FEMA and ARRL Partnering

FEMA And American Radio Relay League Partner In Preparedness Through Citizen Corps
Release Date: June 21, 2003Release Number: HQ-03-138
Washington, DC -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced an official affiliation between the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and President Bush's Citizen Corps initiative. At the ARRL National Conference, sponsored by "Ham-Com," celebrating its 25th anniversary in Arlington, Texas, an affiliate partnership was signed between ARRL and Citizen Corps. The signed partnership will raise public awareness about the use of Amateur Radio as a public safety resource, provide training and accreditation for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, as well as assist Citizen Corps Councils with public education, training and volunteer service opportunities that support first responders, disaster relief organizations, and community safety efforts.
"The affiliation between Citizen Corps and the American Radio Relay League will help raise public awareness about public safety through the use of Amateur Radio," Brown said. "I look forward to working with the American Radio Relay League to expand the role citizens play within their community to be more secure and better able to respond to disasters of all kinds."
The agreement adds the ARRL as an affiliate to the four charter Citizen Corps programs: Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and Medical Reserve Corps. The ARRL joins the National Safety Council, Points of Light Foundation, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire Protection Association, Save A Life Foundation, and The U.S. Junior Chamber as Citizen Corps affiliate programs.
Under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, Citizen Corps is a community-based initiative to engage all citizens in homeland security and community and family preparedness through public education and outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer programs. Programs under the Citizen Corps umbrella include federally sponsored programs and other activities that share the goal of helping communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to all-hazards. Citizen Corps encourages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, stronger, and better-prepared communities.
The ARRL is a non-commercial membership association of radio amateurs organized for the promotion of interest in Amateur Radio communication and experimentation, for the establishment of networks to provide communications in the event of disasters or other emergencies, for the advancement of the public welfare, for the representation of the Radio Amateur in legislative and regulatory matters. ARRL is the principal organization representing the interests of the more than 650,000 U.S. Radio Amateurs. Because of its organized emergency communications capability, ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) can be of valuable assistance in providing critical and essential communications during emergencies and disasters when normal lines of communication are disrupted. ARRL conducts emergency communications training and certifies proficiency in emergency communications skills.

Memo of Undestanding between FEMA and ARRL

Memorandum of Understanding
Between
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
The American Radio Relay League, Incorporated
I. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to state the terms of a mutual agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated (ARRL), that will serve as a framework within which volunteer personnel of the ARRL may coordinate their services, facilities, and equipment with FEMA in support of nationwide Sate and local emergency communications functions. It is intended, through joint coordination and exercise of the resource of ARRL, FEMA, and Federal, State and local government, to enhance the nationwide posture of emergency communications readiness for any conceivable emergency. This agreement shall serve to promote and recognize the potential and capability of Amateur Radio operators to provide local, national and international communications expertise and assistance.
II. Recognition
The American Radio Relay league recognizes FEMA as the Agency chartered as the central point of contact within the Federal Government for a wide range of emergency management activities in both peace and war time. FEMA is dedicated to working closely with all the members of the emergency management community to achieve a realistic state of preparedness and an increased capacity to respond to emergencies of all types.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes that the ARRL is the principal organization representing the interests of many of the more than 600,000 U.S. Radio Amateurs, and because of its organized emergency communications capability, ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), can be of valuable assistance in providing critical and essential communications to state and local governments during emergencies and disasters when normal lines of communication are disrupted.
III. Organization of the American Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League is a non-commercial membership association of radio amateurs, organized for the promotion of interest in Amateur Radio communication and experimentation, for the establishment of networks to provide communications in the event of disasters or other emergencies, for the advancement of the radio art and of the public welfare, for the representation of the Radio Amateur in legislative matters, and for the maintenance of fraternalism and a high standard of conduct. A primary responsibility of the Amateur Radio Service, as established by the Federal Communications Commission's Rules and Regulations (47 C.F.R. Part 97), is the rendering of public service communications for the general public, particularly in times of emergency when normal communications are not available. Using Amateur Radio operators in the Amateur frequency bands, the ARRL has been serving the general public, both directly and through government and relief agencies, for more than 50 years. To that end, the ARRL organized the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and created the National Traffic System (NTS).
The League's Field Organization covers the United States, including U.S. possessions and Puerto Rico. The Field Organization is administered under an elected Section Manager in each of the 71 ARRL "sections" (a section is a League-created political boundary roughly equivalent to States or portions thereof). The Section Manager appoints a Section Emergency Coordinator, who (along with appointed local and District Emergency Coordinators) directs ARES/emergency communications preparedness activities in each section. The Section Manager also appoints a Section Traffic Manager to supervise NTS/formal-message traffic operations in each section. Many ARRL members are also licensed RACES operators. The League advocates dual membership and cooperative efforts between ARES and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Groups whenever and wherever possible.
IV. Organization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA's national headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. There are ten Regional Offices throughout the United States, as well as five Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) detachments. These offices provide technical assistance to State and local governments to enhance their emergency planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, and communications capabilities. The Director of FEMA reports directly to the President and works closely in emergency management matters with the National Security Council, the Cabinet and the White House staff, as well as the state and territory governors.
V. Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is sponsored by FEMA and is a part of the Amateur Radio Service that provides radio communications service to state and local governments during periods of local, regional, or national emergencies. All of the authorized frequencies and emissions allocated to the Amateur Radio Service are also available to RACES on a shared basis. In the event that the President invokes his War Emergency Powers, RACES operators are authorized to use specially authorized frequencies. RACES members are appointed by state or local government officials and may be used to supports all hazards. Many state and local government officials have authorized ARES members to be an integral part of RACES, so as to maximize the communications service and capability available to the public.
VI. FEMA Interface to Amateur Radio Service
In order to facilitate communications with Amateur Radio stations in an emergency, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued distinctive Amateur Radio call signs to FEMA. These call signs will be used primarily on the high frequency (HF) bands and will allow more directly with the RACES and ARES resources when required.
VII. Method of Cooperation
In order that communications resources of the ARRL Field organization may be coordinated and utilized to the fullest advantage during disasters and emergencies, and to the extent permitted or required by law and regulation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Radio Relay League have agreed to the following:
A. For national-level liaison between ARRL and FEMA, the points of contact are:
ARRL HeadquartersNewington, CT 06111
FEMAInformation Technology Services DirectorateRACES Program Manager, IT-EO-DOP.O. Box 129Berryville, VA 22611
B. FEMA, through its Regional Offices, will encourage State and local emergency management officials to interact with ARRL Section Managers and other appropriate ARRL Field Organization officials, in an effort to establish cooperative relationships, and closer ties with ARRL Field Organization volunteers. FEMA recognizes that, when these relationships develop at the local level, effective service to the public is significantly enhanced.
C. FEMA and ARRL will encourage the use of Amateur Radio resources in the development of state and local emergency operating plans and the use of those plans to support exercises.
D. FEMA and ARRL will distribute copies of this agreement through channels to FEMA Regional Offices, state and local emergency management agencies and ARRL Field Organization officials respectively.
VIII. Implementation
This Memorandum of Understanding shall take effect upon signature by authorized officials of the ARRL and FEMA. This memorandum may be amended by mutual agreement of both parties, and will remain in effect until terminated. ARRL and FEMA will periodically review this agreement and coordinate such revisions as may be necessary. Upon 90 days written notice, this memorandum may be terminated by either party.
Ronald E. Miller /s/
2/27/2002
Ronald E. Miller
Date
Chief Information Officer
Office of the Chief Information Officer




Jim D. Haynie /s/
2/27/2002
Jim D. Haynie
Date
President
The American Radio Relay League, Incorporated
Footnote: This version incorporates minor editorial, non-substantive changes. The MOU is in the process of re-execution to reflect these changes.
Page last modified: 11:46 AM, 13 Mar 2003 ETPage author: webmaster@arrl.org Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Letter of Affiliation between FEMA and ARRL

Photos of the Linden Fire

Photos taken by Frederick Shannon, GCAFC photographer & technical specialist

ARRL Files Federal Appeals Court Brief in Petition for Review of BPL Rules

NEWINGTON, CT, May 24, 2007 -- The ARRL has filed a federal appeals court brief outlining its case and requesting oral arguments in its petition for review of the FCC's broadband over power line (BPL) rules. The League has petitioned the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to review the FCC's October 2004 Report and Order (R&O) in ET Docket 04-37 and its 2006 Memorandum Opinion and Order. In its brief filed May 17, the ARRL contends, among other things, that the FCC's actions in adopting rules to govern unlicensed BPL systems fundamentally alter the longstanding rights of radio spectrum licensees, including Amateur Radio operators.
"For the first time ever, the FCC has permitted new unlicensed devices to operate in spectrum bands already occupied by licensees, even if the unlicensed operations cause harmful interference to the licensees," the League said in stating its case. "The orders under review reverse nearly seven decades of consistent statutory interpretation and upset the settled expectations of licensees without so much as acknowledging the reversal, let alone justifying it."
The ARRL argues that the FCC's approach to adopting rules to govern BPL flies in the face of Section 301 of the Communications Act, which requires that operators of devices that emit radio frequency energy first obtain an FCC license. "For years, the FCC has consistently read Section 301 to apply to unintentional radiators, such as BPL devices, and has expressly embodied that interpretation in its rules," the League's brief recounts.
The Commission then compounded its error by asserting that BPL devices do not fall within Section 301 at all, the League said. "This hail-Mary attempt at justification is another unexplained departure from prior policy that independently requires invalidation of the orders," the ARRL remarked in its brief.
The ARRL contends that the FCC orders under review "jeopardize the license rights of ARRL's members and other license holders by authorizing providers of a new device -- Access Broadband over Power Lines, or 'BPL' -- to send radio signals across the electric grid in the frequencies the license holders occupy, but without having to obtain an FCC license."
In his "It Seems to Us . . ." editorial, set to appear in July QST, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says the League's brief "sets out the history of how the FCC has treated unlicensed devices since they were first authorized in 1938 and demonstrates that the new [BPL] rules change the bundle of rights and protections that radio licensees enjoy without a shred of the 'reasoned analysis' that legal precedent requires."
FCC Withholding Crucial Information
The League's brief further asserts that the FCC "has failed to discuss or disclose significant information in the record that potentially contradicts its key interference findings." The Commission not only withheld its internal studies until it was too late to comment, the ARRL alleges, but has yet to release portions of studies that may not support its own conclusions. The FCC has claimed that these are "internal communications" that it did not rely upon in reaching its decision to adopt the BPL rules.
The ARRL wants the appeals court to determine if the Commission acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner for not disclosing "significant information that potentially contradicts its key interference finding," the League said in its brief.
"If the Commission's claim of nonreliance on the redacted material is taken at face value, then its failure to consider the contrary evidence from its own engineers' field tests strongly suggests a willful blindness toward any information not in accord with its preferred outcome," the ARRL's brief contends. "If, as seems more likely, the Commission actually considered and rejected the information contained in the redacted portions of its studies, then it had a duty to disclose the information and reasons for rejecting it. Either way, the FCC acted improperly."
BPL Measurement Standard Also at Issue
The League also has taken issue with what it argues is the FCC's "arbitrary and capricious" adoption of a BPL emission measurement standard that's unsupported by the record in the proceeding and ignores contrary evidence. Additionally, the ARRL says, the FCC rejected a proposed alternative without even considering it.
Said Sumner in his editorial: "The Commission's penchant for ignoring contrary evidence is illustrated even more vividly with regard to how quickly RF emissions are assumed to decay as one moves away from the source. This is important because if the signal is assumed to decay more quickly than it really does, the interference potential of the emissions will be underestimated."
As Sumner notes, the FCC has claimed that "many parties" have presented experimental data supporting a 40 dB per decade (10 times increase in distance) rate.
"In fact, there is no such evidence in the record -- and empirical evidence supporting a lower number was ignored," Sumner asserts.
The League maintains that the Commission failed to consider the ARRL's sliding-scale alternative that would have avoided what Sumner calls "the logically indefensible situation that now exists in the rules: the extrapolation factor is 20 dB/decade at 30.001 MHz and 40 dB/decade at 29.999 MHz."
In addition, the ARRL wants the court to determine if the FCC was arbitrary and capricious in failing to limit BPL providers "to frequencies where interference was less likely to occur without materially harming BPL deployment." The League argues that the FCC ignored evidence that restricting BPL to the 30-50 MHz frequency range would have obviated interference to long-distance HF communications without causing problems for public safety services.
FCC Concedes that BPL Can Cause Interference
The ARRL brief asserts that, for the first time ever, the FCC "has authorized the operation of unlicensed devices that it concedes interfere with licensed devices" and has declared that such devices "may continue operating even where proven to cause interference."
The FCC, ARRL contends, has concluded that BPL's acknowledged interference risks are manageable, but it bases that conclusion -- which ARRL calls "the linchpin of the challenged orders" -- on FCC studies the Commission has declined to make public in unedited form.
"It is clear," the ARRL contends in his brief, "that the withheld pages contain information" that is at odds with the FCC's conclusion to adopt the current rules governing BPL deployments.
League Not Opposed to BPL As Such
"ARRL is not trying to stop the deployment of BPL," the League's brief concludes. ARRL and other commenters have provided the FCC with alternative proposals -- ones that have been demonstrated to work in the real world -- that would have allowed BPL to prosper without harm to licenses or to Congress's licensing regime."
"What is perhaps most unfortunate about the FCC's radical actions in this case is that they were entirely unnecessary."
The FCC's response to the League's brief is due July 2.

FCC Desgnates Heaings on three Amateur Radio Applications

NEWINGTON, CT, May 25, 2007 -- The FCC has issued hearing designation orders (HDOs) to Amateur Radio license applicants in three unrelated cases. All three HDOs released May 24 hinge on licensee "character" issues. The Commission notified David O. Castle, WA9KJI, of Evansville, Indiana, that it was designating his license renewal application for hearing in the wake of alleged misconduct extending back several years and continuing at least until earlier this year.
"Since 1998, Castle has been warned repeatedly to refrain from intentionally interfering with radio communications; broadcasting without communicating with any particular station; causing interference on amateur repeaters; using amateur repeaters without authorization, and using indecent, slanderous or harassing language," the FCC said in the HDO it issued to Castle. "We find that Castle's continuing course of conduct raises questions as to whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to remain a Commission licensee."
In March, FCC Special Counsel in the Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth warned Castle to abide by a request to refrain from using repeaters owned by the Tri-State Amateur Radio Society.
The FCC also designated for hearing two applications for new Amateur Radio licenses. In the case of Frank C. Richards of Mooers, New York, the Commission says the applicant apparently had attempted in 1995 to hijack the license of a Frank C. Richards, KB4VU, who lives in Ft Meyers, Florida. The New York Richards was initially successful, and the FCC granted him KG2IC, but after the Florida Richards contacted the FCC to say he'd never moved nor modified his license, the FCC directed the New York Richards to explain. On June 2004, the New York Richards turned in his license. While the FCC did not pursue further enforcement action the, it did tell the New York Richards that the circumstances of the apparent abuse of the license system could become a factor if he ever applied for an Amateur Radio ticket in the future.
The New York Richards applied for a Technician license last June 28, and accompanied his application with a letter. The FCC Enforcement Bureau said it was unable to determine whether the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau should grant the application, however, so it now has been designated for a hearing.
"The Commission and the courts have recognized that 'the FCC relies on the honesty and probity of its licensees in a regulatory system that is largely self-policing,'" the FCC said in the HDO.
"The attempt of Frank Richards (NY) to change the address and other information for call sign KB4VU, and his subsequent cancellation of the license in lieu of responding to EB's inquiries regarding the renewal/modification application raise substantial and material questions of fact as to whether he made false certifications, misrepresented the facts to the Commission, and/or demonstrated a lack of candor in order to claim the identity and operating privileges of Frank Richards (FL)," the FCC said.
In a third case, the FCC has designated for hearing the new Amateur Radio license application of Jack R. Sharples of Florida. In its HDO, the FCC identified Sharples as "a convicted felon and registered sexual predator."
"Sharples's felony conviction for at least one sexual-related offense involving children raises material and substantial questions as to whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to be a Commission licensee," the FCC said. "Although Sharples's felony adjudications occurred more than seven years ago, the nature of the criminal misconduct and the fact that the Amateur Radio Service is particularly attractive to children call into serious question whether he should be permitted to obtain an Amateur Radio authorization."
Castle, Richards and Sharples have 20 days to file a "written appearance" with the Commission. Failing to do so would lead to dismissal of the pending application.

The Week of 5/14/07

Wednesday May 16th started out as a wet and dreary day. At 10:00 am it started going down from there. The Fire Pager went off announcing that emergency Coordination for Genesee County Fire Departments had been activated for an airplane incident at Bishop International Airport. Two aircraft had been reported to have crashed into one another and there were many dead and injured. Thus began the annual Genesee County Michigan Disaster Drill with ARES operator right in the middle of it.

The Scenario starts with the planes crashing into each other at the end of the southern runway. At that report the Fire Coordination teams of Genesee County are toned out and Genesee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Inc. is a major part of that team. This group of ARES Volunteers provides additional communication to all Genesee County Fire Department as well as the Office of Emergency Management/ Department of Homeland Security. Their function at this drill was to do just that. Team members were assigned to the Incident Commander, The Operations Officer, Medical, Genesee County 911 Dispatch, Flint City Dispatch all three Hospitals in the area as well as transportation services, public information officer, staging and more. The newest position to be filled was the Amateur Radio Operator for the new Genesee County Mobile Command Unit which house command communications for all Emergency responders as well as the Office of Emergency management.

During the drill local school students played the roll of dead and injured plane passengers that had to be treated, decontaminated and transported by Bus and or ambulance to the three local Hospitals. All Fire departments from Genesee County participated in the drill which included and actual burning aircraft which had to be extinguished.

Public safety communication in Genesee County is a mix of VHF for the City of Flint and 800MHz for the out county areas. Thus the 30 Amateur radio operators from Genesee, Oakland and Livingston County played a major roll in get information to and from the various contact points.

ATV Amateur Radio Television played an even larger roll then expected. Have set up three camera positions they were able to feed video to the Emergency Operations Center in the basement of the Genesee County Administration building as well as the Mobile Command Unit with Broadcast Quality Video. One of the operators even set up a wireless link from his camera back to his van where he did a DVD recording of the entire scene while transmitting to the ATV repeater on top of McLaren Regional Hospital which retransmitted to the EOC and the MCU.

Another aspect of the drill this year was that Civil Air Patrol had planned to over fly the site and take photos which would be transmitted by Slow Scan Television to a local Amateur Radio Station who would in turn email them to the Emergency Operations Center. However due to the inclement weather CAP was not able to fly. However that did not stop the Hams. The Operator of the SSTV station found some photos from a couple years ago and sent them to the EOC just like they had got them from the Civil Air Patrol.

In the middle of the drill we even had a couple of actual incidents regarding the Students that were being transferred to the Hospital’s. And to Coin a phrase “Amateur Radio was there!” It turned out that because there were ARES Operators on the busses where the unplanned minor injuries occurred. Hams reported the injuries and maintained updates without ever going through the Public Service Radio system.

Following the Drill at the debriefing both Greg Ybarra N8HXQ the EC for Genesee County and Grace Ranger KC8BOE, Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for Genesee County were very pleased with the way things went and how the little problems were handled.

Sadly just a few days on Friday May 18th the Fire Coordinators and ARES were once again activated. This time it was not a drill; the Historic City of Linden Michigan was on fire. The “Union Block” which was built more than 100 years ago was on fire. 25 Fire departments from all over Genesee County and from Northern Oakland County fought the blaze for over 9 hours.
Many of the ARES members had gone south to the Dayton Hamvention the day before so operators were thin but available. As in any major incident Ham Operators pulled together. The Genesee Co. EC Greg Ybarra N8HXQ staffed the fire scene with the operators that he had on hand. After 8 hours the call went out to the neighboring counties for assistance through the District 3 EC Greg Allinger. As relief operators were being set up the Fire Coordinators declared the fire under control and start releasing Fire Stations. Shortly after that ARES operators were released to go home in the earlier hours of Saturday May 19th.

Again Amateur Radio operators provided a vital service of communications to the Emergency Service Personnel of Genesee County. The Fire Chief and citizens of the City of Linden have expressed their gratitude to the County Fire Coordination Teams for their quick response and ability to control the fire to only one of the many historic building of Down Town Linden.

FOR SALE!

From GCRC:
FOR SALE

I have the following equipment for sale. It was given to the Genesee County Radio Club in the will by Carl Miller, KF8Y and was announced at the May meeting of the club.
Kenwood TS-940 HF Transceiver $700.00
Kenwood TS-430S HF Transceiver
with SAY Electronics power supply $225.00
Kenwood SP-820 External speaker $ 50.00
Dentron Clipperton L Linear Amplifier $300.00
Hustler MO-2 mast (new) $ 30.00
Hustler BM-1 bumper mount (new( $ 20.00
Hustler RM-10 resonator for 10 meters $ 10.00
Hustler trunk mount with 2 meter antenna $ 20.00
Kenwood MC-80 Microphone $ 50.00
Electro Voice 664 Dynamic microphone $ 10.00
Bell & Howell Oscilloscope $ 25.00
Coax approx. 65 feet of RG-58U $ 6.50
Coax approx. 100 feet of RG-58U $ 10.00
If you have any interest in any of the above equipment, please e-mail me at

K8VW@ARRL.NET

K8VW
Verle D. Winningham
Treasurer
Genesee County Radio Club

posted by wc5b

From the Linden City Fire Chief

-----Original Message----- From: bwill@charter.net [mailto:bwill@charter.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 3:59 PM
To: Curtis St.John
Subject: Our Community says thank you Approximately 1 year ago we closed the streets of downtown Linden with the assistance of 3 other departments. We practiced this incident hoping that someday it would not come to a reality. The exercise surfaced numerous obstacles that included water supply, overhead high voltage power lines above the alley and the facts of a 100+ year old building. Unfortunately the problems were x 4.
The community at large, City officials and the Linden Fire Department would like to give their gratitude and thanks for the overwhelming response to our incident on Friday.The task of trying to contain a historical building of this size with exposures involved was amazingly contained without any further damage to other nearby historical buildings.
I am proud of the way our County coordination system works, the number of firefighters, apparatus and equipment that was in one form or another involved in this incident. Each time another obstacle arose, someone stepped up and solved the issue to ensure the safety of our firefighters and protection of the buildings nearby.
There is no question that without this system and experienced personnel the loss of history would have been much greater.
Thank you again, to the endless list of people and businesses that participated in this overwhelming event.
Brian Will,
Fire Chief Linden City Fire Department

DHS Completes Key Framework for Critical Infrastructure Protection

Release Date: May 21, 2007
For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryContact: 202-282-8010
Fact Sheet:National Infrastructure Protection Program Sector-Specific Plans
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the completion of 17 Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) in support of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). The NIPP outlines a comprehensive risk management framework that defines critical infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities for all levels of government and private industry. Each SSP is tailored to the unique risk characteristics of that sector to promote greater consistency of protective programs and resources within the sectors.
"The consequences of an assault against America's vast network of critical infrastructure sites could be dire, both in loss of life and in economic impact," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "At the same time, we must avoid imposing onerous security measures that would damage or make economically impractical the very systems that we're trying to protect. The security roadmap announced today reflects unprecedented coordination among the public and private sectors. These plans are already significantly strengthening vital infrastructure and reducing vulnerability to all hazards – terrorist attack and natural disaster alike."
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 identified 17 critical infrastructure and key resource sectors that require protective actions to prepare for, or mitigate against, a terrorist attack or other hazards. The sectors are: agriculture and food; banking and finance; chemical; commercial facilities; commercial nuclear reactors, including materials and waste; dams; defense industrial base; drinking water and water treatment systems; emergency services; energy; government facilities; information technology; national monuments and icons; postal and shipping; public health and healthcare; telecommunications; and transportation systems including mass transit, aviation, maritime, ground or surface, rail and pipeline systems.
The vast majority of the nation's critical infrastructure is owned and operated by private industry. SSPs define roles and responsibilities, catalog existing security authorities, institutionalize already existing security partnerships, and establish the strategic objectives required to achieve a level of risk reduction appropriate to each individual sector. Each SPP also establishes a sector-specific risk-reduction consultative network to exchange best practices and facilitate rapid threat-based information sharing among the federal, state, local, tribal and private sectors. Strategic objectives include:
Protecting critical sector assets, systems, networks and functions prior to a terrorist attack or natural disaster;
Rapidly reconstituting critical assets, systems and networks after an incident;
Planning for emergencies and updating response plans;
Ensuring timely, relevant and accurate threat information sharing between the law enforcement and intelligence communities and key decision makers in the sector; and
Educating stakeholders on infrastructure resiliency and risk management practices.
The NIPP and SSPs were developed through a collaborative process involving the federal sector specific agencies, private sector owners and operators, state, local, and tribal entities, and other security partners. Non-sensitive SSPs, SSP Executive Summaries, and the NIPP are available at: www.dhs.gov/nipp.

Message from FEMA

National Hurricane Preparedness Week
President Bush has declared May 21-25 “National Hurricane Preparedness Week.” This is an opportunity for governmental agencies, private organizations, schools, and the media to raise awareness of steps that can be taken to help protect citizens, and their communities and property. (Read More)

Thank Youi

From: Curtis St. John
To: Curtis St. John
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 9:54 PM
Subject: Thank you
On behalf of the Genesee Twp. Fire Department I want to thank all county fire departments, the Genesee Twp. Police Department, the Coordinators, the Haz Mat Team, Emergency Management, Central Dispatch, the Salvation Army, Consumers Energy and the Genesee County Road Commission for the fine job they did in assisting us at the incident on N. Saginaw St. May 20, 2007. Everyone worked together in an extraordinary show of teamwork. Specific individuals come to mind, but I will refrain from listing names for fear I will forget someone. Again, thank you for a great job. We could not have done it without you.

Chief Roger Bobb

The ARRL Letter

***************The ARRL LetterVol. 26, No. 20May 18, 2007***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* +Repeater interference mitigation plan goes to Defense Department
* +Emergency communication tops IARU Administrative Council agenda
* +Scarborough Reef DXpedition logs now online
* +Settlement means loss of amateur ticket for Indiana man
* +Results mixed for Amateur Radio as FCC ends two proceedings
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:

This weekend on the radio
+ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+ARRL reprising Dayton Hamvention blog
+ITU okays Montenegro, Serbia call sign prefix agreement
+AMSAT issues first call for Symposium papers
+KD5PLA to succeed KD5PLB aboard ISS
+QCWA, Newsline to collaborate in mentoring program
"Strange Antenna Challenge," special event set

We stand corrected+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>=============================================================>Delivery problems: First see FAQ<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail==>Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL,n1rl@arrl.org
=============================================================>
ARRL SUBMITS PLAN TO MITIGATE REPEATER INTERFERENCE TO MILITARY RADARSThe ARRL has submitted an interference mitigation plan to the US Departmentof Defense (DoD) as part of an effort to resolve reported interference fromdozens of 70 cm amateur repeaters to US military radar systems on bothcoasts. Since Amateur Radio is secondary to government users from 420 to 450MHz, hams must not interfere with primary users and, under the rules, can beforced to cease operation. Earlier this year, the US Air Force asked the FCCto order dozens of repeater systems to either eliminate interference to its"PAVE PAWS" missile and satellite detection and tracking radars inMassachusetts and California or shut down."We are waiting the response of the DoD representative to the proposal andwill continue to provide information as to its status when it becomesavailable," commented ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson,N1ND. The interference mitigation plan has four primary steps. * All repeaters the DoD has identified as potential interferencesources will immediately and temporarily reduce transmitter power output(TPO) to 5 W. * The ARRL will conduct Longley-Rice studies on each repeater system todetermine what further mitigation techniques might apply to individualrepeaters. These could include relocating the system, the use of directionalantenna systems to create nulls towards the PAVE PAWS site, permanent powerreductions or a combination of these techniques. * The DoD will review ARRL's studies to determine if the proposals willmeet DoD's unspecified field strength requirements to mitigate the potentialinterference satisfactorily. * Once the DoD reviews and approves the proposals, the ARRL willprovide the recommendations to respective repeater frequency coordinatinggroups and the FCC.The situation affects 15 repeaters within less than 100 miles of Otis AirForce Base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and more than 100 repeaters withinsome 140 miles of Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. PAVEPAWS facilities occupy essentially the entire 70 cm band -- one factor thatmakes mitigation difficult. Feeding upward of 1800 active antenna elements,the broadband radar transmitters emit an average power output of more than145 kW.Henderson says repeater owners and trustees ultimately would be responsiblefor implementing the mitigation proposals or for developing alternativesthat protect the radar systems to the same extent.Cooperation will be the key to a successful resolution of the situation,Henderson says. "Although ARRL has no means to compel compliance with themitigation strategies, each repeater is absolutely obligated not tointerfere with these radars," he emphasized. "Failure to implement themitigation strategy or otherwise eliminate interference attributed to anindividual repeater will result in immediate FCC action."Henderson points out that the FCC is aware of and monitoring this situationand will act as necessary to protect the radars from interference. Hestresses, however, that the US military is aware of the critical roleAmateur Radio repeaters play in disasters and emergencies, and a wholesaleshutdown of US 70 cm Amateur Radio activity is not under consideration.A US Air Force contractor identified the allegedly problematic repeatersystems last summer, but the situation didn't become critical until the AirForce contacted the FCC in March. ARRL officials met with Defense Departmentrepresentatives later that month to discuss alleged interference to the PAVEPAWS radar sites, and last month Henderson contacted Amateur Radio frequencycoordinating organizations in both affected areas -- the Northern AmateurRelay Council of California (NARCC) and the New England Spectrum ManagementCouncil (NESMC).Contact Dan Henderson, N1ND ; (860-594-0236), with specificquestions or issues associated with this situation.==>EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION LEADS IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL AGENDAThe Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)<http://www.iaru.org> held its annual meeting May 14-15 in Boston,Massachusetts. Topping the agenda was the IARU's upcoming participation inthe Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference, GAREC-07. Theinternational gathering will take place in Huntsville, Alabama, inmid-August -- just prior to the ARRL National Convention there. The AdministrativeCouncil's primary goal is to enhance the coordination and promotion ofAmateur Radio's worldwide disaster response capabilities.During the Boston gathering, the Council received a draft strategy paperfrom IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications HansZimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP. The body will seek additional information frommember-societies on the national regulatory position of the Amateur Servicein preparing for and providing emergency communications, with an eye towardidentifying problem areas and developing solutions.The Administrative Council meeting took place earlier in the year than usualin order to complete the review of preparations for the InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07)in Geneva this fall.The Council also received reports of the other IARU internationalcoordinators and advisers: International Beacon Project Coordinator PeterJennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV;Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY, andInterim Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG.Coordinators and advisers were reappointed for three-year terms.A further progress report was received from an ad hoc committeeinvestigating the IARU's future role and structure. The Council resolvedthat the work to date represents an appropriate direction for planning, andit requested that the committee continue its work to address remaining openissues, including consultation with member-societies.The Council recognized a need for greater international coordination on EMCmatters, and it adopted conclusions and recommendations arising from a studyof how to accomplish this objective.Continuing the strategic planning initiative begun in 2003, the Councilreviewed and renewed progress on a three-year plan for the development ofsupport for Amateur Radio frequency allocations for 2008 through 2011. Somedetails are pending until after WRC-07.The Council identified ITU meetings that will require IARU representationover the coming year, and it reviewed plans for representation. Theprincipal focus continues to be on WRC-07 preparations.A report on the status of the IARU member-society in Bosnia and Herzegovinawas received from the Region 1 representatives. The Council determined thatit requires additional information to clarify whether the member-society isable to adequately represent the interests of all radio amateurs of Bosniaand Herzegovina in the IARU.The Council reviewed the budget for 2008-2010 as presented by theInternational Secretariat (ARRL). The budget includes provision forfinancial contributions from the three regional organizations to defray aportion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy.A working document describing the requirements for radio spectrumallocations to the amateur and amateur-satellite services was reviewed.Council members will take a comprehensive look at the document followingWRC-07.In other business, the IARU Administrative Council: * reviewed and endorsed a plan to revitalize the IARU Worked AllContinents (WAC) award program. * selected "Amateur Radio: A Foundation for Technical Knowledge" as thetheme for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2008. * received and discussed reports from each of the three IARU regionalorganizations.The next regional conference will be Region 2's in Brasilia inmid-September. The next scheduled Administrative Council meeting will be inGermany in June 2008.Attending the Boston meeting were IARU President Larry Price, W4RA; VicePresident Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; regionalrepresentatives Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, Don Beattie, G3BJ, Hans BlondeelTimmerman, PB2T, Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, DanielLamoureux, VE2KA, Michael Owen, VK3KI, Joong-Geun Rhee, HL1AQQ, ARRLPresident Joel Harrison, W5ZN, on behalf of the International Secretariat,and recording secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI.==>BS7H SCARBOROUGH REEF DXPEDITION LOGS AVAILABLE ONLINEThe BS7H Scarborough Reef DXpedition team reports it logged 45,830 QSOsduring its weeklong stay on the South Pacific rocks. All BS7H logs now areavailable online <http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srlog.html>.

The DXpeditionto the world's most-wanted DXCC entity, which got under way April 29 andconcluded May 5, has been approved for DXCC credit. The Daily DX<http://www.dailydx.com> says if you don't find your call sign in the onlinelog search but are confident you had a solid QSO, send a QSL card to SteveWheatley, KU9C, PO Box 31, Morristown, NJ 07963-0031 (or via the QSLBureau). Attach a brief explanatory note. KU9C will search the logs to seeif an error occurred, Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, says. Do note-mail KU9C. The BS7H logs have not yet been uploaded to ARRL's Logbook ofthe World.As might be expected, 20 meters was the bread-and-butter band, with 21,858contacts on CW, SSB and RTTY completed. BS7H logged just 54 contacts on 160meters and 334 on 80 meters, since weather conditions prevented deploying aweather balloon-supported wire until the last few hours. The team netted3548 QSOs on 40 meters, 3374 on 30 meters, 6774 on 17 meters, 6057 on 15meters, 876 on 12 meters and 1565 on 10 meters. In all, 19,319 BS7H contactsoccurred on SSB, 24,799 on CW and 322 on RTTY. Complete statistics areavailable on the BS7H Web page<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srstats.html>.The DXpedition operators worked long shifts from stations set up on tinyplatforms that rose just above each of the four Scarborough Reef rocks thatare exposed during high tide. Once they shut down, the BS7H DXpedition teamrapidly dismantled the gear and platforms and soon were en route by shipback to Hong Kong.Team member Mike Mraz, N6MZ, will be at Dayton Hamvention<http://www.hamvention.org> and will deliver a presentation on the BS7HDXpedition during the DX Forum Saturday afternoon. No QSL cards are expectedto be available at Hamvention, however. The Daily DX reports that teammember James Brooks, 9V1YC, will be producing a video on the DXpedition,available later this year.QSL BS7H via KU9C. US stations are reminded to include 41 cents first classpostage on the return envelope. To expedite your BS7H card, include separateSASEs when requesting cards from other DX stations that KU9C manages.Scarborough Reef's status as the top most-wanted DXCC entity prompted someops to go to extremes, such as erecting new antennas, just to work theDXpedition. The Daily DX says Frank Letton, W6JTI, "qualifies as a true-blueDXer" by going the extra mile, as it were. As things turned out, he'dalready finalized plans for a three-week trip to visit his mother in SanAntonio, Texas, during the period the DXpedition was to be on the air.Undeterred, Letton shipped a transceiver, accessories and a two-element20-meter Yagi ahead. Once there, he erected the Yagi on a 35-foot TV mast hepurchased locally, and strung up a dipole beneath the beam. The Daily DXreports W6JTI snagged BS7H on both 40 and 20 CW.According to The Daily DX, W6JTI needs four more entities: Palestine,Montenegro, Yemen and North Korea. He's worked 333 current entities whilerunning just 100 W.Additional photos of the DXpedition are available on the BS7H Web site<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srphotos.html>.

==>LOSS OF AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE IS PART OF SETTLEMENT WITH FCCAn Indiana radio amateur will have to surrender his General ticket under theterms of a Settlement Agreement reached with the FCC stemming from allegedcorporate and personal misdeeds. In addition, Timothy M. Doty, WB9MCD, of WTerre Haute, will have to yield his General Radiotelephone Operator License,and Commercial Radio Service (CRS) Inc, in which he's an equal partner withhis brother, Gary, will have to surrender its Land Mobile Service licenses.In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O)<http://www.fcc.gov/eb/revocations/files/FCC-07M-12.pdf> in EB Docket06-168, released April 26, the FCC said the settlement spares all partiesfrom a lengthy legal proceeding, although according to its terms, neitherthe Dotys nor CRS admit to any violation of the Communications Act of 1934or FCC rules."Suffice it to say, approval of the Agreement will obviate the need for aprotracted hearing, thereby conserving the resources of the Commission andthe private parties," the FCC said in its MO&O. "In addition, approval ofthe Agreement will provide for a fair and equitable resolution of thisproceeding."The agreement stipulates that neither Doty will be able to apply for or hold"any attributable interest in any Commission license or authorization" forfive years. CRS and the Dotys also will make a "voluntary donation" of$10,000 to the US Treasury. If the matter had gone to hearing, CRS couldhave been liable for fines approaching $100,000.In an Order to Show Cause last August, the FCC ordered Timothy Doty and CRSto show cause why their respective Commission licenses should not berevoked. The FCC cited information it had received suggesting that CRS maynot have properly disclosed information about Timothy Doty's felonyconvictions in applications the company filed with the Commission.In several proceedings in recent years, the FCC has considered a licensee'sor applicant's character among factors it takes into account whendetermining whether an individual possesses the requisite qualifications tobe a Commission licensee.As the agreement recites, in 1991 Doty was convicted in federal court of afelony that involved manufacture and possession of unauthorized satellite TVdescrambling devices. He received three years' probation and a $2000 fine.In 2001, Doty was found guilty in state court on a felony count ofpossessing a controlled substance and sentenced to 18 months incarcerationwith all but 30 days suspended."It appears, therefore, that the concerns raised by the Commission in itsorder designating this case for hearing will have been resolved," the FCCconcluded. The Settlement Agreement is on the FCC's Web site<<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6519409544>.

==>FCC'S TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS A MIXED BLESSING FOR HAM RADIOThe FCC's recent termination of two aging proceedings has some favorable andless-than-favorable implications for Amateur Radio. As part of a recenteffort to clear the decks of languishing proceedings, the FCC closed out aNotice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NOI and NPRM) in ETDocket 03-237 <http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-237/>, aimed atestablishing an "interference temperature metric" as a model for managinginterference and "to expand available unlicensed operation" in certainbands. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, referred to the interference temperaturemodel as "a flawed concept" and said the May 4 termination Order<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-78A1.pdf> is goodnews. The FCC appeared to agree."Commenting parties generally argued that the interference temperatureapproach is not a workable concept and would result in increasedinterference in the frequency bands where it would be used," the Commissionsaid in its termination Order. "While there was some support in the recordfor adopting an interference temperature approach, no parties providedinformation on specific technical rules that we could adopt to implementit."The Commission further conceded that "with the passage of time" the November2003 NOI and NPRM and the record in the proceeding "have become outdated."The termination was "without prejudice," suggesting the Commission couldresurrect the concept later.The FCC asserted four years ago that the new metric "could represent afundamental paradigm shift" in its spectrum management approach by using astandard that takes into account "the cumulative effects of all undesired RFenergy" at a given instant. It initially wanted to implement the concept intwo microwave bands, suggesting that it the interference temperature limitfor a band "would serve as an upper bound or 'cap' on the potential RFenergy that could be introduced into the band."When the ARRL filed comments<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-237/> in the proceeding in2004, it called the interference temperature concept "highly premature" andsaid it should not go forward. The ARRL contended that the FCC didn't haveenough information to put such a model into place, and it should not try totake a shortcut, as it did in the broadband over power line proceeding.In a second Order<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-79A1.pdf> releasedMay 4, the FCC also terminated its inquiry, in ET Docket 03-65, into whetherit should "incorporate receiver interference immunity performancespecifications into spectrum policy decisions on a broad basis." Sumnercommented that immunity standards for consumer electronics devices,including receivers, have long been an ARRL objective. The Commission againasserted that "the passage of time" had rendered out of date its Notice ofInquiry <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-54A6.doc>and record in the proceeding."Further, to the extent receiver interference immunity performancespecifications are desirable, they may be addressed in proceedings that arefrequency band or service specific," the Commission remarked in the Order.The FCC also left the door open to consider the issue again down the road.In its July 2003 comments<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-65/ARRL-ET-03-65-cmts.pdf> inET Docket 03-65, the ARRL told the FCC that improved interference standardsfor consumer electronic devices is the most-pressing need as the Commissionconsiders the interference immunity performance of receivers. Whilerecommending "either mandatory receiver immunity standards or at leastguidelines" in most other services, the ARRL said no receiver immunitystandards are necessary or practical in the "essentially experimental"Amateur Service."With the current explosion of consumer electronics and unlicensed devices,"the League said, "the Commission must establish interference rejectionstandards for unlicensed home electronic equipment and systems."==>SOLAR UPDATERa the Sun god Tad "Sunshine, Sunset" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,reports: This week saw a rise in sunspot numbers, with the average dailyvalue up by more than 11 points to 29.3. On May 16, the daily sunspot numberwas 56, the highest daily reading since last December 5, when it was 59.This week's average sunspot number was the highest since the January 4-10,2007, reporting week.Keep in mind that a tremendous day-to-day variation in sunspot numbers isnormal, so this should not be viewed as an indicator that sunspot trendshave turned around, and we’re already into Cycle 24. Of course, increasedactivity may follow; this just isn't an indicator that higher sunspotnumbers are due in the very near term.The bottom of the cycle, late last year predicted for the past couple ofmonths, has moved out as far as a year in the most recent general consensusof the scientific community. With predictions revised so often, it would beuseful to keep an eye on each week's release of the Preliminary Report ofSolar and Geophysical Data <http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/>.For the near term, we’ll probably see sunspot numbers higher than the recentperiods when it was 0 or 12, but declining a bit, with the next probablepeak around May 25-30. Unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions areforecast for the beginning of that period, and we may see some mildlyunsettled activity around May 20.Sunspot numbers for May 10 through 16 were 20, 24, 21, 18, 29, 37 and 56,with a mean of 29.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 71.2, 71.5, 71.4, 73.5, 72.9,76.9, and 77.1, with a mean of 73.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 3,2, 3, 3, 3, 6 and 4, with a mean of 3.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indiceswere 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 4 and 3, with a mean of 2.3.For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL TechnicalInformation Service Propagation page<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

IN BRIEF:* This weekend on the radio: The US Counties QSO Party (SSB), His Majestythe King of Spain Contest (CW), the EU PSK DX Contest, the ManchesterMineira All America Contest and the Baltic Contest are the May 19-20weekend. JUST AHEAD: The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is May 21. The RSGB80-Meter Club Championship (CW) is May 24. The CQ World Wide WPX Contest(CW) is May 26-27 weekend. See the ARRL Contest Branch page<http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.*

ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:Registration remains open through Sunday, June 3, for these ARRLCertification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginningFriday, June 15: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002),Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2), Antenna Modeling(EC-004), HF Digital Communications (EC-005), VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond theRepeater (EC-008) and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). These courseswill also open for registration Friday, June 1, for classes beginning FridayJuly 20. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Departmentcce@arrl.org.*

ARRL reprising Dayton Hamvention blog: The ARRL again has a DaytonHamvention blog <http://www.arrl.org/blog/Dayton%20and%20ARRL%20Expo>. ARRLPublications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, says his "ramblings"for the 2007 Dayton and ARRL Expo Weblog begin where last year's ended. The2006 blog, which remains on the site, was extremely successful, he said. "Wehad more than 6000 individuals reading the blog throughout the event," Fordnoted. "This year's effort will be much the same, possibly with a newwrinkle or two." The League's Dayton and ARRL Expo Weblog, part of an effortto add personal touch to the Hamvention experience, will chronicle news andimpressions of Dayton Hamvention and ARRL EXPO 2007. Hamvention annuallyattracts upward of 25,000 visitors.*

ITU okays Montenegro, Serbia call sign prefix agreement: Although itbecame a country -- and a DXCC entity -- in its own right last June,Montenegro has not had an Amateur Radio call sign block to call its ownuntil this month. According to The Daily DX, the InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU) did not want to give Montenegro an entirelynew prefix, so it required the states of Montenegro and Serbia to agree uponone or two prefixes from the five (4N, 4O, YT, YU and YZ) assigned to theformer Serbia-Montenegro. An agreement was reached May 11, and the ITU nowlists 4O (that's "four Oscar") as Montenegro's prefix. This means Montenegrostations may use 4O0 through 4O9, while Serbia stations will continue to useYT and YU prefixes for all call districts, 0 through 9. The ITU has takenback the former 4N and YZ prefixes for future reassignment. The ITUreportedly wants the two nations to complete the transition to new call signblocks as soon as possible. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR,recommends that DXers update their logging software carefully to reflect thechanges.*

AMSAT issues first call for Symposium papers: AMSAT has announced itsfirst call for papers for the 2007 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting,October 25-28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2007/index.php>. The organizationsolicits proposals for papers, symposium presentations and posterpresentations on any topic of interest to the Amateur Satellite community.An emphasis this year is an educational outreach to middle and high schoolstudents. In particular, papers are sought on students and education, theAmateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, AO-51,Phase 3E, the Eagle project and other satellite-related topics. A one-pageabstract is due by June 1. Camera-ready copy on paper or in electronic formis due by September 1 for inclusion in the symposium Proceedings. Sendabstracts and papers to Daniel Schultz, N8FGV n8fgv@amsat.org.*

KD5PLA to succeed KD5PLB aboard ISS: NASA has announced that US astronautClay Anderson, KD5PLA, will succeed Suni Williams, KD5PLB, as InternationalSpace Station Expedition 15 Flight Engineer later this spring. Anderson willarrive aboard the ISS aboard the shuttle Atlantis, set to launch June 8. Thesame shuttle mission, STS-117, will carry Williams back to Earth afterseveral months aboard the space outpost. NASA originally planned theastro-swap for the STS-118 shuttle mission, first set to fly in June but nowtargeted for an August launch. Unexpected hail damage to Atlantis' externalfuel tank forced the change in plans, and NASA managers approved the revisedcrew rotation April 26, after determining that it would have no impact onspace station operations or future shuttle mission objectives. AMassachusetts native, Williams has been in space since early December.During her ISS stay, she's set a record for spacewalks by a femaleastronaut, conducting four excursions for a total of 29 hours, 17 minutes.Upon her return, she will have accumulated more time in space than any otherwoman. She's also logged 20 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station(ARISS) school contacts so far. Anderson, a Nebraska native, is making hisfirst spaceflight. He'll return home next October.*

QCWA, Newsline to collaborate in mentoring program: The Quarter CenturyWireless Association (QCWA) and Amateur Radio Newsline(ARNewsline) have joined forces in cosponsoringthe Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Program. ARNewsline launchedthe post-licensing educational service in 2004. It's designed to pairnewcomers with veteran radio amateurs who can share their skill andexperience. "Amateur Radio is a tremendously complex arena", says NewslineExecutive Producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. "We have hams who are trulyexperts in numerous fields [and] we want to take advantage of that talentpool to help educate the next generation of operators and generations tofollow." The collaboration with QCWA makes thousands of veteran radioamateurs available as potential mentors -- each with at least 25 years ofexperience in the hobby. QCWA President John B. Johnston, W3BE, called thearrangement "a good deal for all of Amateur Radio." A retired FCC employeeand Dayton Radio Amateur of the Year, Johnston says he believes that it isimportant to keep ham radio traditions alive. ARNewsline and the QCWA arenow seeking both new radio amateurs and potential QCWA mentors -- or Elmers.E-mail your name, call sign, address with ZIP code,telephone number and a convenient time to call.*

"Strange Antenna Challenge," special event set: Operation over MemorialDay weekend, May 26-28, by special event station K0S will highlight the 2007Strange Antenna Challenge. Sponsors say K0S will employ out-of-the-ordinaryantennas to promote Amateur Radio and making do with what might be availableduring an emergency. Individuals and clubs may participate as "satellitestations" by using anything but wire or pipe for a radiating element andadding "/K0S" to their call signs. Details are on the KØS, Strange AntennaChallenge Web site . Strange antennas used in pastevents, dating back to 2002, have included folding chairs, paint easels,ladders, tape measures, dog kennels, fences, cots and chicken wire (photo)with a trampoline as an apparent ground plane. "More people share in the funeach year," says Erik Weaver, N0EW, a Strange Antenna Challenge founder. "Ihope you give me a call this year with your very own strange antenna. Nowlet's play radio!"* We stand corrected: A paragraph in the story "Ham Radio Instrumental inPacific Maritime Rescue," in The ARRL Letter, Vol 26, No 19, containedincorrect information. It should have said: "Another report credits MMSN NetController Rooney Polack, 6Y5RP, in Jamaica with intercepting the Mayday andassisting via intermittent radio contacts and relays during the first fewhours of the event to get information to the Coast Guard. (Polack is theAmateur Radio Emergency Coordinator for Jamaica and works closely with bothemergency management and the weather service there.)

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The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the AmericanRadio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association For Amateur Radio, 225Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general newsof interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates.The ARRL Web site also offers informative featuresand columns. ARRL Audio News is aweekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It'salso available as a podcast from our Web site.Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole orin part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given toThe ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):letter-dlvy@arrl.org==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org==>ARRL News on the Web: ==>ARRL Audio News: or call860-594-0384==>How to Get The ARRL LetterThe ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly fromARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-maildelivery:ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site. You'll have an opportunity duringregistration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AWbulletins, and other material. To change these selections--includingdelivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "MemberData Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membershipdata," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mailaddress if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sentemail" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submitmodification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannotchange your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via theMembers Only Web Site.)The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from thesesources:* ARRLWeb . (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will beposted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur RadioClub: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net. (NOTE: The ARRLcannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.)

ARRL Submits Plan to Mitigate Interference to Military Radars

NEWINGTON, CT, May 11, 2007 --The ARRL has submitted an interference mitigation plan to the US Department of Defense (DoD) as part of an effort to resolve reported interference from dozens of 70 cm amateur repeaters to US military radar systems on both coasts. Since Amateur Radio is secondary to government users from 420 to 450 MHz, hams must not interfere with primary users and, under the rules, can be forced to cease operation. Earlier this year, the US Air Force asked the FCC to order dozens of repeater systems to either eliminate interference to its "PAVE PAWS" missile and satellite detection and tracking radars in Massachusetts and California or shut down.
"We are waiting the response of the DoD representative to the proposal and will continue to provide information as to its status when it becomes available," commented ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson, N1ND. The interference mitigation plan has four primary steps.
All repeaters the DoD has identified as potential interference sources will immediately and temporarily reduce transmitter power output (TPO) to 5 W.
The ARRL will conduct Longley-Rice studies on each repeater system to determine what further mitigation techniques might apply to individual repeaters. These could include relocating the system, the use of directional antenna systems to create nulls towards the PAVE PAWS site, permanent power reductions or a combination of these techniques.
The DoD will review ARRL's studies to determine if the proposals will meet DoD's unspecified field strength requirements to mitigate the potential interference satisfactorily.
Once the DoD reviews and approves the proposals, the ARRL will provide the recommendations to respective repeater frequency coordinating groups and the FCC.
The situation affects 15 repeaters within less than 100 miles of Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and more than 100 repeaters within some 140 miles of Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. PAVE PAWS facilities occupy essentially the entire 70 cm band -- one factor that makes mitigation difficult. Feeding upward of 1800 active antenna elements, the broadband radar transmitters emit an average power output of more than 145 kW.
Henderson says the two frequency coordinating organizations involved would be expected to disseminate individual mitigation strategies to applicable repeater owners and trustees. They, in turn, would be responsible for implementing the proposals or developing alternative proposals that protect the radar systems to the same extent as the mitigation strategy would.
Cooperation will be the key to a successful resolution of the situation, Henderson says. "Although ARRL has no means to compel compliance with the mitigation strategies, each repeater is absolutely obligated not to interfere with these radars," he emphasized. "Failure to implement the mitigation strategy or otherwise eliminate interference attributed to an individual repeater will result in immediate FCC action."
Henderson points out that the FCC is aware of and monitoring this situation and will act as necessary to protect the radars from interference. He stresses, however, that the US military is aware of the critical role Amateur Radio repeaters play in disasters and emergencies, and a wholesale shutdown of US 70 cm Amateur Radio activity is not under consideration.
A US Air Force contractor identified the allegedly problematic repeater systems last summer, but the situation didn't become critical until the Air Force contacted the FCC in March. ARRL officials met with Defense Department representatives later that month to discuss alleged interference to the PAVE PAWS radar sites, and last month Henderson contacted Amateur Radio frequency coordinating organizations in both affected areas -- the Northern Amateur Relay Council of California (NARCC) and the New England Spectrum Management Council (NESMC).
Contact Dan Henderson, N1ND (860-594-0236), with specific questions or issues associated with this situation.

Ham Radio Instrumental in Pacific Maritime Rescue

Gunnar Hansen aboard the Sailabout. The couple had to abandon their sailboat at sea.
Grethe Haraldsen and Gunnar Hansen in happier times aboard the s/v Sailabout.
NEWINGTON, CT, May 11, 2007 -- Amateur Radio played a critical role May 4 and 5 in rescuing two people from a foundering sailboat that had been en route to Colombia. Members of the Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) and Intercontinental Net on 14.300 MHz were involved in getting the man and woman aboard the 35-foot s/v Sailabout to safety after they ran into trouble some 700 nautical miles southwest of the Galapagos Islands in the South Pacific.
The couple, identified as Gunnar Hansen and Grethe Haraldsen, both Norwegian nationals and neither an amateur licensee, put out a Mayday call on the Intercon/MMSN 14.300 MHz frequency the morning of May 4 after Sailabout sustained damage to its bow -- possibly as a result of losing a forestay, which helps to keep the mast upright -- and started taking on water. Thanks to its efficient pumps, the sailboat remained afloat.
The main concern was for the mast, which supported the antenna for the vessel's HF radio. Fortunately, it remained standing. The conversation on the MMSN reportedly was widely monitored by others in the sailing and cruising communities. The Sailabout had only recently been equipped with an HF SSB transceiver.
According to an account Assistant MMSN Manager Tom Job, VE3II, posted on the net’s Web site, handling the incident involved multiple stations and relays to contend with problematic propagation. Sonny Sides, N5OTB, on s/v Valentina, and Doug Reinthal, W7DUG, relayed the Sailabout’s Mayday on 14.300 MHz to Intercon Net Control Station Wes Mullenax, KI0A, in Texas. Because of poor propagation, however, KI0A had rough copy on the vessel’s signal, so he turned the frequency over to Fletcher Henderson, KA4BPR, in Alabama. Another report credits MMSN Net Controller Rooney Polack, 6Y5RP, in Jamaica with intercepting the Mayday and assisting via intermittent radio contacts and relays during the first few hours of the event to get information to the Coast Guard. (Polack is the Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator for Jamaica and works closely with both emergency management and the weather service there.)
Amateur Radio relays alerted the US Coast Guard at Alameda, California, to the Sailabout's predicament. At the Coast Guard's request, relayed via ham radio, Hansen set off the vessel's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). Job says Henderson -- assisted by several other stations -- passed critical information to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard contacted and attempted to divert two vessels to the Sailabout's assistance, although only one, m/v Belnor -- a Norwegian freighter -- eventually reached the distressed vessel.
Another private vessel, s/v Damarri, reported some 50 miles distant, learned of the situation. MMSN says Sailabout was able to get under way and changed its course toward Damarri, which was sailing into the weather, in an effort to rendezvous with Sailabout. Once on scene, the Damarri's crew kept watch through the night from a safe distance to avoid collision in the rough seas but did not attempt to take Hansen and Haraldsen aboard. At that point, outside radio contact was essentially impossible because the band had closed, and the MMSN secured operation for the night.
MMSN said the Coast Guard had planned to dispatch a P-3 Orion aircraft to drop survival gear and a life raft to the couple, but, for a variety of reasons, that did not occur. At the time, the distressed vessel was contending with 14-foot seas and 25-knot winds.
The m/v Belnor arrived the next morning and took the couple aboard, while Damarri's crew confirmed the rescue via radio. The couple was reported to be in good health and spirits but had to abandon their vessel. The Belnor is believed headed for Panama.
Throughout the ordeal, various Amateur Radio stations were instrumental in updating the Coast Guard, which never had direct contact with Sailabout. MMSN says KB1DEC on s/v Shamal kept the family of Sailabout's crew advised via telephone, while Gene Brown, KI4EYF, on s/v Queen Mary in Honduras, who had good copy on all vessels and net controllers, relayed critical information to the net, which sent it on to the US Coast Guard.
"Without Gene's assistance, this situation would have been much more difficult to deal with under the poor radio conditions," Job said in his report. "Well done, Gene!"
SOURCES: MMSN/Intercon Net; Jack Richards, W4QVA; SailboatOwners.com, Aftenposten; s/v Sailabout Web site; John Emery, KG4RQO

Weaver's Words

- Look Whose Coming to Dayton
- Great Lakes Division Reception Area
- Amateur of the Year and Special Achievement Winner at EXPO
- Code Proficiency Field Testing Begins
- Legislative Action Volunteers Attention
- Repeater Directory Oops
- Tentative Travel Schedule
- Wireless vs. BPL
++ Look Whose Coming to Dayton
With the Hamvention(r) just around the corner, you may want to know which ARRL HQ folks are scheduled to be there. This will be a golden opportunity to meet and speak with the managers who head the day-to-day operation at HQ. In addition to me and other ARRL officials from Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan, you can expect to see over 22 additional directors, vice directors, officers and key staff members at Dayton.
Among these are President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, COO Harold Kramer, WG1B, PR Director Allen Pitts, W1AGP, CDO Mary Hobart, K1MMH, Membership & Volunteer Program Manager David Patton, NN1N and Contest & DXCC Director Bill Moore, NC1L.
There will plenty of people around who can answer any question you may have or discuss any issue you may wish to have clarified.
The ARRL EXPO area is just past the 400 series of booths, immediately inside the Ballarena entrance to the hall.
In case you've been occupied with other things lately, the Hamvention is May 18-20 -- in Dayton, Ohio.
++ Great Lakes Division Reception Area
Don't forget to stop by the Great Lakes Division reception area. Plan to stand around or sit and eyeball with your old friends or new friends you've not yet met. You can expect to see any number of Section and Division officials from the Great Lakes Division. Bring your questions and discussion topics to chew over with these reps.
The GLD reception area will be in the ARRL EXPO area just inside the Ballarena entrance and just past the 400 series of vendor booths.
++ Amateur of the Year and Special Achievement Winner at EXPO
How often is it that one can meet and talk with the Hamvention(r) Amateur of the Year and the winner of a Special Achievement Award at ARRL Expo? You can do it this year. ARRL Past President Jim Haynie, W5JBP is the Amateur of the Year designate. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI has been named winner of the Special Achievement Award.
Stop by the ARRL EXPO and congratulate Jim and Ed on their well-deserved honors.
++ Code Proficiency Field Testing Begins
The ARRL Code Proficiency Program field test that I've discussed in recent e-letters is set to begin in June. This field test is being run only in the Great Lakes Division and only in four pilot-test areas.
Now that demonstrating proficiency in Morse code is no longer required by the FCC, a number of amateurs and aspiring amateurs have indicated they would like to get in on the fun of Morse code. Now is their chance.
The field test will be run in the following areas. For information on dates and times of these Code Proficiency Runs, contact the persons indicated.
Lexington, KY -- Contact Fernie Williams, KE4MAI, ke4mai@arrl.net.
Brighton, MI -- Contact Jim Kvochick, WB8AZP, wb8azp@arrl.net.
Akron-Canton-Massillon, OH -- Contact Gary Kline, WC8W, wc8w@arrl.net.
Toledo, OH -- Contact Steve Stalker, KC8TVW, kc8tvw@arrl.net.
A few final tidbits of information:
- There is no charge for this testing.
- Successful candidates will receive a receipt to demonstrate they passed and the code speed passed.
- The receipt may be submitted to HQ to obtain a nice certificate or an upgrade sticker for any certificate you already have. There is a fee for processing certificates and stickers.
- Code speeds will be from 5 through 40 wpm in 5 wpm increments.
- Passing is based upon 1 minute of solid copy. The question and answer method will not be used.
- The code proficiency runs will be managed by teams of ARRL VEs; however, these runs are in no way related to FCC examinations and do not provide FCC accreditation for code proficiency. The runs are simply for our personal pleasure to demonstrate accomplishment.
- Non-hams (Scouts, friends) as well as hams are invited to join the fun.
++ Legislative Action Volunteers Attention
Legislative Action Assistants and Coordinators are requested to stop by the Great Lakes Division booth in the ARRL EXPO. We hope to have your certificates and business cards available. In addition, a special folder, an Amateur Radio information leaflet and a copy of the Amateur Radio Today CD will be available for one member of each LAA team to pick up. Your help by obtaining these supplies at the Hamvention will be appreciated.
++ Repeater Directory Oops
It has been discovered that the printer of the pocket edition of the new Repeater Directory let a few bad copies slip into the distribution chain. Some groups of pages were assembled out of order. The printer discovered the error and has destroyed most of the bad copies. If you happen to buy one of these mis-assembled copies, you may keep it and consider it a collectors' item, or you may have ARRL replace it.
++ Wireless vs. BPL
News forwarded by CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ shows a very clear superiority of wireless broadband over BPL in public acceptance. New wireless broadband company, Clearwire, added a net of 52,000 subscribers in the first quarter 2007, giving it about 258,000 subscribers. This is up from 99,000 a year earlier.
In three months this single company -- operating only in about 45 cities -- added ten times as many new customers as the total customer base of all BPL providers, nationwide. In terms of customers served, Clearwire alone is now 50 times the size of the entire BPL industry.
Clearwire uses licensed spectrum around 2.5 GHz.
This information is from the Warren Telecom News Ticker for May 11.
++ Tentative Travel Schedule for KI4LA and K8JE.
2007
May 18-20: Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH. - Gary & Jim Jun 17: Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI - Jim Jul 12: Mahoning Valley ARA, Youngstown, OH - Gary Jul 19: Programs & Services Committee Meeting, Newington, CT - Jim Jul 20-21: Board of Directors Meeting, Newington, CT - Gary & Jim Jul 28: UP Hamfest, Escanaba, MI - Jim Aug 18-19: ARRL National Convention, Huntsville, AL - Jim
Sep 8: GRAHamfest, Grand Rapids, MI - Jim
Sep 9: Findlay Hamfest, Findlay, OH - Jim
Sep 16: Cincinnati Hamfest, Cincinnati, OH - Jim Sep 22: Great Lakes Division Convention, Cleveland, OH - Gary & Jim Sep 23: Cleveland Hamfest, Cleveland, OH - Jim
Oct 2: OH-KY-IN ARRL Night, Cincinnati, OH - Jim
Oct 8: Portage County ARS, Kent, OH - Jim
Nov 19: Southern Ohio ARA Christmas Dinner, Russell, KY - Jim
Dec 1: Motor City RC 75th Ann., Wyandotte, MI - Jim
2008
Jan 17: Programs & Services Committee Meeting, Newington, CT - Jim Jan 18-20: Board of Directors Meeting, Newington, CT - Gary & Jim
Tnx, 73,
Jim, K8JE
Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
ARRL Great Lakes Division
5065 Bethany Rd.
Mason, OH 45040
E-mail: k8je@arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142
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ARRL Great Lakes Division
Director: James Weaver, K8JE
k8je@arrl.org

ARRL Congratulates centenarian Member

(May 10, 2007) -- The ARRL has extended its congratulations to League member Harvey Baalke, W9HNX, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who celebrated his 100th birthday March 23. Wrote ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, on the League's behalf: "I seldom have the privilege of writing to an ARRL member on the occasion of their 100th birthday! Please accept belated congratulations on behalf of the Board, staff and your fellow members of the ARRL. I know you have seen many changes since you were first licensed. One thing that has not changed is the unique camaraderie among radio amateurs of different generations and cultures. Best wishes from the worldwide Amateur Radio community. Sincere 73." Baalke first joined the ARRL in 1936.

FCC Cites Tower Products of Saugerties, NY

FCC cites distributor for marketing unauthorized RF device (May 10, 2007) -- The FCC has sent an official Citation to Tower Products Inc of Saugerties, New York, for marketing an unauthorized RF device capable of operating on 70 cm Amateur Radio frequencies. The FCC contends that the product in question, the "Laird Telemedia model LTM-WAVE-AG Wireless Monitoring System" (LTM-WAVE-AG), requires FCC certification. As an "intentional emitter," the device cannot be operated legally under Part 15 rules. The device is not a Part 97 transmitter, which would not require FCC certification, because it can transmit on spectrum not allocated to the Amateur Radio Service. Additionally, the devices, the FCC said, bore an FCC identification number assigned to another device. The FCC said Tower has acknowledged that the LTM-WAVE-AG is not certified and that it marketed the device in the US, apparently in violation of §302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and §2.803(a) of the FCC rules. In addition, the FCC asserts, Tower apparently violated §2.2304(a) of the rules by importing an RF device that did not meet one or more of 10 specified import conditions, and §2.1204(b) by being unable to document compliance with import conditions. The FCC warned Tower that future such violations could lead to fines of up to $11,000 "for each violation or each day of a continuing violation."

Dayton Hamvention 2007

ARRL EXPO 2007 at Dayton Hamvention to Showcase League, Ham Radio
Astronaut Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, speaks during the AMSAT Space Symposium banquet last fall. He’ll be a special guest on Friday, May 18, during ARRL EXPO 2007 at Dayton Hamvention.
ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will summarize the work of the ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee during the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Forum, Saturday at 8 AM.
ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, will take part in the ARRL Membership Forum Saturday at noon.
The retail counter at ARRL EXPO: Buy a book, join the League or renew your membership. Don’t forget your free Dayton 2007 souvenir pin! NEWINGTON, CT, May 10, 2007 -- In just a little more than a week, all eyes in the Amateur Radio community -- well, most of them, anyway -- will be on Dayton, Ohio. The 56th Dayton Hamvention gets under way Friday, May 18, at Hara Arena and continues through Sunday, May 20. ARRL EXPO will return for a third year in the Ballarena Hall, showcasing the League's activities and membership services as well as topics of interest to the Amateur Radio community at large. ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, says ARRL EXPO is akin to taking the entire organization to Dayton.
"Attending ARRL EXPO is a great way to become familiar with many of the programs, services, staff and volunteers that comprise ARRL," Inderbitzen said. "Besides having a fun time, many hams use the opportunity to learn more about the ARRL and about Amateur Radio."
Ham-Astronaut Will Be League's Guest of Honor
On Friday, May 18, International Space Station Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR -- the most active ham-astronaut ever to live aboard the space station and the first to work all states from space -- will be the League's honored guest. McArthur will be on hand at the ARRL EXPO area to meet and greet visitors.
McArthur has been praised for inspiring others by his ham radio activities from NA1SS. Over the course of his ISS duty tour, McArthur, a veteran of four spaceflights and spacewalks, also established a yet-to-be surpassed milestone of 37 ARISS school contacts.
In addition, he put 130 DXCC entities into the NA1SS log and has continued collecting the necessary QSL cards to qualify for an honorary DXCC. He and Expedition 12 Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev also released SuitSat-1 into orbit.
The ARRL Stage Comes Alive!
Live presentations -- mini forums -- on the ARRL Stage at ARRL EXPO 2007 will offer plenty of opportunities to enhance and extend your knowledge about various facets of Amateur Radio. Presentations will take place every half hour throughout Hamvention 2007. Topics this year will run the gamut from ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW) to HF digital voice techniques and protocols, radio frequency interference, broadband over power line (BPL), going mobile, clubs, ham radio instruction techniques, Amateur Radio rules and regulations, contesting, public relations, good operating practices and more.
Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, will head up the youth activities at ARRL EXPO 2007.
Amateur Radio Direction Finding, one of the youth activities at ARRL EXPO.
FCC Special Counsel in the Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth will be among the ARRL Stage speakers.
During one mini forum, McArthur will take the stage to discuss his six-month duty tour aboard the ISS, among other things telling how he managed to rack up more than 1800 VHF and UHF contacts from space. He'll also be featured during the Ham Radio Aboard the International Space Station Forum, Friday, 10:30 AM, in Room 3.
ARRL Forum Participation
ARRL staff members and officers also will take part in Hamvention forums throughout the weekend. For example, ARRL Antenna Book editor Dean Straw, N6BV, will participate in the Antenna Forum, Friday, 2:30 PM, in Room 1, moderated by Tim Duffy, K3LR. Straw also will be among the staff instructors at "Contest University," held a day before Hamvention officially opens, on Thursday, May 17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton.
ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will be among the speakers at the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Forum, Saturday, 8 AM, in Room 3. She'll summarize the work of the ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee (NERPC) and update other emergency communications developments.
ARRL staff members will conduct the ARRL Membership Forum Saturday at noon in Room 2. The complete ARRL Exhibit & Activities Guide is available on the ARRL EXPO 2007 Web site.
ARRL Passport, Internet Café are Back
The popular ARRL Passport scavenger hunt will be back again this year, with an expanded list of possible prizes. Passports are limited to the first 5000 visitors! Also returning is the ARRL Internet Café, which will feature free wireless Internet access. If you don't have your laptop along, ARRL EXPO will have a few computers available to access your e-mail or surf the Web while you're at Hamvention.
Of course, ARRL EXPO 2007 at Dayton Hamvention will feature a huge retail area where the League's most popular products and publications will be on sale. While there, visitors can renew their League memberships or join for the first time.
Youth Welcome!
Younger hams and prospective hams will find a lot to do at ARRL EXPO. Seventeen-year-old Goldfarb Scholarship winner and youth editor Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, will head the team organizing youth activities and hosting the Youth Lounge, as well as the third annual ARRL Dayton Youth Dinner on Saturday evening. Come to the Youth Lounge for the free snacks, stay for the fun activities and to just hang out.
EXPO 2007 to Continue at ARRL National Convention
In August, ARRL EXPO 2007 will return during the League's National Convention, held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama. Preparations are in high gear for this year's national, August 18-19, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. Preceding the event on August 16-17 will be the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference. This will mark the first time the GAREC has been held in the US. Stay tuned for more details on the ARRL 2007 National Convention in Huntsville.