
SB NEWSLIN # ALLBBS $NLIN.975

Amateur Radio Newsline #975 19 Apr 1996

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 - Reformatted to reduce page count -

NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #975 - 04/19/96

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   The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio Amateurs
as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of the AMATEUR
RADIO NEWSLINE, INC., formerly the WESTLINK RADIO NETWORK.  Amateur
Radio Newsline is a audio news service distributed via telephone.

   This hardcopy version is produced by Dale Cary - WD0AKO from
scripts provided to him weekly by Newsline.  It is then distributed to
on-line services, bbs networks and internet user jointly by Dale Cary
and Steve Coletti.

   Editorial comments, news item and all other business should be
directed to:

                        Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
                      Newsline Producer & Editor

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   Hardcopy comments or complements can be directed to:

                          Dale Cary, WD0AKO
                  Hardcopy Distribution for Newsline

                  Internet E-mail: wd0ako@rrnet.com
                        Phone: (218) 236-6324


   The audio version of Newsline can be recorded from one of the
currently operating lines listed below.  This list is kept as accurate
as possible. If any changes are not listed, please contact Dale Cary,
WD0AKO at the above listed addresses.


                      Audio Version of Newsline
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              Electronic Hardcopy Version of Newsline
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       GEnie (RTC Bulletin Board)............. m345;1
       GEnie (File Library)................... m345;3
       Dallas Remote Imaging BBS (DRIG)....... (214) 492-7573
         In bulletin number 36
       The Midwest Connection BBS............. (701) 239-2440
         In bulletin number 6 of the ham radio conference
       Delphi.....................In the ham radio conference
       CompuServe/HamNet.................... HamNet Library 0
       MicroSoft Network.......... Amateur Radio File Library
       Internet...............In the rec.radio.info newsgroup
       Internet FTP: oak.oakland.edu.........................
         In archive: pub/hamradio/docs/newsline
       Local BBS's............In the Ham Radio conferences on
         Fidonet, RIME, Intelec, I-Link, AR-Net and Fringenet.

                      True Speech Internet Site
                                                      
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                                                NEWSLINE

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[975]

   The following advisory is not necessarily for transmission over
amateur radio.  This is just a reminder that the address for the
Newsline Support Fund is:

                                 Newsline
                                 c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ
                                 P.O.Box 660937
                                 Arcadia, California
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   Again, and as always, we thank you.  This ends the closed circuit
with Newsline report number 975 for release on Friday, April 19, 1996
to follow.

(*****
                        The following is a QST

   The FCC orders a Louisiana ham off the air for two years and
downgrades a Washington State ham from Advanced to Novice.  Is this a
new get tough policy against Part 97 rules violators?  Find out on
Newsline report number 975 coming your way right now!

(*****
         FCC SUSPENDS HAM LICENSE ON BROADCAST LANGUAGE RULE

   The FCC has used the broadcast prime time rule that band the
transmission of certain words during a part of the day as one of
several reasons to suspend the license of a Louisiana ham.  It is a
first and may well be the start of a new trend in private radio
regulatory enforcement.

   The FCC has taken seriously a get tough policy with hams who
violate the Part 97 Amateur Service rules that was requested by the
American Radio Relay League.  The ARRL recently told the FCC that it
wanted ham licenses suspended and on April 5th, the FCC did just that
to the Technician Plus license of Irvin J. Foret Jr, KB5UJD, of
Metairie, Louisiana.  This, after receiving numerous complaints about
interference to Amateur Radio operations in the New Orleans Louisiana
area.
   The action comes after FCC investigators monitored and documented
Foret's transmissions in December 1995 and January 1996.  The FCC says
that some of Foret's transmissions on January 29th, 1996, constituted
willful or malicious interference to the transmissions of other
Amateur Radio stations.  This, in apparent violation of FCC rules.
   The FCC says that during an inspection of his station, Foret was
lacking in candor.  That he misrepresented material facts to
Commission personnel by stating that he did not make the transmissions
that investigators had observed.
   The FCC also says that some of Foret's transmissions were
unidentified, included music or were obscene or indecent.  And here is
where the FCC really gets tough.  It literally invoked the famed
prime-time rules it uses to govern the activities of commercial
broadcasters.  The one that limits the transmission of certain
language to specific hours of the day.  The FCC claims that the
alleged indecent transmissions occurred at a time when there was a
reasonable risk that children could be listening in.  That's the so
called prime time rule and its the first time that this rule has been
invoked in a case involving words allegedly spoken over the air by a
ham radio operator!
   As a result of its investigation, the FCC has suspended Foret's
license for two years.  It has also ordered a final determination
based on the issues in the case and whether to impose a fine against
Foret.
   If Foret files a timely request for a hearing or a written
statement, the suspension of his operator license will be held in
abeyance pending a Commission decision.  Otherwise, the suspension
order takes effect within 30 days of his receipt of the FCC's order.

   At air time, it is unknown if Foret has filed any appeal.

(*****
            FCC BUSTS WASHINGTON HAM BACK TO NOVICE CLASS

   In a most unusual case that hinged on his driving proficiency,
Arthur P. Baumgarden, KI7CW of Bingen, Washington has lost his bid to
retain his current license grade.  This, after the FCC concluded that
Baungarden obtained his Advanced class license improperly and refused
to review that decision.
   Baumgarden, 62, said he successfully upgraded to Advanced during a
1991 test session in Carson, California, a round trip of more than
2000 miles from his home.  According to the FCC, he later told a
Commission informant that he obtained his upgrade -- and we quote --
"through payment of money, without passing the required examinations."
   When the FCC questioned Baumgarden, he denied the allegations.  The
FCC then asked Baumgarden to take a retest under another Volunteer
Examination team.  Instead he refused and appealed.
   FCC records indicate that Baumgarden changed his story after the
FCC first took issue with his version of events and especially with
the travel times he supplied.  In part, the Commission expressed
disbelief that Baumgarden could have driven to Carson, California, and
back in the times he claimed.  They called the alleged travel schedule
impossible to achieve within the speed limit.  Even more so when
Baumgarden said he made the journey in his recreational vehicle.  The
Commission also says that Baumgarden failed to corroborate his tale or
to adequately explain why he provided two versions of events.
   Although Baumgarden continues to deny he obtained his amateur
license improperly, on March 18th the FCC concluded that his denials
are not credible" and refused to review the case on both procedural
and substantive grounds.  The Commission order says that because
Baumgarden declined to appear for retesting, his operator license
would be reduced to Novice and his call sign changed to one
appropriate for that license class.
   Baumgardens' only options now are to accept the suspension or take
the matter into the federal courts.

(*****
                            RFI PREVENTION

   The American Radio Relay League has again criticized the FCC for
failing to act to end TVI and RFI.  The League says that the FCC
continues to focus on the symptom rather than the cause of home
electronic equipment interference, even though it has authority to
mandate change.
   The League is again urging the FCC to require manufacturers to put
notices on products indicating they are subject to harmful
interference.  It also wants to see information provided on
interference resolution and names of contact representatives for
resolving RFI problems.
   The ARRL says that it is not optimistic that the FCC's pilot
project of a privatized interference resolution program would work.
This, since it puts the burden of resolving the interference problem
on the consumer and not the manufacturer.
   The League recommends establishing a cadre of volunteers who would
use their skills to resolve interference problems involving other
radio services.  This says the ARRL only provided that the volunteers
are guaranteed some protection from lawsuits.

(*****
                         A UNIVERSAL LICENSE

   The ARRL says that the FCC can save money by instituting a
universal ham radio license.  In reply comments on an FCC budgetary
issue, the ARRL suggests the FCC reduce its administrative burden by
adopting an Petition for Rule Making, RM-8677, which asks the agency
to implement the Inter- American Convention on an International
Amateur Radio Permit.  This the League says could eliminate the burden
of processing reciprocal license applications of hams visiting from
elsewhere in the hemisphere.
   The ARRL also suggests that the United States take advantage of the
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations'
CEPT Recommendation arrangements and issue a universal license that
would be recognized by other participating administrations and valid
for visits.

(***** 
                              SPOC LIVES

   The committee of repeater coordinators drafting a Memorandum of
Understanding that will be submitted to the American Radio Relay
League says that the final version will be made public shortly.
According to a release from the committee through Whit Brown, WB0CJX,
the Memorandum along with Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for the
National Frequency Coordinators' Council should be ratified by the
time this newscast goes to air.
   Brown notes that the ham radio media has been most patient in
awaiting the final documents to be released.  He says that the
committee is appreciative for the restraint shown by the press during
in the process.  This says the committee minimized any premature
impressions that may have been perceived during the formulation of the
documents and that of the concept of a Single Point of Contact to the
FCC on repeater coordination issues.

(*****                                
                     FCC OKAYS OLYMPIC CALL SIGNS

   Some good news and some questions about ham radio and next summers
Olympic games.  Bella Romain N4ILQ reports:

   "Hams operating within the state of Georgia may use special call
signs from April 15 until August 31, 1996, to commemorate the 1996
Olympics. The question is, will the Olympics let ham radio
commemorative operations using the Olympics name take place.
   The permit for hams operating in Georgia comes by way of a Special
Temporary Authority grant issued by the FCC.  Under the plan, any FCC
licensed radio amateur operating in Georgia with a "4" in his or her
call sign may replace that number with "96" representing the year or
"26" in commemorating the 26th Olympiad.  That's the simple part.
Here is the part that's complex.
   Hams with any regional prefix identifier number in their call signs
and operating within the State of Georgia may also add Zero Zero to
the existing number to mark the centennial year of the Olympic Games.
   How complicated is it?  The ARRL put out a bulletin and gives the
example using WA4BKD in Georgia.  During the Olympic STA he could also
could identify as WA96BKD, WA26BKD or WA400BKD. An out of state
license holder like NG3K, when operating portable in Georgia could
identify only as NG300K or simply as NG3K.
   The STA springs from an initiative by James Altman, N4UCK, of
Atlanta and the Georgia Amateur Radio Operators Group he organized.
They had support in this effort from the American Radio Relay League.
   But there is still one unresolved question. Its no secret that the
Olympic Games have become a very commercialized venture.  As such, the
Olympic organizers have issued a blanket ban on any unlicensed
promotional use of any words or terms associated with the games.  It
is unknown if any special exemption will be granted to hams who want
to run Olympics commemorative stations using reference to the 26th
Olympiad name." N4ILQ

   The Olympics start in July.  As previously reported, radio amateurs
have been barred from carrying any sort of radio gear into any venue
while attending the 1996 Olympic games.  Even broadcast personnel
assigned to the games have been told that no commemorative operation
of ham gear will be allowed as it has been permitted in years past.

(*****
                     NEW VICE DIRECTOR FOR DELTA

   Henry R. Leggette, WD4Q, of Memphis, Tennessee, has been named to
serve as vice director of the Delta Division through the end of 1997.
He fills the vacancy created in January when Rick Roderick, K5UR,
became director upon the election of Joel Harrison, WB5IGF, as an ARRL
vice president.
   Legette, who's 56, is a supervisor electronics technician for the
Federal Aviation Administration. His team of 13 technicians is
responsible for repairing the equipment and software used by air
traffic controllers.  A life member of ARRL, he previously served as
vice director from 1989 to 1991.

(*****
                           HALLER TO SPEAK

   FCC Deputy Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief Ralph Haller,
N4RH will be the keynote speaker at the April 25th Radio Club of
America breakfast.  The RCA breakfast was set to coincide with the
1996 International Wireless Communications Expo at the Hilton Hotel
and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Haller's breakfast speech
will take place between 7:30 and 9 am.

(*****
             LAMBDA ARC ANNOUNCES FORMAL ARRL AFFILIATION

   The Lambda Amateur Radio Club is now an ARRL affiliated radio club.
The Philadelphia based Lambda describes itself as a public service
oriented ham radio club for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
hams.  Notification of the formal affiliation came from  ARRL Field
Services Manager Rick Palm, K1CE.  Only a few years ago, the ARRL and
Lambda were involved in a legal battle after the Lambda group claimed
discrimination because the League refused to run the club add in the
classified section of QST magazine.

(*****
                      MERRILL EIDSON, W5AMK, SK

   The changing of the guard continues with word of the death of
Merrill Eidson, W5AMK on February 5th.  For years Eidson ran Eidson
Crystals from his home in Temple, Texas.

(*****
                       JAMES E. McKIM, W0CY, SK

   Jim McKim, W0CY, of Salina, Kansas, died February 14th at age 80.
A life member of AMSAT, ARRL and QCWA, McKim had been involved in
satellites since the launch of Sputnik One in 1957. He was also
regarded as a pioneer on the VHF and UHF bands.

(*****
                            BEACON UPDATES

   KE2EDI says that he has been running a 10 Meter beacon on 28.286
MHZ since 1979.  In looking through the beacon listings in the ARRL
"Repeater Directory", he notes that the listings are at least ten
years old.  He says that some beacons listed have not been on the air
for that long, or longer.
   As a result, he is asking that anyone hearing Ten meter beacons
please jot down the call, frequency, ID cycle and any other info that
they know about the beacon, and send it to him on packet to BEACON @
ALLBBS.  Hopefully, this will allow those interested to get a
"real-time" beacon list of what is really out there on the Ten meter
band.

(*****
                             AROS RETURNS

   From overseas, word that the Radio Society of Great Britain intends
to recommence the Amateur Radio Observation Service, or "AROS", and a
new volunteer administrator is now required.  RSGB members interested
in applying should in write to the Chairman of the LAC in care of
RSGB.

(*****
                                FAIRS

   The Floyd, Virginia based Foundation for Amateur International
Radio Service will operate KK4WW, US5WE, BY1QH, 8R1WD and S21AM in
their own countries on May 11th and 12th to celebrate the 5th
anniversary of the organization.  Listen for these call sign in the
General portion of 40, 20, and  15 meters.  For a certificate QSL with
a 9 by 12 inch SASE envelope to FAIRS P O Box 341 Floyd, VA 24091

(*****
                                  DX

   In DX, word that 3W6GM, went QRT from Vietnam on March 31st and has
returned to Germany.  QSL via DF5GF.
   Also, 5R8EN, continues to be active from Madagascar daily on 40
meters for the West coast USA stations.  Look for him on 7057 kHz
while he is listening on 7240 kHz around 14:15 UTC.  He will give CW
QSO's on request but cannot operate between 7000 and 7050 KHz due to
the local restrictions.  QSL via F6ARA.

   The Team Selection Committee of World Radiosport Team Championship
Games has announced selection of the 10 wildcard team leaders.  Each
team leader now must pick an operating partner from anywhere on the
team leader's same continent.
   The WRTC, set to begin July 13th and will pit over four dozen two
person teams comprised of some of the world's top contest operators in
a head to head competition during the IARU High Frequency World
Championship contest.

(*****
                         WORLD CLASS FOX HUNT

   Southern California's second international style ham radio fox hunt
takes place Sunday afternoon May 5th in La Mirada, California in
association with the 1996 West Coast VHF/UHF Conference.  According to
Joe Moell, K0OV, this will be an all on foot fox hunt contest open to
anyone of any age who has registered at the Conference.

   "When we had our first International fox hunt last year during
Labor Day at the ARRL Southwest Division Convention, 40 hams signed up
to participate.  Two came all the way from Maryland to the convention
just to be in the fox hunt.
   This time the hunters will have the option of being on teams.  We
think the team competition will bring out even more hunters."  K0OV

   Joe says that families are welcome, but all entrants must compete
independently and each entrant must bring his or her own direction
finding equipment.  All transmitters will be on two meter FM.  There
will be separate divisions for various age groups, with prizes for
winners in each division.
   The 1996 West Coast VHF/UHF Conference will be at Gateway Plaza
Holiday Inn, 14299 Firestone Boulevard, La Mirada, CA.  More info on
the conference is available from Southern California Six Meter Club,
PO Box 10441, Fullerton, CA 92635.

(*****
   And for this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  You
can write to us at:

                               NEWSLINE
                               P.O.Box 660937
                               Arcadia, CA
                               91066

   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at
Newsline say 73 and we thank you for listening.

(* * Newsline is copyright 1996 & all rights are reserved. * *)
