Conference cvg::hamradio_iii

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 3  ARLB003
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 22, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB003
ARLB003 ARRL Board Meets

The ARRL Board of Directors met in annual session, January 17 and
18, 1997, at Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Here is a summary of the
meeting highlights:

Responding to survey results that show that the majority of members
favor retention of Morse code for HF operating privileges as an
international treaty obligation, the Board decided that the ARRL
will not support changing the existing treaty requirement, an issue
on the WRC-99 agenda.  The Board also accepted other committee
recommendations regarding the international rules that govern the
amateur and amateur-satellite services.

A committee proposal for modifications to the FCC amateur licensing
structure is to be published shortly in QST.  Members will be
invited to comment to their Directors before May 31, 1997.  The
Board will not take action on the committee recommendations earlier
than the July meeting of the Board, to afford members an opportunity
for discussion and comment.

Noting the increasing number of participants in the spectrum
management process, the Board created the ARRL Spectrum Forum, an
electronic mail roundtable for national amateur organizations, as
well as regional entities and interests.  The ARRL Spectrum
Committee was dissolved with the thanks of the Board.

Dr. Robert C. Smithwick, W6JZU, and Mr. Ken Kirk-Bayley, GJ0KKB,
co-founders of MediShare International, a program of the Medical
Amateur Radio Council, won the ARRL International Humanitarian Award
for 1996.

James Jacobs, K1GHT, was tabbed for the ARRL Certificate of Merit in
recognition of his lifetime of humanitarian service and goodwill
through Amateur Radio.  Michael Pilotti, N3IRZ, also won an ARRL
Certificate of Merit in recognition of his arranging for the travel
of Ukraine radio amateur Nick Bortnick, UX0ZZ, to the US for special
medical assistance.

The League's Executive Committee was tasked with studying the
adequacy of FCC rules governing the qualifications of Volunteer
Examiners, particularly with respect to those VEs who have obtained
license upgrades by means of Morse code element credit waiver
provisions.  The Executive Committee was also tasked with
investigating the extent of abuses of the Morse code exam waiver
provisions for applicants with severe handicaps, and recommend any
regulatory changes deemed necessary.

The Membership Services Committee was directed to study ways to
better serve the digital community.

Atlantic Division Director Kay Craigie, WT3P, Northwestern Division
Director Mary Lou Brown, NM7N, Southeastern Division Director Frank
Butler, W4RH, and Southwestern Division Director Fried Heyn, WA6WZO,
were elected to the Executive Committee.

Roger Franke, K9AYK, Tom Comstock, N5TC, and Tom Frenaye, K1KI, were
re-elected to the ARRL Foundation Board of Directors.

ARRL will establish an Alternative Dispute Resolution service for
the use of individual amateurs, amateur organizations, citizens,
organizations and others having disputes over Amateur Radio related
subjects.

Full details will appear in March QST.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 3  ARLX003
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 24, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX003
ARLX003 Ken Cornell, W2IMB, SK

''Lowfer'' author, experimenter Ken Cornell, W2IMB, SK

Low-frequency author and experimenter Ken Cornell, W2IMB, of Point
Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, has died.  He was 79.  Cornell was,
perhaps, best known for The Low and Medium Frequency Radio Scrap
Book series (the 10th edition was published recently).  He also
authored many articles over the years and was a frequent contributor
to Lowdown, the newsletter of the Longwave Club of America.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 4  ARLB004
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 25, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB004
ARLB004 FCC finds missing call signs

Following up on ''a few inquiries'' into why certain call signs were
not assigned when they were available, FCC personnel in Gettysburg
report they found some 3355 call signs (mostly 2x2 and 2x3 format)
that should have been made available for the vanity program but were
not, for some reason. An FCC spokesman in Gettysburg reports a search
of all vanity applications (including those that required special
handling) comparing requested call sign(s) against the 3355 turned up
four to be resolved. The other call signs now have been made
available for future vanity grants.

Earlier this month, callers to the FCC's Gettysburg office were being
told that processing of vanity call sign applications would not
resume until early March because of ''unspecified computer-related
problems.'' Gettysburg now seems to be pulling back from that date,
and a spokesperson said this week that the FCC hoped to resume vanity
processing by February 1. Before processing the backlog of vanity
call sign applications, personnel in Gettysburg first plan to deal
with those applications that required special handling--the so-called
''WIPS'' (work in process) stack--which is backlogged from early
November. A spokesman said Wednesday that the FCC will resume work on
the WIPS stack ''in about a week.'' Also, contrary to what several
callers were told, the FCC did not issue a public notice about the
vanity call sign program this week.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 6  ARLD006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 29, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD006
ARLD006 VK0IR breaks record

The VK0IR Heard Island DXpedition is one for the record books. The
DXpedition team left Heard island Wednesday, January 29, after
racking up more than 80,000 contacts--a new DXpedition record. The
VK0IR team was scheduled to leave Heard Island on January 31, but
rough weather and high winds (combined with bone-chilling cold)
forced an early shutdown. VK0IR hit the bands running on January 14
and didn't stop until January 27--a few days before the DXpedition's
scheduled end. The result was excitement on a level rarely seen
among the Amateur Radio ranks. Most of the stations worked were in
Europe, the Eastern US and Japan. With 80,673 contacts in its
logbooks, the widely heralded Heard Island DXpedition appears to
have topped the previous record, held by the 1992 4J1FS DXpedition,
which racked up nearly 74,500 QSOs in 15 days. (The ZA1A and 3Y0PI
DXpeditions tallied 69,500 and 60,000 contacts, respectively.)

On its final weekend, the team began to dismantle some antennas
prior to going QRT. A special effort to give the ''small pistols'' a
chance at putting Heard Island into their logs took a back seat to
operator safety and equipment security, as the team awaited the
arrival of the ship on January 28. Even so, many US operators with
very modest stations enjoyed success. One East Coast station
reported working VK0IR on 20 meters with just 4.5 W output. The
effort might be considered all the more remarkable because it took
place during the sunspot minimum.

The Heard Island DXpedition was reputedly the largest, most well
organized and--with a budget of some 320,000 dollars--the most
expensive DXpedition ever. Last fall, the ARRL Colvin Award Grants
Committee authorized a grant of 5000 dollars for the Heard Island
DXpedition.

In a sense, the Internet--often thought of as ''competition'' for
ham radio--has been the medium that helped establish a sense of
cohesion and community during the VK0IR operation. The DXpedition
has heavily employed the Internet to promote the DXpedition and to
spread the latest word from Heard--a territory of Australia located
in the South Indian Ocean. The DXpedition's 'net presence also
offered an opportunity for hams to get a blow-by-blow account of the
DXpedition and to post their comments, success stories and gripes.
News and pictures of the operation continue to appear in The Heard
Island Tribune, edited on-line by Don Greenbaum, N1DG, another of
the DXpedition pilots. John Devoldere, ON4UN, moderated the
reflector and issued daily postings about the individual operators,
changes in frequencies and tips on operating behavior, while the
VK0IR home page offered additional general information. Those who
worked VK0IR (or thought they had) have used the VK0IR home page to
check the DXpedition's logs, which were forwarded via pacsat to
servers in the US and in Europe.

An e-mail note received here at HQ from Jon Jones, N0JK, of Wichita,
Kansas, summed up the feelings of many grateful operators: ''Thanks
to the Heard ops, pilot stations, ON4UN and all the other
behind-the-scenes support cast for bringing the magic back to
Amateur Radio.''

The DXpedition team does plan a brief (one-night) stop at Kerguelen
Island on its return trip. It is not certain that any radio
operation will take place from Kerguelen, but if it does, Devoldere
says it likely will be on the low bands only, and mostly--if not
exclusively--on CW.

The QSL address for the VK0IR and the preceding TO0R operation from
Reunion Island is INDEXA, c/o W4FRU, Box 5127, Suffolk, VA 23435.
QSLs for VK0IR and TO0R should be mailed separately to avoid delays.
For more information, check the Heard Island home page at
http://www.ccnet.com/~cordell/HI/.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 5  ARLB005
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 31, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB005
ARLB005 ARRL members asked to comment

ARRL members are being invited to add their ideas, comments and
recommendations to those of the ARRL WRC-99 Planning Committee, which
has suggested sweeping--and potentially controversial--changes to the
Amateur Radio licensing structure in the US. On the table for open
discussion and debate are proposals that include:

 elimination of the Novice license
 creation of a new Intermediate license to replace the Technician Plus
 greater hf privileges for intermediate licensees than for the
existing technician plus, including phone on 160, 75 and 15 meters
 a 10-wpm General CW test (with more stringent testing standards for
all CW exams)
 expanded phone privileges for General-class and higher licensees

Details of the plan, discussed during the recent ARRL Board of
Directors meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will appear in March
QST. The Board says it seeks comments from members to ensure that
before any plan goes forward, it enjoys broad support from the
amateur community. The Board will not act on the issue at least until
its July meeting.

After its research revealed that as many as three Novices in four are
inactive, the committee concluded that the Novice license is no
longer useful. Although the committee would end the Novice license,
its plan provides current Novices with an easy means to upgrade (via
an open-book test) to the new Intermediate class license, which would
replace the current Technician Plus. All present Tech Plus licensees
would become Intermediate licensees. The Basic license would supplant
the Technician license--now the hobby's most-popular entry-level
ticket--with no changes in privileges. In addition, the committee's
plan would phase out the current Novice and Tech Plus bands on 80, 40
and 15 meters, and replace them with new Intermediate-class
allocations. The committee's consensus plan for Intermediate-class
licensees calls for new CW bands on 80, 40 and 15 meters starting 25
kHz up from the lower band edge, digital and phone-band privileges on
75 and 15 meters and a 50-kHz phone or CW segment at the top end of
160 meters, plus expanded Novice and Tech Plus CW and phone
allocations on 10 meters.

According to the proposal, Intermediate CW bands would be 3525 to
3700 kHz, 7025 to 7050 kHz, 21025 to 21150 kHz and 28050 to 28300
kHz. Digital operation was suggested for 3600 to 3625, 21100 to 21125
and 28100 to 28189 kHz. Phone privileges would include 1950 to 2000,
3900 to 4000, 21350 to 21450, SSB from 28300 to 28500 and FM from
29500 to 29700 kHz. Transmitter power for Intermediate-class
licensees would be limited to 200 W PEP output (other licensees using
these bands would not be limited to 200 W, however).

General-class and higher amateurs also would benefit from the plan,
if it's adopted according to the committee's outlines. General-class
hams would get additional phone privileges 3800 to 3850, 7200 to
7225, and 21250 to 21300 kHz; Advanced-class hams would add 3725 to
3775, 7125 to 7150 and 21175 to 21225 kHz; Extra-class hams would
also have 3700 to 3750, 7125 to 7150 and 21150 to 21200 kHz.

With the exception of 40 meters, where Novice and Tech Plus licensees
already have privileges, the committee suggested no changes on the
hobby's narrowest and most crowded bands--including 20 meters and the
narrow WARC bands at 30, 17 and 12 meters.

The Intermediate CW test would be 5 words per minute (the same as the
current Tech Plus requirement), but the committee proposed that the
General class CW requirement be set at 10 wpm. There still would be
no additional CW exam for the Advanced ticket, nor would there be any
change in the 20-wpm requirement for the Extra. Exams for all classes
would include a return to a sending test and the requirement for one
minute of solid copy during a five-minute test--instead of the
current method that tests on the content of the CW text.

Right now, these major changes are only in the talking stage. ''Let us
be very clear about this,'' said ARRL Executive Vice President David
Sumner, K1ZZ, who characterized the committee's proposals as a
starting point for discussion, not a done deal. ''The changes are not
ARRL policy; nothing has been proposed to, or by, the FCC, and the
ARRL Board is committed to making no decision before its July 1997
meeting.'' Sumner said there is no timetable to complete the process.
Only after there is an opportunity for in-depth consideration and
discussion by the membership will the ARRL Board consider taking the
next step--to approach the FCC with a rulemaking proposal--a process
that automatically invites additional comments and suggestions.

Between the time they receive March QST and the end of May, members
are asked to voice their opinions on the committee's suggestions to
their directors, whose postal and e-mail addresses are listed on page
10 of QST. All suggestions and comments--positive and negative--are
welcome.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 4  ARLX004
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 6, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX004
ARLX004 YLRL founder Ethel Smith, K4LMB, SK

Ethel Smith, K4LMB, of McLean, Virginia--who inspired and helped
found the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL)--died February 5.  She
was 79.  In accordance with her wishes, no services are scheduled.

A ham for more than 60 years, Smith--a Wenatchee, Washington,
native--discovered ''wireless'' as a youngster and became licensed as
W7FWB in 1936.  A story in QST for May 1940 outlines how Smith's
letter to QST encouraged other female hams to form their own
organization, which became the YLRL in October 1939 (with Ethel
Smith as its first president).  Her stints with the Army and Navy
during World War II led to an offer from the Naval Research
Laboratory in Washington, DC, in 1945 (she joined the Naval Reserve
in 1950 and remained an active reservist for 10 years).

Smith also participated in the formation of the Foundation for
Amateur Radio (FAR) in 1957.  Around that same time, she met and
married the late John ''Tex'' De Bardeleben, W4TE (ex-W3CN), who was
with the FCC.  The couple set up housekeeping in Virginia, and she
later served as the Virginia SEC (1966-69) and as an ARRL Assistant
Director under four different Roanoke Division directors.  Last
August, six months after her 79th birthday, she celebrated her six
decades in Amateur Radio by passing the Extra Class examination.

In addition to being a member of ARRL, Ethel Smith was a member of
QCWA, served as its executive secretary/general manager in 1974-75,
and was elected to the QCWA board of directors.  Her other
recognitions include: Ham of the Year, Washington, DC, Mobile Radio
Club (1965), ARRL Roanoke Division Service Award (1972), Dayton
Hamvention Special Achievement Award (1984), QCWA Roll of Honor
(1987), Radio Club of America Fellow (1988), and Foundation for
Amateur Radio Ham of the Year (1993).

In an article in last fall's QCWA Journal celebrating Smith's 60
years in the hobby, she was quoted as saying: ''Amateur Radio is
still the main focus of my life.  It has brought me all the good
things that ever happened to me.  It gave me a challenging and
rewarding career.  It gave me a wonderful husband and the greatest
collection of friends in the world--all over the world.  I owe more
to Amateur Radio than I can ever possibly repay.''  The quarterly
featured a front-cover picture of Smith in her W7FWB shack.

ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed sorrow
at Smith's passing, calling her ''a leading light in the ham
community.''  Sumner said that Ethel Smith ''never stopped
contributing, learning, and growing.  I don't think it ever would
have occurred to her that she should.''
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 6  ARLB006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 6, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB006
ARLB006 Vanity call update

Vanity call sign processing apparently will remain on hold for a
while longer as the FCC's Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, office continues
to deal with a backlog of vanity applications that required special
handling--the so-called WIPS (work in process) stack. As of February
6, WIPS was backlogged to mid-November. An FCC spokesman said the
FCC will process vanity applications received in December, January
and February--in parts or all at once--after it has completed work
on the WIPS backlog. The FCC has not processed any vanity call sign
applications since mid-December, but some new call signs have
trickled out over the past several weeks as the FCC resolved issues
on WIPS applications. The last applications processed were received
by the FCC prior to December 1, 1996.

Although vanity Gate 2 opened in late September, the program remains
popular, and vanity call sign applications continue to pour into
Gettysburg office. During January, Gettysburg got 945 applications,
479 on paper and 466 filed electronically.

The FCC has not said when Gate 3 will open.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 7  ARLB007
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 13, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB007
ARLB007 FCC call sign update

The following is a list of the FCC's most recently issued callsigns
as of February, 1997.

District       Group A         Group B     Group C       Group D
               Extra           Advanced    Tech/Gen      Novice

0              AB0EB           KI0GL        ++           KB0ZNG
1              AA1RO           KE1GZ       N1YMY         KB1CBZ
2              AB2DA           KG2KA        ++           KC2ATT
3              AA3PH           KE3YR       N3YQJ         KB3BRS
4              AF4AO           KU4BN        ++           KF4OSX
5              AC5LD           KM5GN        ++           KC5YTK
6              AC6ZQ           KQ6MQ        ++           KF6ITI
7              AB7UB           KK7EY        ++           KC7UJI
8              AA8ZD           KI8AT        ++           KC8FXZ
9              AA9TS           KG9JD        ++           KB9PLP
N. Mariana Is  NH0A            AH0AW       KH0FS         WH0ABF
Guam            ==             AH2DC       KH2RJ         WH2ANT
Hawaii         AH7M            AH6PA       KH7CO         WH6DDJ
American Samoa AH8O            AH8AH       KH8DC         WH8ABF
Alaska         AL0A            AL7QT       KL0DL         WL7CUC
Virgin Islands WP2Y            KP2CJ       NP2JP         WP2AIH
Puerto Rico    KP3V            KP3AP       NP3JX         WP4NMT

== New prefixes are available for this block, but none have been issued.
++ All call signs in this group have been issued in this area.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 8  ARLB008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 14, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB008
ARLB008 Comments needed, Little LEO

Commercial satellite interests seeking access to bands below 1
GHz--including amateur allocations at 146 and 430 MHz--now have added
220 MHz to their ''wish list.'' For the first time, Little LEO
(low-earth-orbiting satellite) interests have proposed including
219-225 MHz in their list of desired allocations for the non-voice,
non-geostationary (NVNG) mobile-satellite service (MSS). The move was
contained in the industry's so-called ''flexible allocation proposal,''
delivered at the February 13, 1997, meeting of FCC Informal Working
Group (IWG) 2A. Little LEO targets now include 146 to 148, 219 to 225
and 430 to 450 MHz. The ARRL and AMSAT were among those objecting to
the concept, and the League is urging those who agree with their
position to comment to the FCC by March 4. IWG-2A has been preparing
draft proposals for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-97). These will be reviewed during a March 5 meeting of the
FCC's WRC-97 Industry Advisory Committee that is preparing draft
proposals for consideration by the United States as it gets ready for
WRC-97

The ARRL and AMSAT statement said the latest proposal affecting
amateur allocations in the 219 to 225 MHz segment came ''at the last
possible moment'' and ''without any technical support whatsoever.'' The
League and AMSAT pointed out that the little LEO proponents have had
more than a year to complete a technical study of the possibilities
of sharing with the amateur services in the 144 to 148 MHz and 420 to
450 MHz bands. ''They have not demonstrated compatibility for sharing
these amateur bands but over the evolution of their document have
proposed various 'new ideas' for use of these bands.''

The little LEO flexible allocation strategy for WRC-97--submitted as
IWG-2A/86 (Rev. 6)--is to propose broad allocations. The apparent
theory is that most administrations would find reasons to oppose
little LEO use of specific bands in the crowded spectrum below 1 GHz,
but that a broad allocation would permit different implementations in
different countries depending on local circumstances.

At the February 13 meeting, a coalition of spectrum
interests--including land mobile, amateur, broadcasting, and
military--opposed the flexible allocation concept on three grounds:
that the concept is simply an invention to avoid performing technical
sharing studies that would demonstrate the unfeasibility of sharing;
that it is inconsistent with decades of ITU allocations practices;
and that, if adopted, the concept would be counter to US interests.
The coalition document is identified as IWG-2A/107.

The ARRL and AMSAT submitted a further statement of opposition,
citing the absence of any technical studies that might support
sharing with the amateur service or the amateur-satellite service and
pointing out that the little LEOs have completely mischaracterized
the nature of ITU Resolution 640 regarding the use of certain amateur
bands in the event of natural disasters. The ARRL/AMSAT paper,
revised to reflect opposition to the late proposal to include 219-225
MHz, is identified as IWG-2A/108 (Rev. 1).

Amateurs also might find interesting the comments of the Department
of Defense, identified as IWG-2A/101 (Rev. 1). These address the 430
to 450 MHz segment the Little LEOs seek to share.

Anyone wishing to register support for the ARRL/AMSAT submission
should send a brief e-mail message to wrc97fcc.gov. The Subject line
should say ''Reference No. ISP-96-005 IWG-2A.'' A simple statement to
this effect, ''I support the ARRL/AMSAT opposition to the NVNG MSS
flexible allocation proposal,'' will be included in the public record
and will help to drive home the point that there is broad-based
opposition to poorly conceived sharing proposals.

Please note. The proposals the League opposes are not FCC proposals,
nor are they endorsed by any other branch of the government. They are
industry proposals. The League's objective is to demonstrate there is
broad citizen opposition to the industry proposals, so the government
will not adopt them as US proposals. So, please don't ''flame'' the FCC
if you comment.

Additional arguments or evidence also is welcome. Important. Comments
should reach the FCC no later than March 4, 1997.

The complete ARRL/AMSAT opposition statement and other comments will
be posted by February 15 on the ARRLWeb page, http://www.arrl.org/
under Band Threat News.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 9  ARLB009
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 14, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB009
ARLB009 FCC resumes vanity processing.

The vanity floodgates have reopened. The FCC office in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, has processed vanity applications received from
December 1, 1996, through the present. In all, slightly more than
2400 applications were processed, but only slightly more than half of
the applicants managed to successfully snag one of their call sign
choices. The FCC made 1344 grants. More than 1000 applications ended
up in the dreaded work in process (WIPS) stack for special handling.
It*s expected that most of the WIPS applications will be dismissed
because the FCC was unable to grant any of the applicant*s requested
call sign choices. In other cases, the FCC must resolve apparent
discrepancies in the applicant*s name, address or call sign.

A backlog of WIPS applications had held up vanity processing for
approximately two months, as personnel in Gettysburg worked to clear
the decks. Prior to the recent big wave on February 12, a few vanity
grants had trickled out of Gettysburg as the staff worked its way
through the WIPS pile.

Vanity call sign applications continue to arrive at the FCC. Gate 1
opened last May, Gate 1A opened in July and Gate 2 opened in
September. There is still no word on when the FCC plans to open Gate
3.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 10  ARLB010
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 18, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB010
ARLB010 Section Manager election results

Ballots have been counted in the Section Manager elections for the
Arkansas and Northern Texas Sections.  Terms of office begin April
1, 1997.

The results are as follows:

In the Arkansas Section -
Roger W. Gray, N5QS, 525 votes
E. Glenn Wolf, Jr., AB5RQ, 185 votes
Gray was declared elected

In the Northern Texas Section -
Bob Adler, N5NY, 785 votes
Dave Allen, WD8LDY, 146 votes
Bill Revis,  KF5BL, 470 votes
Adler was declared elected

Eight other sections were not contested.  The following were
declared elected:

In the Arizona Section
Clifford Hauser, KD6XH

In the Iowa Section
James Lasley, N0JL

In the Idaho Section
Mike Langrell, AA7VR

In the Kentucky Section
Bill Uschan, KC4MIS

In the Mississippi Section
Ernie Orman, Jr., W5OXA

In the Montana Section
Darrell Thomas, N7KOR

In the Orange Section
Joe Brown, W6UBQ

In the Wyoming Section
Robert Williams, N7LKH
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 11  ARLB011
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 21, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB011
ARLB011 FCC new toll-free number

The FCC has designated a new, toll-free (WATS) number for Amateur
Radio license inquiries--including inquiries about vanity and new
call signs. The new number, 888-225-5322, will connect callers to
the FCC National Call Center, handled by the FCC's Consumer
Information Bureau.

Callers to the old consumer information number will get a message
referring them to the new number.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 5  ARLX005
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 21, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX005
ARLX005 HAARP to air test transmission for hams

The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility
in Gakona, Alaska, will transmit a test signal on March 8, 1997,
seeking reports from hams and SWLs in Alaska and in the ''Lower 48''
to determine how well the HAARP transmissions can be heard to the
south.

During this test, the HAARP facility will transmit on or near the
frequencies 3.4 MHz and 6.99 MHz to give listeners the opportunity
to listen for the HAARP facility and to claim a QSL card. The test
will be conducted beginning at 0430 UTC on March 8 (2330 Eastern
Time on March 7).

The format of the test will be to transmit a constant carrier (no
modulation) signal followed by a CW message at 10 WPM, according to
the following schedule:

TIME     FREQ         SIGNAL          ANTENNA POSITION

0430     6.99 MHz    Carrier only      Pointed up
0435     6.99 MHz    CW message        Pointed up
0440     6.99 MHz    Carrier only      Pointed to SE
0445     6.99 MHz    CW message        Pointed to SE
0450     3.4 MHz     Carrier only      Pointed up
0455     3.4 MHz     CW message        Pointed up

The transmission beginning at 0450 is primarily for Alaskan hams.
Reception reports should include signal strength during the constant
carrier transmission period along with the text of the CW message.

Complete details on this test and a QSL address will be listed on
the HAARP home page at
http://server5550.itd.nrl.navy.mil/announce.html.

The HAARP facility--now in the developmental prototype stage--has
been undergoing testing since it was completed in late 1994.
Multiple transmitters feed multiple antenna elements (there are 48
antenna elements on the site, arranged in eight rows of six columns;
however, at this time, only 18 elements are active. The test will
use 17 antennas with a net transmitter power of 340 kW). The final
configuration could have 180 antenna elements and a combined
transmitter power of 3.6 MW. HAARP's stated scientific purpose is to
study ''the properties and behavior of the ionosphere, with
particular emphasis on being able to understand and use it to
enhance communications and surveillance systems for both civilian
and defense purposes.'' HAARP is managed by the US Air Force and the
US Navy.

For more information, see ''The High Frequency Active Auroral
Research Program'' (QST, Sep 1996, p 33), or check out the HAARP home
page, http://server5550.itd.nrl.navy.mil/haarp.html.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 6  ARLX006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 3, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX006
ARLX006 HAARP QSL info

Reception Reports for the upcoming HAARP test mentioned in ARLX005
should be sent to:

High Frequency Active Auroral Research Facility
P.O. Box 271
Gakona, Alaska 99573

Please include your copy of the CW text transmission along with
signal strength observed during the constant carrier periods.  A
description of the antenna and receiver used would be useful but is
not required.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 12  ARLB012
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 5, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB012
ARLB012 FCC proposes changes in spread spectrum regs

Responding to a petition for rulemaking from the ARRL, the FCC has
proposed in WT Docket 97-12 to adopt changes in its Amateur Service
rules governing spread spectrum.  In spread spectrum the energy of
the transmitted signal is distributed among several synchronized
frequencies within a band and reassembled at the receiving end.
This reduces power density and duration of a transmission on a
particular frequency and lets spread spectrum almost invisibly share
the same spectrum with users of other, narrowband modes.  Spread
spectrum also provides for improved communication under poor
signal-to-noise conditions and in selective fading and multipath
environments, and the ability to accommodate more communication
channels operating simultaneously in the same spectrum.

The League's December 1995 petition asked the FCC to relax its rules
to give Amateur Radio more opportunities to contribute to the
development of spread spectrum techniques.  Specifically, the League
sought to have the FCC relax restrictions on spreading sequences and
asked for greater flexibility in spreading modulation.  In response,
the FCC now has proposed to drop rules restricting amateur stations
to transmitting only frequency-hopping and direct-sequencing
spreading techniques.  As requested by the League, the FCC also has
proposed to require automatic power control for spread spectrum
transmitters, to ensure use of the minimum power level needed to
carry out communication.

The FCC also went along with the League's request to permit brief
test transmissions using spread spectrum and to allow international
spread spectrum communications between amateurs in the US and those
in countries that allow hams to use spread spectrum.  The current
rules allow only domestic communication.

The use of spread spectrum techniques was first approved for Amateur
Radio in 1985 for bands above 225 MHz and at power levels up to 100
watts, and there has been some experimental amateur operation since
then.  The FCC also has authorized Special Temporary Authority (STA)
in some instances to allow broader SS experimentation.  Since spread
spectrum was introduced in the Amateur Radio service, commercial
spread spectrum applications have been developed, including personal
communication services, remote meter reading and position locating.
But, the League had argued that rules limitations held back further
spread spectrum experimentation.  No changes are proposed in the
frequency bands where spread spectrum is permitted.

The FCC said the rule amendments would ''increase spectrum efficiency
and allow amateur operators to contribute to technological
advances.''  Comments on the NPRM in WT Docket 97-12 are due May 5,
with reply comments due June 5.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 7, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB013
ARLB013 FCC call sign update

The following is a list of the FCC's most recently issued call signs
as of March 1.

District       Group A        Group B        Group C        Group D
               Extra          Advanced       Tech/Gen       Novice

0              AB0EI          KI0GY           ++            KB0ZWT
1              AA1RU          KE1HG          N1YQP          KB1CCJ
2              AB2DG          KG2KE           ++            KC2BAN
3              AA3PL          KE3YZ          N3YUG          KB3BSG
4              AF4BD          KU4DB           ++            KF4PMR
5              AC5LO          KM5HI           ++            KC5ZFU
6              AD6AM          KQ6NI           ++            KF6JHJ
7              AB7UH          KK7FU           ++            KC7UWP
8              AA8ZJ          KI8BE           ++            KC8GGT
9              AA9TZ          KG9JO           ++            KB9PSB
N Mariana Is   NH0A           AH0AX          KH0GF          WH0ABG
Guam            ==            AH2DC          KH2RM          WH2ANT
Hawaii         AH7Q           AH6PA          KH7CS          WH6DDQ
Am Samoa       AH8O           AH8AH          KH8DH          WH8ABF
Alaska         AL0D           AL7QT          KL0EC          WL7CUC
Virgin Is      WP2Y           KP2CJ          NP2JP          WP2AIH
Puerto Rico    NP3B           KP3AQ          NP3KP          WP4NMY

== New prefixes are available for this block, but none have been
issued.

++ All call signs in this group have been issued in this area.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 15  ARLB015
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 14, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB015
ARLB015 1x1 call signs put on ice

The FCC won't be authorizing any more 1x1 Amateur Radio call signs
under Special Temporary Authority (STA) any time soon. That was the
word this week from David Horowitz, the acting chief of the FCC's
Private Wireless Division. Horowitz--who's an attorney--said he felt
the FCC should not have issued STAs for any 1x1 call signs while a
rulemaking proceeding regarding formal rules for 1x1 call signs, FCC
Docket WT 95-57, was in the works. Action in that proceeding might
not happen for several months.

Horowitz' decision effectively denied a half dozen or so pending
requests for 1x1 call sign STAs. Some two dozen written STA requests
for 1x1 call signs were routinely granted over the past year or so
by former Private Wireless Division Chief Robert McNamara. That
number does not include the 52 1x1 call signs issued for use by
contestants in last summer's World Radiosport Team Championship 96
(WRTC-96) event in the San Francisco Bay area.

The League has been assured by the FCC Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau that it will move expeditiously toward concluding the docket
proceeding that includes the 1x1 call sign rules matter.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 14  ARLB014
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 14, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB014
ARLB014 Ham radio Volunteer Services bill introduced

Good news for ham radio volunteers: the Amateur Radio Volunteer
Services Act of 1997 (HR 1013)--introduced this week by US Rep Anna
Eshoo of California. If enacted, the bill would place volunteers in
the Volunteer Examination Program and the Amateur Auxiliary under
the protections of the Federal Tort Claims Act by affording them the
same legal protections as employees of the Federal Government while
they're carrying out such volunteer duties. ''This bill would help
protect the personal liability of volunteer Amateur Radio operators
while performing duties on behalf of the Federal Government,'' Eshoo
said in introducing the measure. As she explained it on the House
floor, it's simply a question of fairness for volunteers, who risk
damaging lawsuits while saving the government time and money. The
bill was introduced with 21 cosponsors hailing from both parties.

HR 1013 is nearly identical to a bill introduced last year but not
enacted and similar to a unanimously accepted amendment to the FCC
reauthorization bill that Eshoo herself offered last year in the
Commerce Committee.

On the House floor, Eshoo outlined the rationale behind the Amateur
Radio Volunteer Services Act of 1997 in these words, and urged her
colleagues to support the bill:

''Amateur Radio operators are self-regulated, with volunteer
operators monitoring the airwaves  for violations and administering
licensing exams. This volunteer corps saves countless hours of
staff time and resources for the Federal Communications Commission;
however, because they are not Federal employees, they put their
personal assets at risk in the event of  actions taken against them
as a result of their volunteer service to the Government.''

''It is simply unfair that these volunteers who are saving the
Government time and resources  should have to risk their personal
assets in carrying out their service. The Amateur Radio Volunteer
Services Act would classify those individuals donating their time
and expertise to maintaining the quality of the Amateur Radio
airwaves as Federal employees only for the purpose of actions taken
against them in the performance of their duties as self-regulators.
This action will ensure the continued viability of the amateur radio
community and continue to save the FCC and the Federal Government
time and money that would otherwise need to be expended.''
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 16  ARLB016
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 21, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB016
ARLB016 League petitions for RACES flexibility

The ARRL is seeking a change in FCC rules to relax regulations
regarding the Amateur Radio Service and the Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service (RACES). The League wants the FCC to allow hams
actively supporting emergency or disaster communication or involved
in drills and tests to communicate ''between and among'' RACES stations
and those stations registered with civil defense organizations
operating under RACES. The League also wants the FCC to relax time
limitations on RACES emergency drills and tests. This would permit
stations operating under RACES (organized under the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and operating under local civil defense agencies)
to communicate, as necessary during emergencies, tests and drills,
with stations operating under the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, or
ARES (begun by the ARRL in 1935) or with other non-ARES or non-RACES
stations also engaged in emergency communication or drills. Right
now, RACES and ARES operate independently of each other, although
some hams participate in both organizations.

Relaxing the rules ''would permit intercommunication with other
amateurs active in emergency communications, and enable a form of
'mutual aid' in the Amateur Service,'' the League said in its filing.
''It is time that the Commission permit, but not require,
communications between RACES participants and non-RACES amateurs
during emergencies or emergency drills and preparedness exercises.''
The League said the Commission has an opportunity to eliminate a
restriction that ''arguably should never have been enacted in the
first place,'' and that has ''outlived whatever utility it may ever
have had.''

The League also seeks to increase the time limit on RACES training
drills and tests from one hour per week to up to five hours per week.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 18  ARLB018
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 2, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB018
ARLB018 FCC issues changes in Amateur Radio rules (Part 1)

In response to three petitions for rulemaking, the FCC has adopted
changes to the Amateur Service rules that--among other changes--will
make it easier to obtain 1x1 call signs for special event stations
and harder to get a club station license.  Other amendments to the
rules included in a Report and Order released April 1, 1997, will
allow hams to append special designators either before or after
their call signs--or both, and will recognize, but not require, the
use of a session manager at Volunteer Examiner testing sessions.

The FCC declined to give examination credit for formerly held
licenses, and turned down an ARRL request for a lifetime operator's
license.

Under the new amendments, the FCC will allow a licensee to
substitute a self-selected call sign from the block of 1x1 call
signs for temporary use during a special event operation.  The
station must announce its regularly assigned call sign at least once
an hour.  The special event call signs will be coordinated and
issued by outside volunteer entities, not by the FCC.  The
Commission will announce later when and how volunteer entities may
volunteer their services.  The chief of the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau then would certify volunteer entities to
serve as amateur station special event call sign coordinators, who
would issue 1x1 calls from a common, online special event call sign
database.  By definition, a 1x1 call sign consists of a single
prefix letter, K, N or W; the region number, 0 to 9; and a single
suffix letter, A to W, Y and Z--750 call signs in all.  The FCC
turned down a suggestion that would have limited special event call
signs to stations licensed to Amateur Extra class operators.

In proposing to increase the eligibility requirements for a club
station license, the FCC said it was ''important to determine that
the applicant for a club station license is a legitimate radio club
and not just a person seeking to acquire additional call signs.''
Under the rules changes, the FCC has raised the eligibility
requirement from at least two members to a minimum of four.
Applicants for a club station license must have a club name, a
document of organization, management, and a primary ham radio
purpose that's consistent with FCC rules.

(END OF PART 1)
NNNN
/EX


SB QST @ ARL $ARLB017
ARLB017 FCC issues changes in Amateur Radio rules (Part 2)

ZCZC AG17
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 17  ARLB017
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 2, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB017
ARLB017 FCC issues changes in Amateur Radio rules (Part 2)

Responding to a petition by the National Conference of
Volunteer-Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC), the FCC said VECs could
elect to designate a session manager if they wanted to, but they
would not be required to do so.  The Commission's new rules
recognize the VE session manager function but emphasize that the
three Volunteer Examiners at a test session would still be held
''jointly and severally responsible for the proper conduct of each
examination administered.''

Another change will allow hams to include a self-assigned indicator
before, after or both before and after the assigned call sign when
identifying.  Current rules only permit using such indicators after
the station's regular call sign.  Self-assigned indicators include
those used to indicate location or type of operation, such as /KP2
when operating in the US Virgin Islands or /m when operating in a
vehicle.  They also can denote participation in an unusual event or
other atypical station operation, according to the FCC.

Citing mostly negative comments, the FCC decided against allowing
exam credit for formerly held amateur operator licenses.  The
Commission also said ''no' to the ARRL's suggestion that the operator
license be valid for the lifetime of the holder.  The FCC said
operators would still have to renew their station licenses every ten
years and that it did not want to maintain a separate database to
keep track of station license expirations.

The FCC announced all of the rules changes in a Report and Order,
FCC 97-99, adopted March 20 and issued April 1.  The amendments
become effective 30 days after the Report and Order is published in
The Federal Register.

(END OF PART 2)
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 19  ARLB019
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 4, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB019
ARLB019 FCC call sign update

The following is a list of FCC sequentially assigned call signs
issued as of April 1, 1997.

District       Group A        Group B        Group C        Group D
               Extra          Advanced       Tech/Gen       Novice

     0         AB0EW          KI0HM            ++           KC0AIR
     1         AA1RX          KE1HL           N1YWB         KB1CDF
     2         AB2DK          KG2KS            ++           KC2BGQ
     3         AA3PO          KE3ZI           N3YZS         KB3BST
     4         AF4BV          KU4EV            ++           KF4QIR
     5         AC5LX          KM5IC            ++           KC5ZSK
     6         AD6AV          KQ6NW            ++           KF6JXT
     7         AB7UQ          KK7GL            ++           KC7VMM
     8         AA8ZU          KI8BQ            ++           KC8GTE
     9         AA9UG          KG9JZ            ++           KB9PZR
N Mariana Islands  NH0A       AH0AX           KH0GS         WH0ABG
Guam            ++            AH2DC           KH2RM         WH2ANT
Hawaii         AH7S           AH6PA           KH7DJ         WH6DDT
Amer Samoa     AH8O           AH8AH           KH8DH         WH8ABF
Alaska         AL0D           AL7QT           KL0FM         WL7CUE
Virgin Islands  ==            KP2CJ           NP2JQ         WP2AIH
Puerto Rico    NP3C           KP3AR           NP3MI         WP4NMZ


== New prefixes are available for this block, but none have been issued.
++All call signs in this group have been issued in this district.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 7  ARLX007
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 11, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX007
ARLX007 Minnesota hams brave weather emergency

Hams geared up to help after communities in western Minnesota faced
severe flooding this past week along the Minnesota River and in the
Red River Valley. ''To top off an already serious flooding problem, we
were faced with blizzard conditions in NW Minnesota around
Fargo/Moorhead and received as much as a foot and a half of heavy wet
snow,'' said Minnesota's SM, Randy ''Max'' Wendel, N0FKU. The upper
Mississippi River was expected toward the end of this week and work
its way southward.

Additionally, those frantically trying to save their communities from
flooding also have had to deal with high winds--as high as 60 mph in
some locations--and low temperatures. In southwestern Minnesota along
the Minnesota River Valley, several communities were evacuated.
Electricity and telephone service in the Granite Falls area was lost.
The hope is that the floodwaters will recede before the ice melts and
worsens the situation.

Wendel reports that an official statewide ARES HF net was activated
to assist the Salvation Army in Minneapolis-St Paul. The Salvation
Army is bringing in relief supplies for the Granite Falls area. ''Hams
have generally been providing some isolated communications for their
local chapters of the Salvation Army plus providing communication for
relief efforts and supplies to affected areas,'' Wendel said. A lot of
volunteers have turned out in support of sandbagging efforts. One
small area along the Minnesota River in towns of Montevideo and
Granite Falls has laid down some 400,000 sandbags in an effort to
minimize flooding in their neighborhoods. Other hams have been busy
reporting new flooding areas to the National Weather Service. An
informal ARES HF flood net was being activated each evening (5 PM
CST) on 3990 kHz to gather flood-related information.

Wendel says The Associated Press has been referred to various hams
around the state to get  reports from the Amateur Radio community.
SEC Gary Peterson, N0ZOD, was among those contacted by the AP.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 20  ARLB020
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 17, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB020
ARLB020 ARRL calls on FCC to privatize handling of malicious interference
complaints

Citing ''a substantial need to improve and increase the quantity and
quality'' and timeliness of enforcement in malicious interference
complaints, the ARRL has called on the FCC to ''create a streamlined,
privatized enforcement process'' to handle and adjudicate the most
serious Amateur Service rules violations.  In a petition for
rulemaking filed March 28, the League asked that the FCC change its
rules to permit members of the volunteer Amateur Auxiliary to bring
evidence of malicious interference violations directly before the
FCC's Chief Administrative Law Judge.  The Chief ALJ would be
authorized to determine if the complainants have a valid case, to
issue show-cause orders, and to designate complaints for hearing.

The League recommended that the FCC capitalize on the volunteer
resources available through the Amateur Auxiliary to relieve the
evidence-gathering burden in such cases.  If the rules changes are
approved, the League said it would likely assist members of the
Amateur Auxiliary in preparing and submitting complaints and in
presenting cases at administrative hearings.  ''The increased use of
volunteer resources would seem to be entirely appropriate in the
Amateur Service, which involves avocational use of radio only,'' the
ARRL concluded.

While noting that most hams obey the rules, the League said Amateur
Radio needs the Commission's help ''in a very few, persistent,
serious enforcement cases'' but has not been getting it in recent
years because of the FCC's staff and budgetary limitations.

''Indeed, notwithstanding the best efforts of the Commission over the
past several years, there has been no resolution of the four or five
most serious cases brought to the Commission's attention,'' the
League said in its petition.  Even in some of the cases the FCC did
act upon, the League said the Commission did not go far enough to
make the problems go away permanently.  The League cited a case in
New Orleans where fines against several amateurs were reduced but
remain unpaid and uncollected.  ''There is a widespread, and growing,
perception that administrative forfeitures are not collectable,'' the
ARRL said, pointing to the complex, time-consuming method of
collecting fines that is required by federal law.

The ARRL noted that while the FCC suspended one ham's license in
that city in 1996, it failed to look into malicious interference
charges against at least two other hams in that area.  The League
said examples like these send a message that the FCC won't enforce
Amateur Service rules in malicious interference cases.  ''Malicious
interference problems, if left unchecked, tend to spread and
increase in intensity,'' the League said.  The ARRL suggested that a
series of ''visible, successful enforcement actions'' would deter
rules violations and promote self-regulation.

The ARRL also suggested that some FCC policies get in the way of
timely, effective enforcement.  Current Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau policy requires the Commission to independently corroborate
evidence gathered by Amateur Radio volunteers.  ''The policy often
acts as an absolute obstacle to any enforcement activity
whatsoever,'' and it demoralizes volunteers who view their efforts as
wasted.

While noting that malicious interference cases often attract a lot
of attention within the amateur community, the League said ham radio
can be ''justifiably proud'' of its history of voluntary rule
compliance.  ''The overall level of compliant behavior among amateurs
has not deteriorated over the years,'' the League emphasized, citing
fewer than 10 active malicious interference cases in the US at
present.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 21  ARLB021
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 18, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB021
ARLB021 Ham radio excluded from CB enforcement bill

At the request of the ARRL, Amateur Radio has been specifically
exempted from a bill submitted April 17 by US Sen Russell Feingold
(D-Wisconsin) that would give states and municipalities authority to
enforce the FCC's CB regulations.  Feingold's bill, designated as
Senate Bill 608, originated with efforts by the Beloit, Wisconsin,
City Council--responding to long-standing CB interference
complaints--to pass an ordinance allowing local authorities to
enforce FCC regulations.  The bill is aimed at reducing radio
frequency interference stemming from the use of unauthorized
equipment or frequencies by CBers.

In presenting his bill, Feingold told his Senate colleagues that he
has received RFI complaints over the past several years from
numerous Wisconsin communities ''in which whole neighborhoods are
experiencing persistent radio frequency interference.''

If approved by Congress, Feingold's bill would amend the
Communications Act to allow state or local governments to enforce
regulations that prohibit the use of CB equipment not authorized by
the FCC (such as high-power linear amplifiers).  As it now stands,
no license is required to operate on the 11-meter Citizens Band, but
the FCC does have strict requirements on the type of equipment that
CBers can legally use.  Feingold's bill would preserve the federal
preemption of all other telecommunications matters.  It would
exclude FCC-licensed services, including Amateur Radio, from state
or local oversight.

Also at the ARRL's request, the bill calls upon the FCC to provide
''technical guidance'' to states and municipalities in detecting and
determining violations.  Those affected by a state or local
enforcement decision would be able to appeal to the FCC.  ARRL asked
Feingold to add this provision as final safeguard for amateurs who
might be erroneously prosecuted despite the bill's other exemptions
for amateurs.  Feingold's bill also would not preclude the FCC from
enforcing its own regulations as they apply to CB.

Feingold called his bill ''a common-sense solution to a very
frustrating and real problem which cannot be addressed under
existing law.''
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 8  ARLX008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 18, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX008
ARLX008 Edward P. Tilton, W1HDQ, SK

ARRL Headquarters was saddened to learn that VHF pioneer and former
QST VHF Editor Ed Tilton, W1HDQ, of Spring Hill, Florida, died March
1.  He was 89.  In December 1939, Tilton inaugurated the first QST
column devoted to VHF.  Originally called ''On the Ultra Highs,'' it
eventually became ''The World Above 50 Mhz.''  Tilton edited the VHF
column until he retired from the ARRL staff in 1960, reporting
on-the-air activity and encouraging experimentation initially on the
then 56 and 112-MHz amateur allocations and, later, on all VHF and
UHF bands.  The UHF DX Records box--the precursor of today's
standings boxes--debuted in 1940.

During World War II, Tilton worked as a field engineer for the
military on radar projects--mostly at Pearl Harbor and Guam, and
became acquainted with the great technological progress the military
was making in the VHF-UHF spectrum.  Even while occupied with his
military duties, he still managed to file occasional columns
throughout the war years.

In 1947, Tilton established the first WAS standings box for 6
meters.  In 1955, he proposed establishing the first calling
frequencies for the 6 and 2-meter bands.  Following his retirement,
Tilton remained a QST Contributing Editor.  He was the author of the
ARRL's first VHF Manual and wrote numerous articles for QST.

Tilton's column inspired an entire generation of VHF and UHF
enthusiasts and encouraged such activities as EME, meteor scatter
and auroral propagation.  He was considered an authority on sunspots
and solar flares and their effects on propagation.  As ARRL
Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, put it: ''Ed Tilton was
one of the outstanding amateur scientists of his generation.
Perhaps more than any other individual, he led the exploration of
the extended-range properties of the VHF and UHF bands.''

Tilton was a life member of the ARRL.  He also belonged to the QCWA
and the Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club.  He was a native of
Springfield, Massachusetts.  His wife, Leitha, died in 1995. His
sister, Ruby, is among the survivors.  He is to be interred in
Canton, Connecticut.  Donations in Ed Tilton's name may be made to
the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 300 E Bay Dr, Largo, FL 34640.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 9  ARLX009
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 22, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX009
ARLX009 Hams continue flood relief assistance

Ham radio is helping out as major flooding of historical proportions
along the Red River continues to overtake the cities of Grand Forks,
North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.  Most area residents
have been evacuated into surrounding towns and emergency shelters.
The Salvation Army has been assisting at many of the temporary camps
and shelters, providing food and other necessities, and Amateur
Radio has been providing an important link between various flood
relief sites and a Salvation Army warehouse in Minneapolis.

ARRL Minnesota Section Manager Randy Wendel, N0FKU, reports that
hams who live just outside the immediately affected flood zones have
been helping local government officials with flood relief
communication.  Wendel reports that ARES, MARS and other members of
the Amateur Radio community have been working together with the
primary aim of assisting the Salvation Army and other relief
agencies.

Wendel reports that one problem he's encountered is identifying hams
who are available to help out.  Some nearby areas have few or no
hams, so some operators have volunteered to drive long distances to
help out.  When an HF link was needed between Salvation Army relief
sites and the Minneapolis warehouse, a number of HF mobile operators
volunteered to make the nearly six-hour trip to Minneapolis to
assure communication.

Wendel also reports that many hams are among the flood refugees who
have been forced from their homes by what's being dubbed ''the
500-year flood.''  Many homes have been damaged or destroyed, and the
flooding was compounded by a fire in downtown Grand Forks.

North Dakota Section Manager Bill Kurtti, WC0M, and other hams in
that stricken state are reportedly working with the American Red
Cross and in other flood relief efforts.

Wendel said the various ham radio groups involved in the relief
effort have been working together well.  The disaster has brought
out many hams who had not previously been involved with emergency
preparedness but suddenly found themselves in the midst of a major
disaster--in some cases as victims themselves.  He said this has
served as a grim reminder that ''disaster doesn't always occur from
the comfort of our ham shacks.''  Wendel said hams must realize the
importance of ''having the capability to travel and set up a remote
station at various locations.''

Fred Lehmann, WA0PBL, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, reports that
North Dakota hams were using 75 meters for flood communication on
HF.  He monitored KF0DI in Minot as net control for a session April
21 on 3937 kHz.  Another net has been meeting on 3990 kHz.

President Clinton was scheduled to visit the flooded region this
week to survey the damage.  Wendel said he expected flood relief
efforts would continue for several more weeks.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 10  ARLX010
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 25, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX010
ARLX010 Hams continue flood relief assistance

Ham radio continued to have a critical role in emergency relief and
recovery efforts along the Red River, where flooding overtook the
cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
Most area residents--an estimated 50,000 people--were evacuated into
surrounding towns and emergency shelters. The Salvation Army has been
assisting at many of the temporary camps and shelters, providing food
and other necessities, and Amateur Radio has been maintaining several
important communication links. Minnesota Section Manager Randy
Wendel, N0FKU, reports that ARES, RACES, MARS and other members of
the Amateur Radio community have been working together to help the
Salvation Army and other emergency relief agencies.

North Dakota Section Manager Bill Kurtti, WC0M, reports that hams in
that stricken state are providing backup communication for the
various agencies involved in the flood-relief effort. He said the
biggest communication obstacle hams are trying to help overcome is to
coordinate communication among the various relief agencies that don't
share one another's radio frequencies. ''Ham flexibility can tie them
together,'' he said. Links have been established on HF (75 meters),
VHF and UHF, he reports. Several Amateur Radio clubs, the American
Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the National Guard and FEMA have been
active in dealing with the emergency in North Dakota. Kurtti said
April 25 that in the northeastern North Dakota, the water is rising
to record levels, and the cities of Drayton and Pembina may have to
evacuate because water might overrun the dikes at those towns.

Harold McConnell, WA0YSF, the RACES EC for Pembina County, North
Dakota, reports that hams in that region have been supporting the
local emergency manager, the National Guard, the US Coast Guard, the
Air Guard and the Salvation Army. He said hams in North Dakota are
also in contact with Canadian hams to the north who will get the
flood waters leaving North Dakota.

The ARRL's emergency 2-meter repeater has been shipped to the Forx
Amateur Radio Club in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to serve as a backup
to the single repeater still in operation as the Red River begins to
recede and the massive clean-up and damage-assessment process begins.

Morgan James, KF0EN, a meteorologist at the University of North
Dakota, reports that Grand Forks ARES worked with emergency
management agencies to install communication for dike patrols. The
ARES group also set up a mobile 420-MHz ATV repeater in a van and was
able to send live video back to the emergency operations center of
dike-building activity. He said ARES was running continuous VHF and
UHF nets in the Grand Forks area to assist with flood efforts.

Mike Woytassek, N0VGV, of Fargo, North Dakota, reports that even hams
who were traveling in the area and were caught in the flooding have
jumped in and assisted. Woytassek, president of Red River Radio
Amateurs, said hams helped Cass County emergency management officials
with communication,  passing traffic on water levels and road
closings. area hams also assisted the US Coast Guard in communicating
with its rescue units in the Red River Valley from a temporary
headquarters in Fargo. ''The Grand Forks hams are victims as well as
on the front lines working,'' he pointed out.

Other clubs pitching in include the Wahpeton Radio Amateurs in
Wahpeton, North Dakota and the Cavalier County Amateur Radio Club,
Cavalier, North Dakota. All involved with the relief and recover
efforts in Minnesota and the Dakotas have praised the countless hams
who have turned out as well as the degree of teamwork. ''We should all
be proud of the Amateur Radio community today,'' Woytassek said.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 22  ARLB022
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 2, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB022
ARLB022 FCC proposes, ARRL opposes vanity license fee hike

Last month, the FCC proposed effectively raising the fee for a
vanity call sign from 30 dollars to 50 dollars for the 10-year
license term.  Now, the ARRL has asked the Commission to postpone
the higher fee until after all four vanity call sign gates have been
opened.  In comments filed April 23, the ARRL told the FCC that it
does not object to the fee increase per se but said that it wants
all hams to have an opportunity to request a specific call sign
under the current fee schedule.

The fee increase was among those included for all FCC-regulated
services--including broadcasters and commercial satellite
services--in the NPRM in MD Docket No. 96-186.  Under the proposal,
the FCC ''rounded up'' all FCC-imposed 3 dollar annual fees to 5
dollars per year--the lowest fee in the new schedule.  The ARRL
noted in its comments to the Commission that because projected
revenue from the vanity fee increase ''significantly exceeds'' the
revenue needed to cover the costs of administering the program, a
delay would be reasonable.  The ARRL also asked the FCC to limit the
vanity call sign fee to the minimum it needs to recoup its costs to
administer the vanity program but ''without rounding to a
significantly higher fee.''  The FCC adjusts its fee schedule every
year.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 11  ARLX011
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 2, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX011
ARLX011 Hams scaling back flood relief operations

As flood waters along the Red River continue to recede in Minnesota
and North Dakota, hams in the flood-stricken area are taking a
breather.  Some hams are taking advantage of the lull in the action
(and a reported overabundance of willing ham radio volunteers) to be
with their families and to check on their own flood-damaged homes
and property, although roads in and out of a few areas remain
impassable.

Reports from the Grand Forks, North Dakota-East Grand Forks,
Minnesota area this week said the Salvation Army ham radio operation
at Grand Forks Air Force Base had been shut down and moved to a
Kmart parking lot in Grand Forks.  Even as the need for emergency
communication abated along with the flood waters, operators from
other areas have continued to arrive in the area or to volunteer
their services if needed.  North Dakota Section Manager Bill Kurtti,
WC0M, reports the Salvation Army is making heavy use of HF and 2
meters for its communication needs--especially at its canteens and
relief stations.  But the need for additional emergency and backup
communication has subsided as telephone service has been restored in
many areas.

Harold McConnell, WA0YSF, of Cavalier, North Dakota, says ''the worst
seems to be over.''  McConnell reports that he and Don Thomson,
KB0YKD, also of Cavalier, were taking turns working in the emergency
operations center in the city of Pembina, where floodwaters crested
just below dikes.  ''We have been told to cease 24-hour operation by
the Pembina County EOC and have scaled back to an 8 AM to 8 PM
operation now,'' he said in a report to Kurtti.  ''That should help
give people a rest as we are getting a bit stressed out.''

According to Minnesota Section Manager Randy Wendel, N0FKU, the
impact of the devastation has not been lost on the hams who've been
volunteering in the flooded areas.  Wendel said he'd heard a ham on
a North Dakota HF net talk about his two days of helping out in the
flood zone.  ''The one thing that stuck in his mind was seeing people
crying and wiping tears while trying to eat their meals provided to
them while in the shelters,'' Wendel said.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 23  ARLB023
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 6, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB023
ARLB023 FCC call sign update

The following is a list of the FCC sequentially assigned call signs
issued as of May 1, 1997.

District       Group A        Group B        Group C        Group D
               Extra          Advanced       Tech/Gen       Novice

     0         AB0FH          KI0IB            ++           KC0ATB
     1         AA1SD          KE1HP           N1ZDC         KB1CDN
     2         AB2DQ          KG2LE            ++           KC2BMQ
     3         AA3PT          KE3ZP           N3ZFT         KB3BTD
     4         AF4CV          KU4GL            ++           KF4RIY
     5         AC5MF          KM5IU            ++           KD5AHF
     6         AD6BE          KQ6OO            ++           KF6KSU
     7         AB7VB          KK7HK            ++           KC7WFH
     8         AA8ZY          KI8CD            ++           KC8HEG
     9         AA9UK          KG9KG            ++           KB9QII
N. Mariana Islands  NH0A      AH0AX           KH0GT         WH0ABG
Guam                          AH2DD           KH2RU         WH2ANT
Hawaii         AH7V           AH6PA           KH7DW         WH6DDT
American Samoa  AH8O          AH8AH           KH8DH         WH8ABF
Alaska         AL0D           AL7QT           KL0GK         WL7CUE
Virgin Islands  ++            KP2CJ           NP2JQ         WP2AIH
Puerto Rico    NP3F           KP3AV           NP3MW         WP4NNB

 New prefixes are available for this block, but none have been
issued.
++All call signs in this group have been issued in this district.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 12  ARLX012
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 9, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX012
ARLX012 Hams maintain flood relief efforts

North Dakota Section Manager Bill Kurtti, WC0M, reports that the
need for ham radio assistance ''is pretty well over'' in that state's
flood zones along the Red River, but some hams continue on duty.
''People are going back home to clean up the mess and, for many, it
will require a new start,'' Kurtti said.  In some cases, he said,
homes and jobs are gone.

Kurtti said hams continue to assist the Salvation Army with flood
recovery efforts, and he plans to visit the station in Grand Forks.
He said the Salvation Army station has continued to be very busy.
And he anticipated that the need for ham radio assistance could
increase once evacuees are allowed to return to their homes.

Minnesota SEC Gary Peterson, N0ZOD, his wife, Gladys, KB0TUT, and
several other hams from Southeast Minnesota visited the flood zone
earlier this month.  He described a communication facility at the
Crookston, Minnesota, Salvation Army distribution center that
''consisted of a small operating position with a dirt floor in a
dark, cold corner of the warehouse,'' where local hams staffed the
center all day long.  The group included several newly licensed
hams.  Peterson said East Grand Forks, Minnesota, ARES members at
one point even dispatched fire units in that city when the 911
system went down.

Peterson cited several clubs for special mention, including the
Rochester ARC, the Winona ARC and the Redwing ARC.  Overall, it's
estimated that hundreds of hams pitched in during the flood
emergency and recovery effort.  Peterson also had words of praise
for East Grand Forks (Minnesota) ARES EC John Engle, WA0LPV, and
Grand Forks (North Dakota) ARES EC Gerald Nies, N0NGW, who manned
ARES operations from their respective positions on opposite sides of
the Red River during the flood.

Peterson said he was impressed by the dedication and hard work hams
were putting out to help others, taking time off from their jobs and
using their own gear.  ''It is such a pleasure to be associated with
these people,'' he said.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 24  ARLB024
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 15, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB024
ARLB024 Saturday is World Telecommunication Day

Telecommunication and Humanitarian Assistance is the theme of this
year's World Telecommunication Day, scheduled for this Saturday, May
17.  World Telecommunication Day takes place each year on the
anniversary of the creation of the International Telecommunication
Union, May 17, 1865.  A specialized agency of the United Nations,
the ITU has the vital role of overseeing the division of the range
of radio spectrum for the entire world.

Amateur Radio will be featured in a special center to be located in
front of the ITU Headquarters building, at the Place des Nations, in
Geneva, Switzerland.  Special event station operators will use the
call sign 4U1ITU of the International Amateur Radio Club.  The
station is operated in accordance with privileges granted by
Switzerland and the ITU.

The League has arranged a schedule with the Geneva special event
station to convey commemorative messages from ARRL and IARU.  IARU
is a Sector Member of the ITU.  ARRL is the International
Secretariat of the IARU.  U.S. individuals and groups involved in
emergency communication programs such as ARES and RACES are also
invited to contact and exchange messages with the station.  4U1ITU
operations are expected on twenty meters from 0700z to 1900z on May
17, and from 0800z to 1500z on May 18 through May 22.  QSL via the
bureau or IARC, P.O. Box 6, CH-1  211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.

W1AW operators will transmit the following message to 4U1ITU on May
17:

''On the occasion of 1997 World Telecommunication Day, the American
Radio Relay League is pleased to convey this commemorative message
on behalf of United States radio amateurs.  This year's theme of
Telecommunications and Humanitarian Assistance lies at the very
heart of Amateur Radio.  In recent weeks, for example, radio
amateurs in the northern plains of the United States selflessly
provided radio communication assistance, working
shoulder-to-shoulder with relief agencies and the citizenry of
settlements ravaged by catastrophic flooding.  The ARRL hereby sends
its greetings and best wishes to the International Telecommunication
Union on the anniversary of its creation, and looks forward to a
continuing partnership with ITU in support of Amateur Radio's
contributions in domestic and global humanitarianism.''
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 25  ARLB025
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 16, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB025
ARLB025 ITU concludes pre-WRC-97 talks

The ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) for WRC 97 has just
concluded two weeks of deliberations in Geneva, Switzerland.  The
work of CPM has resulted in the preparation of a 250+ page book of
combined technical output from the various ITU study groups as well
as the concerns of the member states.

Issues of special interest to radio amateurs that were taken up in
preparation for WRC 97 included the possibility of additional
frequency allocations to the Mobile Satellite Service operating
below 1 GHz--familiar to hams as ''the little LEO issue.''  No
specific frequencies have been identified in the CPM report for
reallocation.  Although the report does address a number of sharing
possibilities, it makes no mention of sharing with the Amateur
Service.  In addition, a new concept of ''broad allocations'' was
introduced.  If adopted, this concept would result in individual
nations being able to identify and allocate frequencies from a broad
pool of service allocations.  This concept, being quite new and
unstudied, only resulted in a call for future studies by the ITU.
However, it will be watched closely by radio amateurs as it might
have the potential of representing a threat to our bands.  It is
likely that any such studies will be prolonged over a multi-year
period.

Of course, the work of WRC 97 will be guided by specific proposals
submitted by individual nations.  At present, countries have not yet
finalized nor submitted their proposals.  Until they do, the amateur
community will not be able to accurately assess the threats to our
bands for this conference.

Unfortunately, the Little LEOs are not the only new service
searching for spectrum.  One newcomer is the Earth Exploration
Satellite Service's use of synthetic aperture radar (EESS active)
for a system of spaceborne sensors designed to collect information
about environmental issues and other similar data.  A variety of
frequencies is being sought, possibly including 430 to 440 MHz.  The
amateur and amateur satellite service status in this band is
somewhat complex, varying by ITU Region and even by individual
country.  So far, studies of sharing possibilities between the
amateur and EESS (active) have not shown them to be compatible
because of the interference level experienced when the two classes
of stations are within line of sight.

There is also a type of EESS (active) which would make use of 1215
to 1300 MHz which is of concern to amateurs.  Studies here show
compatibility with some types of services but still represent a
potential source of interference to amateur operations.

Over the next 90 days, the various member countries of ITU
interested in seeking specific allocations for these services at WRC
97 will be making proposals for the work of the conference.

The ARRL--as the spokesman for Amateur Radio in the US--is actively
participating in the work of the relevant ITU bodies on these
matters along with the IARU.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 26  ARLB026
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 22, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB026
ARLB026 ARRL comments on petition

The ARRL will file comments in response to an FCC Petition for
Rulemaking from Checkpoint Systems Inc--a manufacturer of electronic
article surveillance (EAS) systems that use frequencies in the 1.7
to 10-MHz range. EAS systems are used to deter theft in retail
stores and other locations. Checkpoint has asked the FCC to change
its Part 15 rules to expand the frequency range and power level of
EAS systems.  Checkpoint wants the Commission to permit EAS
operations in the 1.705 to 30-MHz band at a maximum radiated
emission level of 1000 uV per meter (measured at a distance of 30
meters) and a maximum conducted emission level of 3000 uV. Current
rules permit a maximum radiated emission level of 30 uV per meter
(measured at a distance of 30 meters) between 1.705 and 30 MHz, or
100 uV per meter between 1.705 and 10 MHz. The current conducted
emission limit for such devices operating between 1.705 and 10 MHz
is 250 uV.

Checkpoint says its EAS system can detect tags concealed within or
attached to protected articles by using an RF sweep over the
frequency range of operation. Typically, systems are set up so that
customers can only exit via an EAS-equipped gate. Checkpoint's EAS
equipment currently operates within the 1.705 to 10 MHz band and is
regulated as an unlicensed intentional radiator under Subpart C of
Part 15. Under Part 15 rules, such devices may operate without
restrictions on bandwidth, duty cycle, modulation technique or
application, but must comply with specified radiation and emission
limits and protect licensed services from harmful interference.
Checkpoint says it needs the higher power levels to overcome
''increasing levels of ambient RF noise in commercial
establishments.'' The expanded frequency range, the company says,
will allow for greater flexibility in deploying EAS systems and
reduce the potential for false alarms.

The company already holds an experimental authorization to operate
EAS equipment within the 7.4 to 9 MHz and 8.2 to 10-MHz bands at up
to 1000 uV per meter and says it has received no complaints of
interference.

Checkpoint's Petition for Rulemaking was received by the FCC on
April 28, 1997.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 13  ARLX013
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 22, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX013
ARLX013 G2UK and ZL2GX, SK

The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) reports
that its former contest and awards manager Jock White, ZL2GX, died
May 17, 1997. He was an NZART life member. In 1948, White became one
of the first ZLs to attain DXCC. In June 1960, he became the first
amateur to receive the DXCC 300 award and was on the honor roll in
the late 50s and early 60s. In 1959, White was among the group of
three hams that QST jointly designated as top DXers.

The former chairman of AMSAT-UK, A C ''Doc'' Gee, of Oulton Broad,
Suffolk, died May 19, 1997. He was 84. Licensed in 1935, Dr Gee was
a charter member of AMSAT UK and served as its chairman from 1979
until 1992. He wrote the satellite column in Radio Communications
for several years and was active on the satellites until a few weeks
before his death. He was a member of the Royal Naval Wireless
Auxiliary Reserve, which led to a life-long interest in Amateur
Radio, and a member of the London Wireless Club (now RSGB). His
wife, Marjory, and a son and daughter survive. A service will be
held May 29 in Oulton Broad.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 27  ARLB027
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 22, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB027
ARLB027 FCC revises 610s

The FCC has just released a new Form 610, dated March 1997, that
includes a space for your Internet address. The new form is
available via the FCC's Internet site (http://www.fcc.gov) and via
the FCC's fax-on-demand service at 202-418-0177, to obtain Form 610,
the form number to request is ''000610.''

The form is much the same as the previous Form 610, dated March,
1995, except that item 3A asking for the applicant's ''Internet
Address'' is included on the same line as the street address. The
environmental impact question, formerly item 6, has instead become a
statement in the applicant certification section where the applicant
certifies that ''the construction of the station would not be an
action which is likely to have a significant environmental effect
(see the Commission's Rules 47 CFR Sections 1.1301-1.1319 and
97.13a).'' The former item 7 has become item 6 on the new Form 610.

According to staff members at the Gettysburg FCC office, the FCC
will continue to accept any of the three Forms 610 (dated November
1993, March 1995 and March 1997) until further notice.

In addition to the new Form 610, a revised version of the electronic
Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign Request form (FCC Form 610V) is now
available on the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.html.
Under ''Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign System'' choose
''Interactive Vanity Call Sign Application.'' This version allows a
user to file multiple applications using one FCC Form 159
(Remittance Advice), thus permitting several applicants to file
vanity applications at the same time and combine their fee payments.
The fee will calculate and preprint on the FCC Form 159, depending
on the number of applications submitted. Detailed instructions are
available by clicking on the item number on the Internet form.
Previously, applicants had to complete a separate FCC Form 159 for
each application submitted electronically.

Electronic payment is not yet available, and applicants must mail a
completed FCC Form 159 with payment to FCC, Box 358994, Pittsburgh,
PA 15251-5994, immediately after submitting any electronic
application(s).

For technical assistance, contact the FCC Technical Support Group,
202-414-1250. For general questions regarding the application or
fee, call the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Consumer Assistance
staff, 800-322-1117.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 28  ARLB028
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 30, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB028
ARLB028 Congress acts to protect volunteers

The US House and Senate have passed companion bills aimed at
shielding volunteers from lawsuits resulting from their activities as
volunteers. The Senate has passed S 544, and the House has passed a
companion bill, HR 911, each described as ''The Volunteer Protection
Act of 1997.'' The Senate is expected to adopt the House version of
the bill and send to President Clinton for signature.

As a result, volunteers of nonprofit organizations and government
entities will, in the words of the House Judiciary Committee report
on the bill, ''generally be relieved of liability for harm caused if .
. . the volunteer was acting within the scope of the volunteer's
responsibilities.''

This will be good news to Volunteer Examiners, Official Observers,
ARES and RACES volunteers and others working under the sponsorship of
a qualifying non-profit organization, all of whom appear to be
covered by HR 911. The pending new law means that you aren't as
likely to be sued as a result of harm unintentionally caused to
someone else, if your actions were part of your responsibilities as a
volunteer working on behalf of a government agency or a non-profit
organization.

Amateurs and other volunteers are advised that until the bill is
signed by the President and its various loopholes pass the scrutiny
of the legal community, they should not assume they'll automatically
be covered. It appears, for example, that ham volunteers not working
under the sponsorship of a qualifying organization and who provide
communication during a marathon, bicycle race or other public service
or public safety event might not be covered. The same exclusion might
apply to frequency coordinators and certain others who--though they
are volunteers--aren't participating on behalf of a non-profit
entity. The law will clearly protect only those who are ''volunteers
of a non-profit organization or government entity.'' The definition is
less clear with respect to ''non-profit organizations.'' These can be
Section 501(c)(3) entities, that is, an organization holding a
certain tax exemption from the IRS. But, they also include those
organizations which may not be tax-exempt, but which are organized
and conducted for public benefit and operated primarily for
charitable, civic, educational, religious, welfare, or health
purposes.

The growing reluctance of private citizens to volunteer for fear of
lawsuits triggered interest in this legislation. Some states have
enacted volunteer protection statutes, but inconsistency among the
various state laws prompted the League to promote liability
legislation in Congress, initially to protect VEs and Amateur
Auxiliary members.

The new legislation requires that the volunteer be licensed,
certified or authorized, ''if appropriate or required'' by state or
local authorities. It does not provide protection where the harm was
caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless
misconduct, or conscious, flagrant indifference to rights or safety
of the individual(s) harmed by the volunteer. The House version of
the legislation would not cover any volunteer who inadvertently
caused harm to another person while operating a motor vehicle that
requires an operator license or insurance. Also, certain limitations
in existing state volunteer liability laws are not preempted by the
Federal protection under the bill.

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, is studying copies of the
House and Senate bills to determine the impact of the new legislation
on Amateur Radio volunteers.
NNNN
/EX

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 29  ARLB029
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 30, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB029
ARLB029 New Vermont Section Manager

Vermont has a new Section Manager. He's Bernard ''Bernie'' Capron,
N1NDN, Route 1, Box 2086A, Northfield, VT 05663; tel 802-485-7400;
e-mail berniedrbs.com.

Capron succeeds Justin C. Barton, WA1ITZ, of Randolph, who resigned
recently for health reasons. Barton had served as Vermont Section
Manager from July 1, 1994.
NNNN
/EX