February 2013 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:21493] QST Position Question
by James F. Boehner MD 03 Feb '13

03 Feb '13

In regards to the Print QST and Digital QST- I remember our original position, that members were to continue to receive the print QST and have an option to access the digital QST. If they wished to no longer receive the print edition, they would need to call HQ to stop the mailings. However, we were not going to "push" this option. I received copies of emails "Go Green: Get Digital QST Only", with an opt out form, from ARRL. I do remember that this was discussed very briefly at a previous board meeting, but I'm not sure if there was a resolution. So, what is our board position on this presently? Should we be neutral and not say anything to members about this option and just let the Go Green e-mails speak for themselves? Or should we be proactive and encourage this option? On a somewhat related note, I have received questions as to when Digital QST will be available for Android devices as a dedicated App (like IOS). They make the argument that the android sales are outperforming the IOS series. Thanks! '73 de JIM N2ZZ ARRL Vice Director Roanoke Division (IPhone 5 user!)

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[arrl-odv:21492] State Legislation Regarding Tower Marking
by Chris Imlay 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Greetings. This is an FYI only. Eagle-eyed Vice Director Jim Pace has been working an issue in Washington State that comes up elsewhere from time to time. A misguided State legislator, concerned about towers below 200 feet being air hazards for low-flying aircraft such as crop dusters, has proposed a bill that would call for painting of towers that are greater than 50 (!) feet in height. This is on-again, off-again legislation in Washington, but it has broadcasters and local Amateurs concerned. Relative to this, I came across a case decision from a Federal Court in Mississippi that I referred to Jim that might be helpful in persuading State legislatures that such legislation is misguided. In Adams v. Verizon Wireless Tennessee Partnership, N.D. Miss., decided December 17, 2012 (Case No. 3:12-cv-00053-MPM-SAA), a case dealing with a claim that tower strobe lighting caused the plaintiff to have migraines, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi found that any effort by States to regulate tower lighting was preempted by Federal law. The Court stated: " It is well settled that the federal government occupies the field of aviation safety, and that this field of federal concern includes the marking and/or lighting of ground-based hazards to air navigation. The preemption is particularly apparent in a case such as this, because towers used for radio communication are subject to an additional level of federal authority in the form of the Federal Communications Act and the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") implementing that Act." The court went on to say that "any state law determination that the federally approved lighting scheme was unreasonably dangerous and therefore impermissible would clearly and inevitably conflict with Federal law." Presumably a state law finding that the Federal tower marking scheme was inadequate would suffer the same finding of preemption. That decision is not binding on courts outside of Mississippi, but it is case law that any reasonable legislator should be able to understand. Pilots can't safely deal with different standards for tower lighting and painting, and the Federal scheme of tower marking is very detailed and comprehensive and has to be uniform throughout the States. 73, Chris W3KD Christopher D. Imlay Booth, Freret, Imlay & Tepper. P.C. 14356 Cape May Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6011 (301) 384-5525 telephone (301) 384-6384 facsimile W3KD(a)ARRL.ORG

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[arrl-odv:21491] LoTW down; email reflector note
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Logbook of The World service is taking longer to restore after a scheduled maintenance period than had been anticipated. Staff is working to bring it back on line. In an unrelated development, messages addressed to arrl-odv(a)arrl.org currently are not being recognized by the email system. If you want to post to arrl-odv use this address: arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org I don't know whether this also affects other reflectors. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:21490] FCC Adopts New Experimental Rules
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

The FCC has adopted extensive changes to its rules governing experimental licensing. The ARRL filed comments (actually, reply comments) in this proceeding expressing concern about the increased probability of interference to the amateur services. An initial review of the attached Report and Order shows that the Commission backed away from some of its more radical proposals and even accepted a few of our suggestions. A new category of Program Experimental Radio Licenses will be available to qualified entities such as universities with accredited graduate research programs in engineering, research labs, and manufacturers with spectrum management experience that will permit much broader latitude to conduct experiments within a specific geographic area than is typically provided by a conventional experimental license. However, these licensees will be required to post technical details of the experiment in advance, to conduct due diligence in their local operating environment to identify any interference risks and to plan accordingly to avoid causing harmful interference to incumbent licensees, and to designate a "Stop Buzzer" point of contact with the ability to cease operation immediately in the event of harmful interference. I won't speak for Chris, but I am somewhat pleasantly surprised that the Commission seems to have struck a reasonable balance between the objective of facilitating experimentation and that of protecting incumbent users from harmful interference. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:21489] 2013 Committees, updated
by Kay Craigie 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

The attachment, given in both pdf and Excel formats, updates the committee rosters to add the two ad hocs created at the Board meeting, adds an appointee to the PR Committee, and corrects the RAC's person on the PR Committee. 73 - Kay N3KN

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