March 2016 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:25242] FCC budget testimony
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 16 Mar '16

16 Mar '16

Today's FCC Daily Digest includes links to testimony delivered yesterday by FCC Chairman Wheeler and Commissioner Pai on the Commission's FY 2017 budget request. Chairman Wheeler discusses Enforcement Bureau consolidation on page 3. Commissioner Pai does not touch on enforcement, but his remarks as always make interesting and informative reading and offer a counterpoint to the Chairman. Dave K1ZZ STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, HEARING ON THE FCC'S FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET REQUEST, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT, COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES by Testimony. OCHTW https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-338314A1.pdf STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS. Statement Of FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, Before The Subcommittee On Financial Services And General Government Of The United States House Of Representatives, Committee On Appropriations. "Budget Hearing - Federal Communications Commission" by Testimony. OCAP https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-338312A1.docx https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-338312A1.pdf

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[arrl-odv:25238] Communication
by James F. Boehner, MD 11 Mar '16

11 Mar '16

To all, The minutes have not been distributed. They were to be distributed to ODV after approval at our next meeting. In the future, we will distribute for approval by the committee immediately when ready, and forward to ODV for situational awareness. I was not at the last PSC meeting, as the committee assignments changed after the January Board meeting. I cannot speak to why this matter was not on the agenda. I am not on a computer with the PSC files, so I cannot confirm that this was not on the agenda. This was an information gap, for which I apologize. I have asked for approval of the minutes by the committee, which I will send out when approved. '73 de JIM N2ZZ -----Original Message----- From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Tom Frenaye Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 10:57 AM To: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ; arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:25234] Re: communication At 10:44 AM 3/11/2016, Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ wrote: >Roger, Tom. This simply implements a recommendation from Kermit's committee that was adopted by PSC back on January 14. Thanks Dave. It's news to me. The agenda for the January PSC meeting didn't indicate cancellation was under consideration. I don't believe the meeting minutes have been distributed. -- Tom >________________________________________ >From: arrl-odv [arrl-odv-bounces(a)reflector.arrl.org] on behalf of Frenaye, Tom, K1KI >Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 10:26 AM >To: arrl-odv >Subject: [arrl-odv:25232] communication > >http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-2016-august-uhf-contest-cancelled > >It's always good to let the whole board know, rather than assume it isn't all that important. > > Tom > > >===== >e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ >Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > >_______________________________________________ >arrl-odv mailing list >arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org >https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv >_______________________________________________ >arrl-odv mailing list >arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org >https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv

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[arrl-odv:25232] communication
by Tom Frenaye 11 Mar '16

11 Mar '16

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-2016-august-uhf-contest-cancelled It's always good to let the whole board know, rather than assume it isn't all that important. Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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[arrl-odv:25234] Re: communication
by Tom Frenaye 11 Mar '16

11 Mar '16

At 10:44 AM 3/11/2016, Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ wrote: >Roger, Tom. This simply implements a recommendation from Kermit's committee that was adopted by PSC back on January 14. Thanks Dave. It's news to me. The agenda for the January PSC meeting didn't indicate cancellation was under consideration. I don't believe the meeting minutes have been distributed. -- Tom >________________________________________ >From: arrl-odv [arrl-odv-bounces(a)reflector.arrl.org] on behalf of Frenaye, Tom, K1KI >Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 10:26 AM >To: arrl-odv >Subject: [arrl-odv:25232] communication > >http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-2016-august-uhf-contest-cancelled > >It's always good to let the whole board know, rather than assume it isn't all that important. > > Tom > > >===== >e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ >Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > >_______________________________________________ >arrl-odv mailing list >arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org >https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv >_______________________________________________ >arrl-odv mailing list >arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org >https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv

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[arrl-odv:25235] FW: [ps-com:2337] January 14 PSC minutes (unapproved)
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 Mar '16

11 Mar '16

On a quick check I don't see the final PSC minutes of the January 14 meeting anywhere, but here is the draft that was prepared on the day of the meeting. Note minute 9. Dave K1ZZ ________________________________________ From: ps-com [ps-com-bounces(a)reflector.arrl.org] on behalf of Brian Mileshosky [bpmiles(a)gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 3:47 PM To: ps-com Subject: [ps-com:2337] January 14 PSC minutes (unapproved) Gentlemen – Please find attached UNAPPROVED minutes from today's meeting, prepared by Dan Henderson. They will be approved at PSC’s TBD next meeting. Please flag any errors or omissions at that time or beforehand. Thank you again for another very productive gathering. It’s been an absolute pleasure chairing and working with each of you on PSC for the past two years. 73, Brian N5ZGT _______________________________________________ ps-com mailing list ps-com(a)reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/ps-com

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[arrl-odv:25227] Repeater Directory & RFinder
by Kent Olson 11 Mar '16

11 Mar '16

Friends; Attached is the latest Minnesota Repeater Council newsletter. In it, the Chair proceeds to push the ARRL in front of the bus as it were. I did speak with him regarding RFinder and his concerns, but obviously it did no good. Have others on this reflector had similar calls, concerns, diatribes, etc.? I think we need some talking points and perhaps a story on the website to get our stance out. Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 73! Kent KAØLDG

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[arrl-odv:25226] IN-News
by Kustosik, Lisa, KA1UFZ 10 Mar '16

10 Mar '16

IN-Newsletter Vol. 41, No. 9 March 9, 2016 - Covers the period February 28-March 5. Upcoming In-Person Meetings and Events Executive Committee March 12 @ 8:30am in Westlake, TX Administration & Finance Committee May 4 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Production/Editorial Reported by Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY Files for the new High Speed Multi Media book were sent to the printer. Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Product Review Bob Allison tested an ultrasonic receiver in the field for an upcoming QST Product Review. The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum in Windsor has been plagued by powerline noise. Bob found the noise source, which was then confirmed by RFI Expert, Mike Gruber, W1MG, using professional grade equipment. Mike Gruber completed writing a product review for the ultrasonic pin-pointer. Mike wishes to thank Bob Allison for his assistance with this review. It was sent on Thursday to Mark Wilson, along with a photo. Bob also tested three low pass filters and a triplexer. The combination of these devices allows the use of three transceivers on one triband antenna. Web Zack Lau worked on updating the Technology pages on the ARRL Web site. Publications Bob reviewed many complicated technical articles that were submitted to the ARRL for possible publishing in QEX and QST Magazine. RFI Mike Gruber participated in a meeting for the Task Group working on new text for the IEEE P-1897 document. This document is entitled, Recommended Practice for the Resolution of Power Line Noise Complaints. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Promotions featuring a variety of ARRL publications and products, with seasonal themes (St. Patrick's Day and "start of spring"), are being prepared for distribution this month. Now available in the Kindle format from Amazon: Work the World with JT65 and JT9<http://amzn.com/B01CGU79EQ>, ARRL's Small Antennas for Small Spaces 2nd edition<http://amzn.com/B01CLH5YIW> and Antenna Physics: An Introduction<http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CQ07E46>. All of the 2016 ARRL Field Day merchandise (t-shirts, hats, pins, stickers, etc.) is in-stock and available for ordering<https://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-Supplies/>...early this year! Yvette Vinci is attending the 2016 National Postal Forum in Nashville, TN, March 20-23. Diane Petrilli is attending ASAE's Great Ideas Conference in Colorado, March 13-15. The event gathers association executives and membership directors from around the globe, and includes labs on many membership and marketing related topics. Bob Inderbitzen committed our travel team and exhibits for ARRL EXPO at Dayton Hamvention, May 20-22. Registration information has been shared with our staff travel team, ODV, and Section Managers. Bob also committed some planning for the ARRL and IARU exhibits at HAM RADIO 2016 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 24-26. Summary of Sales and Marketing Department telephone group, reported by Yvette Vinci: Week Ending Calls Answered Calls Per Hour Total Talking Duration Average Speed of Answer 3/4/2016 1,049 23.3 31:48:04 11 seconds 2/26/2016 1,101 24.4 34:31:47 11 seconds 2/19/2016 812 22.5 22:32:21 9 seconds 2/12/2016 829 18.4 26:05:13 11 seconds Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa: Week Ending Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 3/4/2016 1,464 525 2/26/2016 1,051 738 2/19/2016 776 168 2/12/2016 704 402 Field Services & Radiosport Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 2-3 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 2 Days Number of Centennial applications processed: Centennial Challenge QSO 2839 W1AW/WAS 2018 W1AW Joe Carcia updated the web code practice files and their archives. He created the texts for the March W1AW Qualifying Runs. He updated both the weekly code practice web page source and the Qualifying Run web schedules. He completed labeling all the antenna elements on the Cushcraft A148-20T 2-meter crossed yagi antenna (used in the ARISS Go-Kit). Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the week. He also processed some VUCC applications. Field Organization/Public Service Team Leona Adams reports the following information now that the March 4th nomination receipt deadline has passed for the spring season Section Manager election cycle that results in new terms of office starting July 1, 2016. There will be one balloted election this spring in Alabama. J. Vann Martin, W4JVM, of Chelsea, will face Dennis Littleton, K4DL, of West Blocton, for the Section Manager's position that is 18 months (instead of 2 years) because the call for nominations were re-solicited. Out-going Section Manager David Drummond, W4MD, decided not to run for a new term of office. He has been SM since January 2011. Brent Walls, N9BA, of Brownsburg, Indiana, will become the new Indiana Section Manager on July 1 since he was the only candidate to submit a petition. Incumbent Indiana SM Joseph Lawrence, K9RFZ, decided not run for a second term of office. He has been SM for past two years. Patrick Moretti, KA1RB, of Dousman, Wisconsin, will become the Wisconsin Section Manager this July since he was the only nominee to run the office. Incumbent Section Manager Gary Sorensen, W9ULK, decided not to run for another term. He has been SM since 2014. John Core, KX7YT, of Gaston, Oregon, will become the new Oregon Section Manager in July as he was the only nominee to run for the next term of office. Incumbent SM Everett Curry, W6ABM, decided to not run for a new term. Everett has been Oregon Section Manager since January 2014. The following incumbent Section Managers, who did not face opposition, will continue their new, two-year terms of office starting July 1. Ray Hollenbeck, KL1IL, Alaska; Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN, Illinois; Bill Crowley, K1NIT, Maine; Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, Northern Florida; Brandon Bianchi, NI6C, Santa Clara Valley; Paul Gayet, AA1SU, Vermont. One radio amateur from Maryland completed requirements to become an Official Observer this past week. Chuck Skolaut compiled and forwarded the monthly ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch to the Region 2 IARU Monitoring Coordinator. Art Zygielbaum, KØAIZ, helped identify a radio amateur in Lincoln, Nebraska, who a caller wanted information about. The Orange section OOC reports that a jamming problem on a local repeater seems to have resolved itself. Interference to the ECARS net on 7.255 MHz and 7.200 MHz were reported. Questions were answered for a prospective ham, and information requested regarding changing a repeater trustee was referred to the VEC. Another question involved the CQ 100 and Hamsphere virtual ham radio software programs. The newly appointed OOC for South Texas, Mark Stennett, NA6M, paid a visit to headquarters. Chuck also conducted one morning code practice session at W1AW. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 3/25 Holiday Leona Adams 3/18 PTO Alli Barbieri 4/25-4/29 PTO `` 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Steve Ewald 3/28-4/5 PTO Tom Gallagher 3/11-3/13 Executive Committee Meeting, Westlake, TX Dave Sumner 3/11-3/13 Executive Committee Meeting, Westlake, TX

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[arrl-odv:25224] Re: LF and MF Allocations, Docket 15-99
by Tom Frenaye 10 Mar '16

10 Mar '16

At 01:41 PM 3/10/2016, Christopher Imlay wrote: >Â UTC is clearly not going to want to disclose to us or anyone else the database of PLCs. They use PLCs for switching in the power grid and, as stupid as that is, using non-interference-protected technology for that sensitive purpose does worry FCC a good deal. Dave Sumner and I are of the view that UTC's database is probably not complete and if that is true they are not at all going to want to share it and reveal its inadequacies in any case. Chris - But UTC is required to share the database with the FCC (or is it with NTIA), isn't it? I still think we should request a copy of the database under FOI rules. Not that's we'd be successful... Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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[arrl-odv:25223] LF and MF Allocations, Docket 15-99
by Christopher Imlay 10 Mar '16

10 Mar '16

Greetings. with thanks toall of the officers for helpful edits and to the Executive Committee for a quick review and approval of the attached document, here is an as-filed, *ex parte* written statement in the open docket proceeding governing service rules for the 2200-meter band and allocation and service rules for the 630-meter band. We prepared this in an effort to head off what I was told by an OET staff person is FCC's intention in the Report and Order finalizing the service rules for the 2200-meter and 630-meter bands. FCC told me recently that their intention is to place in a Report and Order in this docket a requirement for *all amateurs* who wish to operate in either band, regardless of whether their stations are or are not closer than 1 kilometer to a transmission line; regardless of whether that line is or is not carrying PLC, and regardless of what frequencies a PLC system is using, to notify UTC of the intent to operate and wait 30 days for a negative option approval from UTC. This is untenable. We tried to meet with FCC about this but UTC, which OET would want to be there, refused to do the meeting. So OET won't meet with us for an oral ex parte presentation. The filing of a written *ex parte* statement is our only procedural recourse. There was some urgency to the filing of this. FCC has this Docket on their work calendar for the first quarter of this year and that ends at the end of this month, so we wanted to file this quickly so as to have a better chance of it's being considered substantively by OET. I should say that this draft does NOT disclose the fact that FCC has given us insider trading about what their tentative plans are. But the information we received is 100 percent reliable. We are protecting a rather candid source within OET who cautioned us not to "out" them and we have not. So if this reads cryptically with respect to the source of our concern, that is why. I am pessimistic about our ability to change OET's mind about this. Here is why: UTC is clearly not going to want to disclose to us or anyone else the database of PLCs. They use PLCs for switching in the power grid and, as stupid as that is, using non-interference-protected technology for that sensitive purpose does worry FCC a good deal. Dave Sumner and I are of the view that UTC's database is probably not complete and if that is true they are not at all going to want to share it and reveal its inadequacies in any case. I also think that these new Amateur allocations are UTC's gold mine for membership recruitment and revenue generation. UTC has always been focused almost completely on land mobile Part 90 issues. They are the Part 90 coordinator for critical infrastructure VHF and UHF licensing. That has been their area of expertise and focus for years. Now comes a threat to LF PLCs. It may be old technology but there is a lot of it still out there. Now UTC has a role that they can play as the protector of LF and MF PLC systems and that is a great way to cause utilities to join UTC. UTC also charges a fee for updating the database of PLCs that they have to maintain by FCC rule. They get money that way. So even if the database is garbage, they can persuade utilities to join UTC and to update the PLC database and get paid for the privilege of doing it. For FCC, the very safest thing to do when creating a new Amateur allocation in a band that has PLCs in it is to allow UTC to keep the database to themselves, and require all amateurs who want to operate in the band to contact UTC and to allow UTC to give yea or nay answers on a case by case basis to every ham who inquires. FCC does not want to suffer the bad PR for allowing some uncontrolled hams from mistaking a transmission line for a distribution line and to fail to give a notice that might cause a switching problem. The point is, they don't know what to expect. So the "everyone has to notify" policy is safe for FCC. We have in any case insisted on a technically,quantitatively justified explanation for any denial in the rare cases that a ham will be within 1 km of a PLC-carrying transmission line that uses all or part of either new Amateur allocation. Looking at the cup as being half-full, we are going to get both of these two allocations. The notification requirements will fall where they may, but this is still a big win for ARRL and for Amateur Radio generally. 73, Chris W3KD -- Christopher D. Imlay Booth, Freret & Imlay, LLC 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:25222] Re: Solicitations of vote to approve minutes of Special Meeting
by dick＠pobox.com 09 Mar '16

09 Mar '16

8 MAR 2016 - 2049 CST I approve these minutes. - Dick Isely, W9GIG

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