Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1701 - March 19, 2010

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1701 with a release date of
Friday, March 19th, 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Germany protects its hams from cable
interference by saying no to a cable system that wanted protection from
broadband sharing: the FCC asks for input in preparation for W-R-C
2012, and the ARRL says its time to ask congress to back the Emergency
Communications Enhancement Act. All this and more on Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) report number 1701 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RADIO LAW: GERMAN COURT REFUSES TO PROTECT CABLE OPERATOR FROM 800 MHz
BROADBAND

A German court's decision to deny a cablecaster from ingress protection
by wireless broadband turns out to be good news for that nations hams.
Frank Haas, KB4T, has the details:

--

A German cable television operator has failed in its attempt to enjoin that
nation's government from auctioning off spectrum in the 800 MHz range.
This
for fear that signal ingress from new wireless broadband systems might
interfere with the cable system's operations.

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club, which is Germany's national ham radio
society, reports that the Cologne Administrative Court has rejected the
action brought by Kabel Baden-Wuerttemberg. In its denial order the court
said that if the cable operator was afraid of interference it could take
technical steps to improve its system.

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club views the ruling positively since it will
encourage cable operators to upgrade leaky cable systems. This it says will
not only keep the cable system from suffering signal ingress of any 800 MHz
transmissions, it should also reduce the interference that leaky cable
systems cause to radio amateurs.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Frank Haas, KB4T, in Holly Hill ,
Florida.

--

For decades cable operators in Germany have claimed their networks are RF
tight and there could be no problem with cable interference to any radio
bands. This, despite the fact that the audio channel of one station has
disrupted the Amateur Radio use of 145.750 MHz for many years. The DARC
report can be seen in Google translated English at
http://tinyurl.com/yjdcch9 (DARC)

**

RADIO LAW: FCC PROPOSED LOWERING HAM RADIO SPREAD SPECTRUM POWER IN
EXCHANGE FOR DOING AWAY WITH APC RULE

We all know that the use of Spread Spectrum in ham radio has been in the
news a lot of late and it is once again. This time the form of a Notice of
Proposed Rule Making issued by the Commission on March 16th.

The NPRM is in response to an ARRL petition regarding use of the mode. In
2006, the ARRL petitioned the FCC, requesting that the Automatic Power
Control requirement be eliminated , asserting that the provision has proven
to be virtually impossible as it requires the operators of the transmitting
stations to determine the transmitter power received at distant receivers.
This claimed the League that this requirement has proven to be something of
a barrier to Spread Spectrum experimentation.

In the new NPRM, the FCC agreed with the ARRL that the Automatic Power
Control requirement may be unnecessarily impeding Amateur Radio operators
in advancing the radio art,. At the same time the Commission does not
propose to simply eliminate the requirement.

Noting that the purpose of the Automatic Power Control requirement is to
limit interference to other stations, the FCC pointed out that commercial
broadband Internet service providers operating in the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz
I-S-M bands argue that the Automatic Power Control requirement should be
maintained. This, in order to prevent interference to other users. They
also referred to suggestions maintaining that if the Automatic Power
Control requirement is eliminated, the FCC should lower the maximum power
limit on amateur stations transmitting Spread Spectrum emissions so that
interference is minimized.

And the bottom line: The FCC says that it is proposing to eliminate the
Automatic Power Control requirement, but the caveat. The FCC is also
proposing to reduce the maximum transmitter power output amateur stations
may use when transmitting Spread Spectrum communications from 100 watts to
a peak of only 10 watts.

In the Order, the FCC also made amendments to correct the Amateur Service
rules or conform them to prior Commission decisions. These revisions will
take effect once they are published in the Federal Register. The NPRM is
not yet available for comment. Its text can be found on the web at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...CC-10-38A1.pdf. (FCC,
ARRL, Others)

**

RADIO LAW: FCC ASKS INPUT IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT WRC

The International Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission is
seeking input from interested parties to help develop its recommendations
to the U.S. Department of State for U.S. proposals and positions concerning
possible revisions to the International Telecommunication
Regulations. This, at the next World Conference on International
Telecommunications to revise the terms of the treaty in 2012.

Specifically, the FCC is looking for input on Article 1, Purpose and Scope
of the Regulations; Article 2, which are Definitions; Article 3 on
International Networks; Article 4 that deals with International
Telecommunication Services and Article 5 that covers Safety of Life and
Priority of Telecommunications. Also needed in input on Article 6 covering
Charging and Accounting; Article 7, Suspension of Services;
Article 8, Dissemination of Information; Article 9, Special Arrangements;
and Article 10 which are all of the Final Provisions.

The FCC serves as a technical advisor to the Department of State for ITU
meetings and conferences, including the upcoming World Conference on
International Telecommunications and other international meetings to
prepare for that conference. In that role, the FCC provides expert advice
and recommendations to the Department of State on U.S. proposals and
positions. (FCC)

**

RADIO POLITICS: ARRL SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO SUPPORT THE AR EMCOMM
ENHANCEMENT ACT

The United States Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of
2009 introduced in October 2009 by Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins
has been unanimously passed the Senate. Its now been sent to the House of
Representatives for consideration and is currently sitting in the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Now, the ARRL is asking hams nationwide to contact the leadership of the
Energy and Commerce committee, requesting support and action on moving S
1755 through the committee. S 1755 accomplishes the same things as HR 2160
which was introduced in April 2009 by Representative Sheila Jackson
Lee. Since S 1755 has already been approved by the Senate, moving it
forward in the House will simplify the overall approval process.

If enacted into law, S 1755 would instruct the Secretary of Homeland
Security to undertake a study on the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio
communications in emergencies and disaster relief. It would also limit the
Department of Homeland Security to 180 days to report its findings to
Congress. (ARRL)

**

RESTRUCTURING: CANADIAN HAMS GRANTED VLF ALLOCATION

Canadian hams now have a Very Low Frequency band. This with word that
Industry Canada has approved access by radio amateurs in that nation to the
band from 135.7 to 137.8 kHz, subject to certain conditions.

Canadian hams choosing to use this new band are limited to a maximum
radiated power of 1 watt Effective Radiated Power. They also cannot cause
harmful interference to stations of other nations that still use this
spectrum as a radionavigation service.

According Radio Amateurs of Canada the Revised Canadian Table of Frequency
Allocations, announced in December 2009 to incorporate changes from
decisions made at World Radiocommunication Conference in 2007.

One of these permits amateur use of this spectrum on a secondary basis to
all other users. (RAC)

**

RESTRUCTURING: DENMARK GIVES HAMS 5 MHZ

The Southgate news says that Danish radio amateurs can now apply to operate
in 5.250 to 5450 MHz band. Reports are that Bent Christensen, Oh-Zed 0-5-B
has already received a 5MHz permit. More on this restructuring is on-line
at the Danish national amateur radio society's website. A link to it in
electronically translated English is at
http://translate.google.co.uk/transl... hl=&ie=UTF-8)
(Southgate)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, we are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the NS9RC repeater
serving Highland Park, Illinois.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO LAW: FCC'S NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN GOES TO CONGRESS

The FCC has sent its long awaited National Broadband Plan to
Congress. Released on Tuesday, March 16th, the Plan is deemed to be a call
for action over the next decade that includes goals.

Among these are to provide affordable access to ultra-high-speed broadband
in every American community at a speed of at least 1 gigabit per second at
anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, and military
installations. It also recommends connect 100 million households to
affordable 100-megabits-per-second service by building the world's largest
market of high-speed broadband users and ensuring that new jobs and
businesses are created in the United States.

Perhaps the most interesting point to those involved in hobby radio is the
proposal to provide every first responder with access to a nationwide,
wireless, interoperable public safety network. One that would multiply
redundant and let responders anywhere talk with others directly or through
a chain of command.

Other than that there is nothing remotely mentioned that directly affects
ham radio, however the devil could be in the details if and when Congress
gives the FCC a green light to proceed. And the details we are referring
to are in the UHF and microwave spectrum which broadband providers believe
is ideal for future service build-outs and expansion of services.

You can read the entire document on-line at www.broadband.gov/plan/ (FCC)

**

RADIO RULES: FCC WANTS TO REVISE EX PARTE PRESENTATIONS

A new way of dealing with the FCC may be on the horizon. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:

--

The FCC has proposed that anyone who gives an oral ex parte presentation
before it would have to provide a written description of the
discussion. Currently such descriptions are required only when new
material is involved.

In its recent notice, the commission is asking for comment on whether to
require that companies meeting with the commission should disclose
ownership information in meeting summaries or filed pleadings. This, so
readers can better grasp the filer's interest in the proceeding.

The agency is thinking of requiring summaries within four hours for an item
that's to be on the agenda during its open monthly meeting during the
seven-day "sunshine period" immediately before those meetings.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

--

For those not aware. ex parte is a Latin legal term meaning from, by or for
one party. Ex parte rules are intended to make sure the public is aware of
who is possibly influencing the regulators' decision process.
(RW)

**

RADIO LAW: FCC WANTS TO STREAMLINE IT PROCEEDURES

The Federal Communication Commission has put forth several proposals to
streamline its procedures.
One of its main objectives is to give bureau and office chiefs the ability
to kill defective or repetitive petitions for reconsideration so those
don't reach the Commissioners or their staff floor.

By way of background, a defective petition for rule making or for
reconsideration is one that contains errors, is untimely, has raised no new
arguments, or does not relate to the issue at hand. In ham radio circles
this might be one of those regularly filed petitions asking for a ban on
closed repeaters or limiting contesters to specific parts of the amateur
radio bands. Requests that are either ignored for a long period of time or
dismissed using the same language as used to discharge a previous petition
making the same request.

The agency has also proposed changing its rule that specifies it can
reconsider a decision on its own motion within 30 days. This, to clarify
that the Commission has the authority to change a verdict, and not just set
it aside or vacate it.

Lastly, the Commission wants to make more use of electronic filing and has
upgraded its Electronic Comment Filing System. Now, it is asking for
comments on how it can maximize e-filing and minimize paper submissions.

The FCC notes that with over 3,000 dockets open, it has quite a backlog to
go through. It also admits that some of those dockets have seen little to
no activity in years. (TVT)

**

RADIO LAW: SENATE COMPANION FCC ENGINEER BILL INTRODUCED

A Senate bill that would add an engineer to the staff of each Federal
Communications Commission commissioner now has a companion measure in the
House. Representative Jerry McNerney of California introduced H.R. 4809
after representatives of the Society of Broadcast Engineers met with his
Washington staff a few weeks ago.

SBE's Government Relations Chairman Barry Thomas and General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD, visited offices of several House members to garner support for
a companion to a Senate bill introduced in January by Senator Olympia
Snowe, of Maine, and co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Warner, of Virginia. The
bill would authorize an engineering staff person for each of the five FCC
commissioners. With a House bill now introduced, the legislation can move
through the committee process of both houses of Congress.

SBE President Vinny Lopez said the change would go a long way to ensure
technical excellence at the highest levels of the commission.

McNerney is a second-term congressmen representing California's 11th
congressional district, which includes a portion of California's Central
Valley. He has an engineering background and is a member of the House
Commerce Committee and the subcommittee on Communications, Technology and
the Internet.

The text of the House bill was not yet available online as we write. (RW)

**

RADIO LAW: LOTS OF AMERICANS HAVE NO BROADBABD

The FCC has determined that about one-third of Americans don't have a
broadband Internet connection at home. According to a report from the
regulatory agency the main barriers to adoption are cost and literacy.

The agency is working on a plan to deploy nationwide wireless
broadband. The usage study, "Broadband Adoption and Use in America,"
was
released at the Brookings Institution. There appears to be no mention of
how many Americans do not want or feel that they have no need for any form
of broadband connectivity. (Government report)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PITTSBURGH MARATHON

About 150 hams will be needed to provide communications for this years
running of the Pittsburgh Marathon. Slated for May 2nd, over 6000
participants are expected, including 2000 marathon runners, 2500
half-marathon runners, and 500 relay teams.

According to Jeffrey Hutzelman, N3NHS, there are many positions around the
26.2 mile course that need to be covered, including mile markers, aid
stations, buses and sweep vehicles and shadow communicators for race
officials. If you plan to be in the Pittsburgh area on that date and want
to volunteer, simply take your web browser to marathon.central.org, click
on the words "Volunteer Now" and fill out the form.
(N3NHS)

**

RESCUE RADIO: RNW SENDS RADIO STATION IN A BOX TO CHILE
Radio Netherlands Worldwide is sending two complete mobile radio stations
to the Chilean broadcaster Radio Universidad Técnica Federico Santa
Maria. This will enable two of its partner stations in the coastal region
of Maule to resume their broadcasts as quickly as possible. This is the
region was seriously affected by the earthquake on February 27th.

The mobile radio station, often called radio-in-a-box, is specially built
to be used temporarily in countries where radio stations are forced off the
air by natural disasters. Each station is less than a cubic meter in size,
and is equipped with an FM transmitter, mixer, microphones, a CD player and
a laptop computer. Radio Netherlands Worldwide has previously provided such
stations following the earthquakes in Indonesia in September 2009 and Haiti
this past January. The Chilean broadcaster supplied with the portable gear
has worked closely with Radio Netherlands Worldwide for many years. (Media
Network)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: CAM HARTFORD, N6GA, NAMED QRP EDITOR OF CQ MAGAZINE

A name in the news. This with word that Cam Hartford, N6GA, of Claremont,
California, has been named QRP Editor of CQ Amateur Radio magazine.

Hartford, who works for book publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, has been
a ham since 1961and has been active in low-power operating for more than 20
years. From 1989 to 1991, he served on the Board of Directors of the QRP
Amateur Radio Club International. He also served as that organization's
Contest Manager from 1993 to 1999.

Hartford succeeds Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, who passed away in January. Ingram's
final bi-monthly QRP column appears in the April issue of CQ. Hartford's
first column will be in the June issue. (CQ)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: EMCOMMWEST IN RENO IN APRIL

And coming to Reno this spring. Its Emcommwest. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Don Carlson is here with the details:

--

Audio report only. Download the MP3 version of this weeks newscast at
www.arnewsline.org

--

Again the dates are April 30th through May 2nd in Reno. Nevada. More is on
line at www dot emcommwest dot org.

**

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)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: EARLY CALL FOR PAPERS FOR ARRL/TAPR DCC

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 29th Annual ARRL and
TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 24th through
the 26th in Portland, Oregon. These papers will also be published in the
Conference Proceedings but you do bot need to attend the conference to have
your paper included in the publication.

The submission deadline is July 31st. Please send papers to Maty Weinberg,
in care of the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington,
Connecticut, 06111. You can make your submission via e-mail to maty (at)
arrl (dot)org.

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: MEDITERRANO DX MEETING IN JULY IN ITALY

Turning to the ham radio social scene the next world meeting of the
Mediterraneo DX Club takes place July 2nd to the 4th in Messina,
Italy. Complete information on this event is on-line in multiple languages
at www.mdxc.org. (IZ8CCW)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: VISALIA DX DINNER

The Mother Lode DX and Contest Club will host the 11th Annual Contest
Dinner on Friday, April 16th, at the International DX Convention in
Visalia, California. The dinner will be held in the Oak Room at the
Visalia Holiday Inn. Pre-purchase is a requirement to attend and there
will not be any tickets sold at the door. To reserve on-line take your web
browser to www.mldxcc.org. (MLDXCC)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: FORMER ATTL PRES. W5ZN TO SPEAK AT DAYTON CONTST DINNER

And the North Coast Contesters are pleased to announce that Joel Harrison,
W5ZN, will be the main speaker at the 2010 Dayton Contest Dinner. An active
contest operator, Joel just finished a four year term as President of the
ARRL in January of this year. For more information on this dinner, please
visit contestdinner.com on the World Wide Web. (North Coast Contesters)

**

ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE 2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP

Amateur Radio special event station ZS10WCS will be on the air through July
12th to celebrate the 2010 Soccer World Cup being held in South Africa
between June 11th and July 11th. The call will be used by members of
various South African Radio League affiliated clubs. Operations through
May 31st will only be on weekends. Between June 1st and July 12, ZS10WCS
it will be on the air 7 days a week. QSL with a Self Addressed Envelope and
one International Reply Coupon to PO Box 1721, Strubensvallei, 1735, South
Africa. (SARL)

**

ON THE AIR: COMMEMORATING THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH

Sunday, March 21st is the anniversary of the World War II Bataan Death
March. And in solemn commemoration the Mesilla Valley Radio Club will be
operating special events station K5B from 1000 to 23 hours
U-T-C. Information about contacting the station and getting a K5B Special
Events QSL card can be found on the clubs website at www.n5bl.org
/bataan. (Mesilla Valley Radio Club)

**

ON THE AIR: 3C0C ANNOBON ISLAND OPERATION DELAYED

On the air -- or maybe off the air is a better term for this. Word that
the long awaited 3C0C operation from Annobon Island has suffered a setback.
due to repairs being made to the islands lone airport runway.

On March 12th the ham radio operations planners announced that they had
received a statement from Equatorial Guinea informing them that repairs to
the runway will begin shortly and are expected to last two to three
months. During that time no aircraft can land on or depart from Annobon.

DXpedition planners say that travel by boat is not a reality due to the
small number of available water craft and the time it would take. For
more details and updates please visit www dot 3c0c-annobon dot com on the
World Wide Web. (3C0C)

**

DX

In DX, word that a multi-national group is planning to operate from
Kurdistan in Northern Iraq between April 2nd and the 12th. The team has
received a ten day visa issued by the government of Kurdistan. No other
information is available as we go to air.

K9OT and KB9LIE will operate portable FP to activate Miquelon Island
between July 5th and the 14th. They will operate CW and SSB primarily on
80 to 10 meters and possibly 6 meters as well. QSL as directed on the air.

The 3W6C team will activate Côn Có Island near Viet Nam on amateur radio
satellites from April 10th to the 18th. Satellites to be activated include
AO-07, AO-51, HO-68, SO-50, and SO-67, each on an as available basis. For
additional information and operating plan, please visit www dot 3w6c dot
qrv dot ch.

X4UL, is now active as 4S7ULG from Colombo, Sri Lanka. He will be there
through April 7th working mainly on 20 and 17 meters P-S-K. QSL via UY5ZZ.

SP5ES and SP5UAF will be active as CR1M and CR1Z, respectively, from Sao
Miguel in the Azores. This, during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest March 27th to
the 28th. QSL CR1M via SP5ES. QSL CR1Z via SP5UAF.

Lastly, K4QD and AF4Z will once again be active portable HH4 from the
Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. Their operation is planned to take
place between March 22nd and April 2nd. They will operate 160 through 10
meters on CW, SSB and RTTY as time permits. Low band operations will be
limited to the availability of AC power. QSL via their home callsigns
either direct, via the bureau or using Logbook of the World.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: NEW INTEREST IN SILICON NANOWIRES

Silicon nanowires are attracting an increasing level of attention from
technologists and industry. This, due to their drive to create
ever-smaller electronic devices will depend on these mechanical properties.

New research from North Carolina State University shows that silicon
nanowires are far more resilient than their larger counterparts. This is a
finding that could pave the way for smaller, sturdier nanoelectronics,
nanosensors, light-emitting diodes and other yet to be thought up
applications.

According to a recent study, silicon nanowires deform in a very different
way from bulk silicon. Bulk silicon is very brittle meaning that it cannot
be stretched or warped very much without breaking . On the other hand,
silicon nanowires are more resilient, and can sustain much larger deforming
before rupturing.

Other properties of silicon nanowires include increasing fracture strength
and decreasing elastic modulus as the nanowire gets smaller and
smaller. This study was funded by grants from the National Science
Foundation and North Carolina State University. (Adapted from Science
Daily)

**

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, the Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is
. 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), 28197 Robin
Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350

Before we go, a reminder that the nominating period for the 2010 Amateur
Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award is now open. Each year, we here
at the Amateur Radio Newsline in association with Vertex Standard
Corporation -- the makers of Yaesu brand ham radio gear -- and CQ Magazine
combine to honor a ham radio operator age 18 or younger for his or her
contributions to ham radio or to society itself through ham radio.

All nominations and materials required by the official rules must be
received by Amateur Radio Newsline no later than midnight on May
30th. Both "mail-in" and electronic submissions are being accepted this
year. Full rules and a downloadable nominating form are now on our website
at www.arnewsline.org. Just scroll down until you see "2010 Young Ham of
the Year Awards Now Being Accepted" and click on the word "here" to
download the directions and the form. You can also leave questions and
comments on the official Young Ham of the Year Award page on Facebook dot
com.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jeff Clark,
K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.