 610V is acceptable for filing. In fact, you may 
even download or obtain it from the FCC via the Internet at 
http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form610V or ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form610V/, 
or by fax at 202-418-0177 (request Form 006108).

Include FCC Form 159 if you're paying for your vanity call sign application 
by credit card or if multiple applications are being paid for with one fee, 
charge or check. But (contrary to instruction for FCC Form 610V) Form 159 is 
not required if paying by money order. Form 159 is available from the FCC 
via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159 or 
ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form159/.

Payments made by personal check receive equally expedient handling as money 
orders or bank checks, and no check-clearing delays are expected.

The most recent holder of a call sign has first access to that call sign. 
However, a person with an expired license that is within the two-year grace 
period is still considered to hold the license.

Just prior to announcing the opening of Gate 1 in the vanity call sign 
program, the FCC denied outright three of four petitions for reconsideration 
and granted only part of a fourth petition. The amendment the FCC adopted 
clarifies that a renewal application for a vanity call sign is considered to 
be filed on time when received "on or before" the license expiration date.

FCC TO BACKFILL HOLES IN SEVENTH DISTRICT

Because of a computer programming snafu, the FCC inadvertently skipped over 
a chunk of seventh district call signs in the sequence KC7RAA to KC7ZZY, and 
jumped instead to the KD7 call sign block. The Commission intends to 
backfill the missing Group D call signs. As ARRL/VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, 
KB9NM, explains: "The FCC intends to leave the current 149 grants as is and 
to go back and fill in the KC7RAA-KC7ZZY group first." After that, the FCC 
will pick up where it left off.

The FCC took a different tack when about 50 Group D call signs were 
similarly skipped in the fourth district. Instead of issuing the skipped 
block out of sequence, the FCC deleted those grants and issued new call 
signs from the originally intended sequence.

HOWARD M. CROSBY, W2CCG, SK

Howard "Bing" Crosby, W2CCG, of Syracuse, New York, died April 15, 1996. He 
was 93. Bing was one of the most senior hams in the US, having begun his 
hamming in 1913 in his home state of Minnesota. He had been an ARRL member 
for nearly 75 years, and a 70-year membership certificate was issued to Bing 
earlier this year. He also was a Professional Engineer and a member of IEEE 
and QCWA. His wife and daughter survive.--Denis Garrod, VE3CYR

RICHARD W. PITNER, W0FZ0, SK

Former Midwest Division Vice Director Dick Pitner, W0FZO, of Sioux City, 
Iowa, died May 14, 1996. He was 87. Dick became vice director in January 
1974, succeeding Paul Grauer, W0FIR, who became director, and he served for 
one term. Dick also was a leading member of the 3900 Club, which meets on 
that 75-meter frequency. Tod Olson, K0TO, remembered Dick as "a good friend 
and an exemplary person and amateur." Services are May 18 at First Christian 
Church, Sioux City, Iowa.

__________________________________

In Brief:

* According to FCC figures, the numbers of new hams and of hams who've 
changed their class of license are up compared to the last half of 1995. New 
hams for the months of January, March and April have each totaled more than 
3000, and upgraders have topped 1200. In February, new hams numbered 2109, 
and there were 980 upgraders. During the last half of 1995--which included 
the Federal government furlough the last half of December--the number of new 
hams averaged 2137 per month, while upgrades averaged 811 per month.

* Students at Eisenhower Middle School in Texas, which has a scheduled SAREX 
QSO with STS-78 in June, will do their own earthbound micro-gravity 
experiment, involving 70-cm ATV between the school and the Brooks Air Force 
Base Lab. During the QSO itself, more than 100 students and parents will be 
in the auditorium.--Rosalie White, WA1STO

* A Mir update: The astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Mir orbital complex 
report the ICOM-228 has been switched from the 25-W output setting to 5 W to 
conserve power. This change should result in a signal reduction of about one 
S-unit. US Astronaut Shannon Lucid continues to operate under Russian 
Amateur Radio rules. Legally, she may use the Russian club call sign R0MIR. 
There are, however, some limitations for hams in the US, which does not 
currently have a third-party traffic agreement with Russia. This agreement 
does not affect Shannon, but it does affect US Amateur Radio stations. All 
properly licensed Amateur Radio stations in the US may talk to Shannon or 
anyone else on Mir, but they may not let unlicensed individuals--third 
parties--talk to anyone aboard Mir.

* James C. Garland, W8ZR, has been named president of Miami University, a 
20,000-student institution in Oxford, Ohio. Garland, 53, is now dean of the 
College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at The Ohio State University 
in Columbus.--Ronald Long, W8GUS

* Ham radio was there as the SETI League has kicked off its Project Argus 
survey of the heavens, seeking microwave signals that might indicate 
intelligent extraterrestrial life. The first five radiotelescopes in the 
effort went on line simultaneously on Earth Day, April 21, at 1900 UTC. The 
telescopes are in Spain, Canada, Colorado, Hawaii and at SETI League 
headquarters in New Jersey. The simultaneous launch of the five stations was 
coordinated via ham radio. Dr H Paul Shuch, N6TX, is the SETI League's 
executive director.--SETI League

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main 
St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. 
Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail 
kcapodicasa@arrl.org.
Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail rlindquist@arrl.org.

The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest 
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