Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1360– September 5 2003

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1360 with a release date of Friday,
September 5th 2003 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Pro-code fights back. A petition to retain Morse
code testing is filed with the FCC and others are reportedly on the way. Find
out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1360 coming your way
right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RESTRUCTURING: PRO CODE PETITION FLED WITH THE FCC

The proponents of retaining Morse testing for all candidates for a United
States Amateur License with high frequency operating priveleges are striking
back. This, with a petition that not only asks the F-C-C to retain the 5 word
per minute C-W exam, but to also require that Extra class pass a 12 word per
minute test. And the organization that I sponsoring the measure also wants
written exams stiffened as well. Amateur Radio Newsline’s David Black,
KB4KCH, has more on this attempt to row against the deregulatory tide:

--

For the past couple of months, more and more countries have been steering
toward making amateur radio code-free. That follows the July abolition of Morse
code testing by the World Radiocommunications Conference. In the United
States, the Federal Communications Commission has before it six petitions
essentially seeking to remove Morse code from amateur radio in the U-S.
Supporters of the code have been quiet--until now. A group called FISTS--said
to be the largest code advocacy organization in the world--is leading an effort
to make Morse code a more prominent part of ham radio and the licensing
process.

FISTS is an international Morse code preservation society based in the United
Kingdom with chapters world-wide. Its stated objective is to further the use of
the Morse code in Amateur Radio communications. The group's north American
chapter has delivered a detailed rule-making request to the FCC that seeks more
than just making sure that Morse code testing is retained.

FISTS asks the Commission to raise the standards in other areas of testing,
too. Nancy Kott, WZ8C, is U-S Chapter Manager for FISTS, and is Editor of
Worldradio Magazine. She wrote the rule making request. Among the proposals
are keeping code as a mandatory testing element for the General and Extra class
licenses. General licenses would require 5 words per minute and Extra class
licenses would require 12 word per minute code proficiency.

FISTS says passing a 5 word per minute code test is no hindrance to people
wanting to upgrade, and cites the large number of Technician class operators
upgrading to General as proof.

FISTS also says that those aiming for the Extra license should be able to
demonstrate Morse code skill at 12 words per minute.

Today's written exams are too easy. At least, that's what FISTS seems to
suggest in noting that the FCC sought comments before amateur radio's
restructuring about whether fewer morse code requirements should be offset by
increased technical content on written questions. FISTS notes that nearly
every commenter said yes, but the Commission's Report and Order failed to
address the issue.

FISTS says the commission has a chance now to make General class written tests
equivalent to the Advanced class written tests before restructuring. In other
words, go back to the way it was, with tests that are harder and more thorough.

FISTS wants the Extra class exam to be more thorough, as well. It wants the FCC
to require written knowledge of circuit design, information theory, digital
methods and encoding schemes and software radio. FISTS says candidates for the
Extra class ticket need to show a more thorough knowledge of propagation and
geophysics than current tests require.

For the Technician class operator, FISTS suggests merging the Technician and
Tech-Plus classes and not require a Morse code exam. But FISTS says technical
content should be emphasized and should include the digital modes. FISTS
advocates extending Technician Class privileges to include digital modes within
the current Novice subbands, which it says should be kept. The group says that
would let Technician Class operators participate in the explosive growth in
digital applications occurring within the Amateur Radio Service on the high
frequency bands.

But when it comes to giving Technicians even limited phone privileges on HF,
FISTS says no. The group says the rush of upgrades by Technicians to higher
classes following restructuring indicates that the barrier between General and
Technician classes has already been lowered enough without needing to go any
further.

FISTS also suggests one other big change and that involves taking license
tests. Right now, if you fail an exam, you can go back and try again at the
same session. FISTS is asking the Commission to impose a 24-hour waiting
period before being able re-take either a failed written test or a failed code
test.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH.

--

There’s 14 pages to the FISTS filing. You can read it on-line at
ftp://ftp.qsl.net/pub/n1ea/FIST_FCC_...n_8-30-303.pdf. As we go to air, no
Rule Making designation has been assigned to the FISTS request.
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESTRUCTURING: ACA PAPER SUGGESTS TOTAL RESTRUCTURING OF VK HAM RADIO

Meantime, down-under the Australian Communications Authority has surprised that
nations ham radio community with a proposal to totally restructure that nations
Amateur Radio service. Jim Linton, VK3PC, has the rest of the story.

--
Radical changes are being proposed for the Amateur Service in the just issued
ACA discussion paper entitled "A Review of Amateur Service Regulation.� The
paper is sure to stimulate debate, particularly its reference to interference
experienced by domestic television and radio receivers, and a suggestion that
radio amateurs should take full responsibility to resolve these problems.

A major purpose of the paper is to discuss the implementation of the changes
arising out of the World Radiocommunications Conference held in Geneva this
year. These changes include the end of mandatory Morse code tests for amateur
licences, amateur callsigns, third party traffic, communications during
disasters, and reciprocal and visitor licensing.

The ACA, as expected, has also taken the opportunity to discuss restructuring
of amateur licensing, the regulatory controls and administration of the
Amateur Service in Australia. The paper acknowledges the WIA's proposal for a
new entry level licence, and the potential for it to replace the current Novice
licence. It discusses restructuring of the current system of seven different
amateur licence types (five operator, plus repeater and beacon), to create only
two operator licence types - Unrestricted and Novice.

On a positive note the paper hints that the removal of Morse code tests for
amateur licences may occur earlier than the ACA's current timetable. It states
that if there is sufficient public support, the code requirement could be
removed prior to its proposed implementation of regulatory changes flowing
from its discussion paper in early 2005.

In a controversial proposal, the ACA is to consider the introduction of a "no
interference" policy for radio amateurs. It states "The operation of an
amateur station, which is essentially a hobby, should not disturb another
person's activities, such as television viewing or radio listening, or affect
commercial activities." Should the "no interference" policy be introduced, it
would be a major shift from the current ACA policy that provides for a shared
responsibility between the radio amateur and his neighbour for the resolution
of an interference problem.

To make it clear, the ACA explains "This would mean that an amateur must not
cause interference to other radiocommunication services. If causing
interference to another service, the obligation will be on the amateur to
resolve the problem."



--

The Australian Communications Authority has set a deadline of October 31st as
the last day for hams to file responses to its discussion paper. The 50-page
discussion paper can be downloaded from www.wiavic.org.au/news or
www.wia.org.au/vk4 (Q-News)

**

RADIO LAW: THE ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS SAYS NO TO BPL

Back here in the United States, word that the Academy of Model Aeronautics is
saying no to the introduction of Broadband Over Powerline or B-P-L technology.
In Reply Comments to the FCC, the 175,000 member aviation hobby group says that
it is concerned that B-P-L deployment could cause harmful interference to users
of Radio Controlled systems and pose a safety hazard to aeromodeling equipment
and spectators.

In its filing the A-M-A says that Broadband Over Powerline holds the potential
to severely interfere with radio controlled models which operate in or near the
27, 50, 72 and 75 MHz bands. All of these fall within the 1 point 7 through 80
MHz spectrum where the FCC proposes to permit B-P-L to operate.

To the A-M-A this means that Broadband Over Powerline may not yield the benign
environment the Commission expects. Also, that it could result in an
unanticipated negative impact on Radio Controlled operations. And that’s
what it has told the FCC. (AMA release)

**

Break 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on
bulletin stations around the world including the North East Oklahoma V-H-F Net
serving North Eastern Oklahoma.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO LAW: MARYLAND COUNTY FILES RFI CONTROL APEAL TO FCC

Still with regulatory news, the CGC Communicator reports that Anne Arundel
County, Maryland has filed an Application for Review before the full
Commission. This, in the hope of reversing an order by the FCC’s Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau that prevents the County from entering into the radio
frequency interference control business through zoning laws. Laws that could
even impact on ham radio, C-B and GMRS operators.

In 2001 Anne Arundel County, Maryland, had enacted legislation requiring that,
prior to receiving a County zoning certificate, owners and users of any sort of
telecommunications facility had to show that their installation would not
degrade or interfere with the County's public safety communications systems.
The ordinance also permitted the County to revoke a zoning certificate where
degradation or interference was found.

Alarmed, telecommunications providers took the ordanance to the FCC asking that
it be overturned. Last July it did just that. It In considering the case, the
Commission found that the challenged provisions of the Anne Arundel County
zoning Ordinance infringe on the Commission's exclusive jurisdiction over RFI
and are preempted under the doctrine of field preemption. Now the county is
upping the antie.

In its pleading, Anne Arundel County maintains that reversal of the Bureau's
decision is required because the Order conflicts with a controlling statute of
the Communications Act. The County further states that, pending implementation
of the Commission's 800 MHz proceeding, the Bureau's decision leaves public
safety systems of local governments such as the County's vulnerable and
powerless to deal with what it terms as -- quote: “ potentially deadly radio
frequency interference from wireless systems of commercial mobile radio service
providers operating in the 800 MHz band.�

The FCC has invited comments on this matter by September 26. More is on-line
at the U-R-L featured in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline printed report.

(DO NOT READ: The complete story in the the FCC website at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...-03-2734A1.doc) (CGC)

**

RESCUE RADIO: CELL PHONE HELPS RESCUE FCC OFFICIAL

A cellular telephone has helped to rescue two men dangling in a gondola
buffeted by severe winds near Aspen Colorado. One of them is the chief of the
Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Bureau who turned to the phone
during an ordeal where he was trapped for more than two hours. Amateur Radio
Newsline’s Bruce Tennant. K-6PZW, reports:

--

According to news reports John Muleta leaned on the technology he oversees when
he and Robert Pepper, an adviser to FCC Chairman Michael Powell, got stuck in
the gondola on Monday, August 19th. The two men had used a break in a
telecommunications summit to take in the view from atop of 11,000 foot Aspen
Mountain.

Their sightseeing trip turned into an ordeal when the tram service abruptly
shut down during their return. It stranded Muleta and Pepper n the enclosed
gondola part way down the mountain. When help was slow to arrive, Muleta used
his cellular phone to call for assistance. But the local service provider
provider apparently did not have the latest "enhanced" 911 technology and could
not locate him precisely. So Muleta simply directed the rescue effort over the
phone.

Once off the mountain Muleta told the press that he was very happy that he had
remembered to carry his cellular telephone with him. He added that had he not,
that it would have been a much different scenario. This, if they had been
trapped all night with the weather getting getting colder.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

Ironically, just before he left for the trip Muleta told an interviewer that
the FCC is looking at ways to accelerate the deployment of Enhamced 911
service. This is the system that uses G-P-S technology to more precisely
locate callers. (Published News Reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT: INTERNET SALES BRING LETTER OF INQUIREY

The FCC has sent a letter of inquirey to Randy Owen, N9UOM, of Toma Wisconsin
regarding his license renewal application. The Commision is asking Owen about
his apparent involvement in the sale of non-certified C-B transcievers and
non-certified High Frequency amplifiers over the Internet in 2002. Owen is the
owner of Roper Electronics whose website was advertising the merchandise for
sale. (FCC)


**

ENFORCEMENT: FORMER HAM WARNED NOT TO CONTACT THE FCC

A brefly licensed former ham has been told not to call the FCC and wait for it
to contact him. The agency’s Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, explains:

--

(Duckworth) “Jack Gerritsen of Bell California has recieved a warnng notice
about a violation of ex-patrte rules after his license had been set aside. His
repeated calls to the offices of Administrative Law Judges is a violation odf
the Commission’s rules against ex-parte communications. Ex-parte rules place
restrictions on contacts with Commission decision making personel.�

--

Gerritsen’s license and KG6IRO call sign were set aside only days after they
were issued back in November of 2001. This after the FCC learned that he had
been convicted in California state court of a radio related offense. It also
recieved complaints alleging that Gerritsen had been on the ham bands prior to
recieving his license. (FCC, RAIN)


**

NAMS IN THE NEWS: 9M2TO WINS UKDXF AZWARD

Some names in the news. The Chiltern DX Club of the U-K DX Foundation has
awarded its prestigious 'Local Heroes' Award for 2003 to Tex Izumo, 9M2TO. The
club’s awards committee recognized the commitment Izumo has shown in
providing many contacts and confirmations with amateurs world-wide on all bands
from 160 to 6 metres over a period of many years.

This annual award goes to an operator resident in a DX country who has provided
excellent service to the DX community and who maintains a high standard of
operating without the benefit of major sponsorship. The award carries a cash
prize and a year's honorary membership in the Chiltern DX Club. (GB2RS)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: HAM APPEARS ON TV MOTORCYCLE SPECIAL

Bob Mastrangelo, WA6ZTA, of Thousand Oaks Californis reports that he recently
participated in the filming of a motorcycle special that aired August 28th on
The Travel Channel. The show is called Revolution on Wheels, and Bob is seen
in the beginning riding his yellow Honda Gold Wing and is interviewed about 25
minutes later. Since The Travel Channel does repeat these programs, check
local listings to see when it will air again and keep an eye open for WA6ZTA.
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: KB4KCH NEW VP OF ARNEWSLINE(TM)

The Board of Directors of the Amateur Radio Newsline has confirmed the
appointment of David Black, KB4KCH, of Helena, Alabama, as its Vice President.
Black, whom you heard earlier in this newscast will fill out the unexpired term
of Roy Neal, K6DUE, who died last month following heart valve surgery.

David Black, KB4KCH, is owner First Frame Video in Birmingham, Alabama. He is
also a 20-year veteran of the broadcast television industry. Prior to starting
First Frame Video, David worked as a television news reporter and weather
anchor at WVTM, the NBC affiliate serving Birmingham, Alabama. KB4KCH also has
extensive radio and television experience while working in broadcasting in
Texas.

In addition to his reporting and anchoring Amateur Radio Newsline for well over
a decade, KB4KCH is active in amateur radio Skywarn and emergency
communications. He is past President of the Birmingham Amateur Radio Club and
is one of the founders of ALERT Alabama. This is an organization of radio
amateurs specializing in Skywarn communications to assist the National Weather
Service in the Birmingham area. (ARNewsline (tm))

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today’s radio amateur. From the United States of
America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our
only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer
services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)


**

VOLUNTEERISM: HCI NEEDS VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES EDITOR

If you are a Shortwave Listener, live on the West Coast and want to edit an
S-W-L newsletter, listen up. This one is for you.

Duane Fischer who heads up the Hallicrafters Collectors International needs a
volunteer editor who can post the annual schedules of worldwide Shortwave
radio stations. The site, located in cyberspace at www.w9wze.org/SWL contains
loggings, current news, tidbits and program schedules. If you would like to
become the Schedules Editor, please contact Duane as soon as possible at
and tell him you heard about it on the Amateur Radio
Newsline. (ASWLC, WDX6AA)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ARISS PACKET UPDATE

An update to last weeks story on the wayward packet radio system on board the
International Space Station. Those of you who were on the air on Sunday,
August 24 are aware that the packet system was re-activated around 12:00 UTC.
Shortly thereafter, the ARISS team received reports from the general ham
community that the packet system was operational.

Over the next 9 hours, many hams around the world sent digital signals through
the packet system. But later that day, at around 21:22 U-T-C, the packet
system abruptly stopped operating while traveling over the Western part of the
U.S.

According to AMSAT’s Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, the ARISS team has had several
discussions on next steps to get the system back up and running properly. But
it may be some time before this can be accomplished. This is because the debug
efforts may be delayed further due to the arrival of the Progress 12P re-supply
ship which will be keeping the two man crew very busy.

Once time is available, the plan is to have the crew report out on the status
of the packet module and then to recycle the power. This should bring the
packet system back up. If the system abruptly shuts down again after a few
hours the ARISS team will then ask the crew to attach a computer to the packet
module, download the current parameters to the ground and reset the module.

Stay tuned. ARISS promises to pass along word of progress as it happens.
(AMSAT, ARISS)

**

INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA: NEW BANDSPACE FOR VK HAMS

On the international beat, word than all-Australian radio amateurs will be
allowed to operate between 3.776 and 3.800 Mhz effective from the 1st of
January 2004. The move follows a proposal put to the Australian Communications
Authority by the Wireless Institute of Australia several years ago. (GB2RS)

**

INTERNATIONAL - WORLDWIDE: LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND A BIG HIT

Meantime, reports from the around the world indicate that there was allot of
activity in this years International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend operating
event. Jeramy Boot, of the GB2RS News Service has the details:

--

Mike Dalrymple, GM4SUC, the organiser of the International Lighthouse /
Lightship Weekend reports that a record number of stations - 369 - were
established at lighthouses and lightships in 48 countries - another record -
over the weekend of the 16th and 17th of August.

The official list of participants can be found on the ILLW website. Next year
the event will be on the 21 and 22nd of August 2004, and Mike invites
individuals and groups to join in with a weekend of enjoying radio from a
lighthouse or lightship.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH


--

The International Lighthouse website is in cyberspace at http://illw.net.
GM4SUC adds that as soon as you have your plans for participatiin in the 2004
Lighthouse Weekend made to let him know. You can contact Mike by e-mail to
(GB2RS)

**

DX

In D-X, word that IN3VZE will be active once more as 7Q7CE from Malawi through
the 21st of September. QSL as directed on the air. (GB2RS)

And the K3EOD Contest Team will be active in the September VHF UHF contest
September 13th to the 14th. The group consists of W3EFH, K3EGE, WR3P, W2SJ and
K3EOD. They will be on all bands from 6 meters RF through visible light using
SSB, CW and laser communications. For more information please e-mail
(VHF REflector)

Lastly, HL1IWD reports that he will be visiting Honolulu through the 12th of
September, and will operate as KH6 stroke KB1AIM on 20 metres, mainly CW. QSL
is via HL1IWD. (Modern DX)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: NO MORE USE OF THE WORD E-MAIL IN FRANCE

And finally this week, a note from France where the governmet has said goodbye
to the term e-mail in favor of the native language term courriel. A word that
linguistically sensitive France is now using to refer to electronic mail in all
official documents and hopes that the public will adopt as well.

Frances’ Culture Ministry announced a ban on the use of e-mail in all
government ministries, documents, publications or Web sites on July 18th.
This, as the latest step to stem what it sees as an incursion of English words
into the French language.

Courriel is a contraction of the two words and is a term that has often been
used in French speaking Quebec Canada. The ministry's General Commission on
Terminology and Neology insists Internet surfers in France are broadly using
the term “courrier electronique'' instead of e-mail - a claim some industry
experts dispute.

And we thought that you would like to know! (Published reports)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,
the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and
Australia's Q-News, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail
address is newsline @arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur
Radio Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You
can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box
660937, Arcadia, California 91066.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I’m Jeff Clark,
K8JAC, Im Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, saying 73 and we thank you for listening."
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.