February 2006 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:13693] Update to Government Relations Web site
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 08 Feb '06

08 Feb '06

With assistance from Eric Heis and John Chwat of Chwat & Co. we have updated the sample H. Res. 230 letter for Congressmen on the Web site and have added some text explaining that there is no Senate counterpart to the Resolution, but that a letter along similar lines (sample provided) to one's Senators would be appropriate, especially if they are on the Senate Commerce Committee (list provided). The "Legislation" button at the top of the home page takes you to http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:13692] Re: Nice article in Delta-Sky
by Frank Fallon 07 Feb '06

07 Feb '06

Hurray for our side and a BIG thanks to Allan Pitts. It looks great! Frank...N2FF.... Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ wrote: > The February issue of the Delta-Sky inflight magazine has a nice > article about hams in Katrina: > > http://www.delta-sky.com/2006_02/RolePlaying/index.html > > You will see the fine hand of Allen Pitts in this. > > Dave K1ZZ >

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[arrl-odv:13691] Re: FW: CGC #725
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 07 Feb '06

07 Feb '06

Here's Mitchell Lazarus's take on this, which I would forward even if he didn't agree with me. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Mitchell Lazarus [mailto:lazarus@fhhlaw.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 2:43 PM Subject: No Wi-Fi Tax Recent reports of a proposed user fee on unlicensed spectrum, such as Wi-Fi, are unfounded. The reports apparently stem from a trade press item that misread the President's FY2007 budget submission. The budget refers to user fees on "unauctioned spectrum licenses," not unlicensed spectrum. That language would include, for example, private land mobile (such as taxi radios), point-to-point microwave, and satellite. (Even then, at this early stage of the budget process, it is highly uncertain that such fees would ever be imposed.) The budget passage in full: "To promote efficient spectrum use, the Administration proposes new authority for the FCC to set user fees on unauctioned spectrum licenses, based on public-interest and spectrum-management principles. Fee collections are proposed to begin in 2007 and are estimated to total $3.6 billion through 2016." Wi-Fi appears to be safe for another year. USUAL DISCLAIMER: This email is one of an occasional series on telecommunications regulatory issues sent to both clients and non-clients free of charge. It is not legal advice, neither creates nor extends an attorney-client relationship, and does not solicit the representation of entities that have regulatory counsel. Recipients are free to distribute this email to others, but please include this notice and the signature block. To add, change, or drop an email address, just let me know. Mitchell Lazarus Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC 703-812-0440 (voice) 703-812-0486 (fax) 301-537-7278 (mobile) MLazarus(a)alum.MIT.edu www.fhhlaw.com

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[arrl-odv:13690] Nice article in Delta-Sky
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 07 Feb '06

07 Feb '06

The February issue of the Delta-Sky inflight magazine has a nice article about hams in Katrina: http://www.delta-sky.com/2006_02/RolePlaying/index.html You will see the fine hand of Allen Pitts in this. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:13689] FW: CGC #725
by Joel Harrison 07 Feb '06

07 Feb '06

Just an FYI to everyone, in case you start hearing something about it. We'll be keeping a very close eye on it and any attempt to include the Amateur Radio Service. There is NO mention at all of the Amateur Radio Service, so need for any action at this point other than to watch it. >From Imlay: BUSH PROPOSES TAX ON WI-FI AND "UN-AUCTIONED" SPECTRUM President Bush, facing a huge budget deficit, has proposed to squeeze more money from the nation's airwaves by supporting legislative changes that would allow the FCC to set "user fees" on "un-auctioned" radio spectrum. The plan is believed to be aimed at unlicensed frequencies used for Wi-Fi and other applications. http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=25545 >From Sumner: This is all I could find about it in the budget material that's online at whitegouse.gov: Ensuring Public Resources Are Used Effectively The radio spectrum plays an increasing role in everyday life, as wireless devices and technologies proliferate. To promote efficient spectrum use, the Administration supports granting FCC authority to set user fees on unauctioned spectrum licenses based on public-interest and spectrum-management principles. Spectrum assignment policy has not kept pace with the changing market. Service providers using different technologies to deliver a similar product can face different spectrum license acquisition costs. The lack of parity in spectrum assignment creates incentives that can diminish the overall utility of the spectrum. User fees will help to ensure that spectrum is put to its highest and best use, by internalizing the value of spectrum to license holders. This will have the effect of advancing U.S. economic growth and technological progress. Fee collections are estimated to begin in 2007 and total $3.6 billion in the first 10 years. Dave also notes that since this speaks of "license holders" presumably it does not extend to unlicensed spectrum. Whether it might conceivably extend to the amateur service would depend, we assume, on the enabling legislation. Just an FYI for now......we will watch it closely. 73 Joel W5ZN

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[arrl-odv:13688] EC Meeting-FYI
by Joel Harrison 06 Feb '06

06 Feb '06

FYI to the board - as previously noted, the Executive Committee will be meeting on March 11. The location has now been firmed up. It will be in St. Louis. 73 Joel W5ZN

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[arrl-odv:13687] Re: News from W3ABC
by Henry R. Leggette 06 Feb '06

06 Feb '06

Kay, Thanks! I recently e-mail Hugh. I was concerned after talking to Bill Edgar at the BoD meeting and was advised of their health status. I appreciate you updating us. I am sorry to hear the sad news. My prayers go out for Hugh and family. 73, Henry - WD4Q ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kay Craigie" <n3kn(a)comcast.net> To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 7:13 PM Subject: [arrl-odv:13686] News from W3ABC > Word has just come that Betty Turnbull, wife of Honorary VP Hugh Turnbull > W3ABC, passed away on Saturday evening. The funeral is on Friday morning in > Hyattsville, MD. Hugh suggests that friends who wish to honor her memory may > make a contribution to the American Red Cross, 6206 Belcrest Road, > Hyattsville, MD, where she was active for many years. 73 - Kay N3KN > > > > >

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[arrl-odv:13686] News from W3ABC
by Kay Craigie 06 Feb '06

06 Feb '06

Word has just come that Betty Turnbull, wife of Honorary VP Hugh Turnbull W3ABC, passed away on Saturday evening. The funeral is on Friday morning in Hyattsville, MD. Hugh suggests that friends who wish to honor her memory may make a contribution to the American Red Cross, 6206 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD, where she was active for many years. 73 - Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:13685] Re: Fw: SuitSat
by Ned Stearns 04 Feb '06

04 Feb '06

Re: SuitSat--All--Do Not Release Audio Yet!A good friend of mine and fellow 2m EME operator did copy SUITSAT after it had "gone silent". It is quite weak and copiable apparently by EME stations. I have a wav file of the SSTV transmission from this morning if anyone is interested in it. I have been contacted by newspaper reporters in the Phoenix area about this event. I am trying to work on a "happy thoughts" story for the current and future status of the project. I may need to rehearse it a few times before calling them back. Ned AA7A ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Frahm KØBJ To: arrl-odv Cc: White, Rosalie, K1STO Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 7:53 PM Subject: [arrl-odv:13684] Fw: SuitSat I'm forwarding this for K1STO. Controllers had the astronauts drag their feet just a bit in order to get live video on NASA TV of SuitSat floating away -- it was eerie even though everyone knew 'what was up'. I planned to listen for it just prior to 3AM here but caught on NPR that it had gone silent after 2 orbits. Nice to get the clarification from Rosalie, and I will try SWLing with my J-pole. 73 Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: White, Rosalie, K1STO To: Frahm, Bruce (Vice Dir, Midwest) Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 8:04 AM Subject: SuitSat Hello Bruce, At around 4 AM, Frank Bauer monitored (using an Arrow antenna) the overhead pass and definitely heard a faint signal. He heard a partial of the voice ID (it's his daughter, Michelle) and part of one of the voices of an overseas student. SuitSat is somewhat operational, but with an extremely low signal. I used an HT, and only heard fluctuation in the signal. Frank said, "We do not know what the next few days and weeks will bring." The ARISS Team will have a news release later today about the experiment not having stellar transmissions, yet the program and the idea have been successful in several ways, and the team will continue to listen with hope for a change in the issue. The ARISS Team is considering several unique ideas, that I think you all will like, on how to make use of the low-level signal. We intend to get much more PR for Amateur Radio out of the experiment. Meantime, we are reporting the bullet items below. I can't post to ODV. 73, Rosalie, K1STO -We captured the imagination of students, hams and the general public, worldwide, on this unique experiment. -We had well over 1 million Internet hits on www.suitsat.org, in the past 24 hours! -Our student's creative artwork, lessons, signatures and voices have been carried in space and are onboard the spacesuit---the students are travelers in space as SuitSat rotates and orbits. -We successfully deployed an amateur radio satellite in a spacesuit from the ISS, demonstrating that this can be safely done. -This international team was able to fabricate, test and deliver a safe ham radio system to the ISS team, 3 weeks after the international space agencies agreed to allow SuitSat to happen. - SuitSat-1/Radioskaf represents a space pioneer. We had less than total success. But we have captured imaginations of many, and we will learn from this activity, helping us and others grow from this experience.

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[arrl-odv:13684] Fw: SuitSat
by Bruce Frahm KØBJ 04 Feb '06

04 Feb '06

Re: SuitSat--All--Do Not Release Audio Yet!I'm forwarding this for K1STO. Controllers had the astronauts drag their feet just a bit in order to get live video on NASA TV of SuitSat floating away -- it was eerie even though everyone knew 'what was up'. I planned to listen for it just prior to 3AM here but caught on NPR that it had gone silent after 2 orbits. Nice to get the clarification from Rosalie, and I will try SWLing with my J-pole. 73 Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: White, Rosalie, K1STO To: Frahm, Bruce (Vice Dir, Midwest) Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 8:04 AM Subject: SuitSat Hello Bruce, At around 4 AM, Frank Bauer monitored (using an Arrow antenna) the overhead pass and definitely heard a faint signal. He heard a partial of the voice ID (it's his daughter, Michelle) and part of one of the voices of an overseas student. SuitSat is somewhat operational, but with an extremely low signal. I used an HT, and only heard fluctuation in the signal. Frank said, "We do not know what the next few days and weeks will bring." The ARISS Team will have a news release later today about the experiment not having stellar transmissions, yet the program and the idea have been successful in several ways, and the team will continue to listen with hope for a change in the issue. The ARISS Team is considering several unique ideas, that I think you all will like, on how to make use of the low-level signal. We intend to get much more PR for Amateur Radio out of the experiment. Meantime, we are reporting the bullet items below. I can't post to ODV. 73, Rosalie, K1STO -We captured the imagination of students, hams and the general public, worldwide, on this unique experiment. -We had well over 1 million Internet hits on www.suitsat.org, in the past 24 hours! -Our student's creative artwork, lessons, signatures and voices have been carried in space and are onboard the spacesuit---the students are travelers in space as SuitSat rotates and orbits. -We successfully deployed an amateur radio satellite in a spacesuit from the ISS, demonstrating that this can be safely done. -This international team was able to fabricate, test and deliver a safe ham radio system to the ISS team, 3 weeks after the international space agencies agreed to allow SuitSat to happen. - SuitSat-1/Radioskaf represents a space pioneer. We had less than total success. But we have captured imaginations of many, and we will learn from this activity, helping us and others grow from this experience.

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