September 2018 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:27604] IAVP Report IARU AC Meeting and Region 3 Conference Seoul ROK 2018
by jbellows＠skypoint.com 29 Sep '18

29 Sep '18

Attached are my Report of Activities as an Observer at the IARU Administrative Council Meeting (Sept 8 & 9, 2018, Seoul ROK) and the ARRL participation at the Region 3 Conference (Sept. 1-to 14, 2018, Seoul, ROK) and a few photos of the events. The photos are as follows: President Roderick presenting a Plaque from ARRL to outgoing Region 3 President, Gopal Madhaven, VU2GMN (R) and Secretary, Ken Yamamoto, JA!CPJ (L) Working Group 1 The outgoing Region 3 officers ( L to R -Director, Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI. Secretary, Ken Yamamoto. JA1CPJ, Conference Chairman, Director, Don Wallace, ZL2TLI, Director and new Region 3 President, Wisnu Widjaja, YBØAZ, Director, Peter Young, VK3MV) And finally the Administrative Council Meeting Should you have any questions about the meetings or the issues discussed please contact me. 73, Jay, KØQB

1 0

[arrl-odv:27603] In Newsletter September 28 2018
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 28 Sep '18

28 Sep '18

Please see this week's In Newsletter with updates from your colleagues around the building. Happy Friday!

1 0

[arrl-odv:27602] FW: FCC Enforcement Advisory, DA 18-980; Advisory Number 2018-03
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 27 Sep '18

27 Sep '18

Good Afternoon: There has been some concern expressed in the Amateur community regarding the FCC’s issuance of the Public Notice (https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.pdf) regarding non-compliant VHF/UHF radios earlier this week. Due to some unfortunate and, in our opinion, inaccurate wording in the Notice involving the use of these radios, we and the FCC are beginning to receive inquiries from Amateurs who own these radios and are fearful that operation of them in the Amateur bands is illegal. We do NOT believe that is the case. As you can see from the exchange below, Chris Imlay reached out to Laura Smith who, with Scott Stone, is initiating discussions within the FCC and, hopefully, we can get a clarification in the near future. We believe our interpretation as described by General Counsel is correct but are waiting for FCC to confirm this. In the meantime, we’ve removed the original story from the ARRL web site and, if asked, we are providing members with the explanation we have provided for many years. There are no certification requirements for Amateur Radio equipment and their operation is legal within the Amateur Radio frequencies with the appropriate license. However, it is illegal to operate them on frequencies for which they have not been certified under Part 90 and without the operator being properly licensed. We are preparing a web story for when we get confirmation from the FCC and, hopefully, a clarification. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Executive Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org From: Laura Smith <Laura.Smith(a)fcc.gov> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2018 1:41 PM To: Imlay, Chris, W3KD <w3kd.arrl(a)gmail.com> Cc: Henderson, Dan N1ND <dhenderson(a)arrl.org>; Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) <bshelley(a)arrl.org>; mark.crosby(a)enterprisewireless.org; exec-com <exec-com(a)arrl.org> Subject: RE: FCC Enforcement Advisory, DA 18-980; Advisory Number 2018-03 Scot Stone and I have explained the very distinction regarding amateur radio operators that you raise to my colleagues in SED and we are having internal discussions regarding the matter. Give me a day or two before you do anything and I will get back to you with a more formal answer. From: Christopher Imlay <w3kd.arrl(a)gmail.com<mailto:w3kd.arrl@gmail.com>> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2018 12:49 PM To: Laura Smith <Laura.Smith(a)fcc.gov<mailto:Laura.Smith@fcc.gov>> Cc: Henderson, Dan N1ND <dhenderson(a)arrl.org<mailto:dhenderson@arrl.org>>; Shelley, Barry, N1VXY <bshelley(a)arrl.org<mailto:bshelley@arrl.org>>; mark.crosby(a)enterprisewireless.org<mailto:mark.crosby@enterprisewireless.org>; exec-com <exec-com(a)arrl.org<mailto:exec-com@arrl.org>> Subject: FCC Enforcement Advisory, DA 18-980; Advisory Number 2018-03 Greetings, Laura, I hope you and your family are very well. ARRL is, overall, quite pleased with the FCC Enforcement Advisory that was issued this past Monday with respect to two-way, VHF and UHF radio importation, marketing and sale. However, I wanted to raise with you a significant concern with the language in the document with respect to licensed Amateur use, exclusively in Amateur allocations, of equipment that does not have a grant of certification and which is capable of transmitting on frequencies outside of Amateur allocations as well as within Amateur allocations. As I understand it, you have been asked by EB to field calls from radio Amateurs who have questions about this Advisory, and ARRL Headquarters has also received a large number of calls about the policy. I want to see if you and ARRL are on the same page with respect to this narrow, but significant issue. Part of the reason that I accompanied Mark Crosby and other LMCC representatives recently to a meeting with Rosemary Harold and other EB front office staff was that often, certain Chinese radio importers have identified their uncertified (or in certain cases, certified) products as Amateur Radio equipment, when the radios are marketed principally to the general public via mass e-marketers and not to Amateur Radio licensees. Since the radios are sold at very low price points (which has been alleged by some legitimate competitors to constitute "dumping" in violation of U.S. antitrust laws) they are being purchased in large quantities by the general public. Radio amateurs are complaining of increased, unlicensed use of Amateur allocations by hunters, fishermen and those who participate in outdoor activities, etc. While in most cases these radios are in fact usable at VHF and UHF by licensed radio Amateurs, these Asian manufacturers and importers are misrepresenting their markets and the Amateur Service is being misrepresented in the process. We believe that the Enforcement Advisory is very helpful in an effort to clarify the situation generally and to stop these practices. However, we also are of the view that the Advisory is in material error in one respect: We believe that it misstates the entitlement of radio Amateurs who are in possession of a VHF or UHF transceiver that is not certified in any radio service, but which is capable of transmitting on both Amateur frequencies and in allocations of other radio services, to use that radio to transmit solely on Amateur frequencies. The Advisory broadly prohibits the "use" of such radios but our view is that there is no such prohibition relative to licensed Amateur use, entirely within Amateur allocations, of a radio that may be capable of operation in non-Amateur spectrum (as long as it is not actually used to transmit in non-Amateur spectrum). The Advisory, in the first paragraph, after describing the nature of the radios under discussion, states that "These radios must be authorized by the FCC prior to being imported, advertised, sold or operated in the United States". While this is true generally in most radio services, there is no obligation on the part of licensed radio Amateurs to use radios that are FCC-certified, unless they incorporate scanning receivers or unless they are linear amplifiers. For many, many years, Amateur radio HF transceivers have been capable of operation in the 3-30 MHz range simply by changing crystals, or in the VHF and UHF range the in the same manner. Other transceivers have incorporated expanded band capability in order to enable MARS or CAP operation, allocations for which are outside Amateur allocations per se. And of course, more recently, Software-defined radios have been sold with user-selectable transmit capability without limitation. Licensed Amateurs have also, for many decades, modified commercial VHF and UHF radio equipment for legal use in the Amateur Service, though such modifications do vitiate the certification grant originally issued to the device in some other radio service. The Advisory does not adequately account for the fact that Part 97 service rules for the Amateur Service do not limit Amateur Radio operators to using only radio equipment certified in other radio services or equipment that is capable of Amateur band transmit only. While the Commission's rules do prohibit the importation, advertising, selling or marketing of uncertified radios that are capable of Amateur band operation and other band operation, there is no rule prohibiting licensed Amateurs from using an uncertified, expanded-transmit-capable radio on Amateur allocations. We realize of course that the intention of the Public Notice is broad; that it is intended essentially for the information of users of these uncertified radios on Part 90 (or 95, 80, 84 or 74 etc.) allocations. However, the Advisory states, for example, in the second paragraph that "Anyone importing, advertising or selling such noncompliant devices should stop immediately, and anyone owning such devices should not use them." Anyone, in this context, does not include licensed radio Amateurs operating in Amateur allocations in accordance with Part 97 rules. Finally, in the section on page 2 of the Advisory that pertains to the "Amateur Radio Exception", the statement is made that "If a two-way, VHF/UHF radio is capable of operating outside of the amateur frequency bands, it cannot be imported, advertised, sold, or operated within the United States without an FCC equipment authorization." (emphasis added).That statement is not correct in ARRL's view. It would be correct if the words "or operated" were not in the sentence. Nor is there any comfort from the citation of authority quoted in the notice of New Generation Hobbies, 26 FCC Rcd. 9468, 9471, n.23 (EB 2011) which pertained only to marketing of uncertified, expanded transmit Amateur equipment and not use thereof. The bottom line here is that we want to tell licensed radio Amateurs that they do not have to stop using equipment that may have been illegally imported, marketed or sold heretofore. We are hoping that a stop will be made to the illegal importing, marketing and sale. But those thousands of radio Amateurs who now possess this equipment are not, as far as we can determine, prohibited by any Commission rule, prohibited from using it in accordance with all Part 97 rules and the terms of their Amateur licenses. I hope that we are in agreement about this, because ARRL intends to proceed with the publication of an explanation along the above lines to the Amateur Radio community. If you would advise us to take this subject up with Rosemary Harold, we will gladly do so. We are hoping too that perhaps ARRL's publication of the above interpretation might make it easier for you to respond to contacts from radio Amateurs who are confused about their regulatory obligations in this context. Thanks for reading this lengthy e-mail, and thanks to the EB for issuing this important Enforcement Advisory. Kind regards, Chris Imlay General Counsel, ARRL -- 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<mailto:W3KD@ARRL.ORG>

1 0

[arrl-odv:27599] Today's FCC Daily Digest
by Tom Frenaye 24 Sep '18

24 Sep '18

Of interest from today's FCC Daily Digest: TWO-WAY VHF/UHF RADIOS MAY NOT BE IMPORTED, ADVERTISED, OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES UNLESS THEY COMPLY WITH THE COMMISSION'S RULES. Advises retailers and operators that VHF/UHF two-way radios must comply with FCC technical requirements before they may be marketed, imported or operated . by Advisory. (DA No. 18-980). News Media Contact: Will Wiquist at (202) 418-0509, email: <mailto:Will.Wiquist@fcc.gov>Will.Wiquist(a)fcc.gov. EB. Contact: Jonathan Garvin at (202) 418-1130, email: <mailto:Jonathan.Garvin@fcc.gov>Jonathan.Garvin(a)fcc.gov. <https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.doc>DA-18-980A1.doc <https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.pdf>DA-18-980A1.pdf <https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.txt>DA-18-980A1.txt -- 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

3 2

[arrl-odv:27598] Welcome to the ARRL Howard....
by RILEY HOLLINGSWORTH 24 Sep '18

24 Sep '18

it's a great organization and I look forward to working with you to make Amateur Radio last a hundred years! Riley K4ZDH Atlantic Division

1 0

[arrl-odv:27575] FW: Today / Tomorrow Survey
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 22 Sep '18

22 Sep '18

Good Afternoon: As part of the Discovery and Strategy process defined by Mintz & Hoke in the first stages of the project, they are asking for input from staff and Board regarding how we see the organization today and where we see the future of the ARRL. Your input is important to this process and is key to laying out a direction for the future. To participate in this process, there is a link below to three questions to which we would like you to respond. The input will be collated and presented as part of the presentation to the Board expected for the January meeting. The request from Mintz & Hoke is also included below. If you would like your input to be included, please complete the simple questionnaire by next Wednesday, September 19th. I urge you to participate in this important effort. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Executive Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org Survey Prompt: Please use the link below to participate in our today/tomorrow survey, as a step in the positioning and messaging development process for ARRL. There are 3 questions and no wrong answers. The purpose of this is to ask each member of this group to explain ARRL in simple terms, in two ways. To identify and help us to see what themes are top-of-mind when talking about ARRL today and also when talking about the organization you envision for the future. Some differences amongst the responses may be subtle and some may be dramatic, and they may signify a shift in thinking that could prove important to the organization. This survey and the resulting data will help us to identify those differences. https://caffeinated.wufoo.com/forms/x1r2otq00tz3y25/ Thank you, Tim ----------------------------------------- Timothy Drugan Account Executive Mintz + Hoke 40 Tower Lane Avon, CT 06001 p: 860-679-9788 e: Timothyd(a)mintz-hoke.com<mailto:Timothyd@mintz-hoke.com> [http://www.mintz-hoke.com/img/topEmployer/emailFooterLogo2017.jpg] http://www.mintz-hoke.com http://www.mhmediaonly.com DISCLAIMER AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended for addressed recipient(s) only. If you are not the addressed recipient(s) you should not disseminate, distribute, copy or alter this email. Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and might not represent those of Mintz & Hoke Inc. Warning: Although Mintz & Hoke Inc. has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.

2 2

[arrl-odv:27589] WB2ITX on Reflectors
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) 21 Sep '18

21 Sep '18

Good morning. Just an informational item this morning, we have added CEO-elect Howard Michel, WB2ITX, to all the relevant email reflectors including OD, ODV, Exec Committee, A&F and PSC. Howard stopped by the office yesterday and we agreed that, for the time being, he will be in "receive only" mode until he officially comes on board in October. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Executive Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org

6 5

[arrl-odv:27595] In-Newsletter September 21 2018
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 21 Sep '18

21 Sep '18

Please see this week's attached In-News, which includes highlights on our media and communications efforts and visibility regarding Hurricane Florence. Have a great weekend!

1 0

[arrl-odv:27592] WB2ITX on Reflectors
by James F. Boehner MD 21 Sep '18

21 Sep '18

Howard, Welcome, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with you. '73 de JIM N2ZZ Director - Roanoke Division Representing ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina sections ARRL - The National Association for Amateur RadioT From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Shelley, Barry, N1VXY (CEO) Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2018 10:42 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:27589] WB2ITX on Reflectors Good morning. Just an informational item this morning, we have added CEO-elect Howard Michel, WB2ITX, to all the relevant email reflectors including OD, ODV, Exec Committee, A&F and PSC. Howard stopped by the office yesterday and we agreed that, for the time being, he will be in "receive only" mode until he officially comes on board in October. 73, Barry J. Shelley, N1VXY Chief Executive Officer ARRL, Inc. The national association for Amateur Radio (860) 594-0212 www.arrl.org

1 0

[arrl-odv:27587] ODV to receive 2019 Handbook Six-Volume Boxed Set
by Middleton, Diane, W2DLM (CFO) 17 Sep '18

17 Sep '18

A note from Bob Inderbitzen, Marketing Manager: Dear Officers, Directors, and Vice Directors: Each of you has likely noticed our increasing promotion of the 2019 edition ARRL Handbook<http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbook-2019/>, offered for the first time as a 6-volume boxed set. The convenient new format is already generating a lot of positive buzz. We're taking advance orders now (September), and we'll begin fulfilling the books in early October. The softcover edition is still being offered too, for anyone who prefers that format. A complimentary copy of the 6-volume boxed set will be sent to all Officers, Directors, and Vice Directors in early October. We will also include a summary of features, to help you promote the book as you travel to hamfests and club meetings throughout the fall. If you would prefer the softcover edition (rather than the boxed set), please contact Kim McNeill, kmcneill(a)arrl.org<mailto:kmcneill@arrl.org>. Otherwise, the 6-volume set will be sent to you automatically. Please enjoy the 2019 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications - which includes the good work of so many content contributors, editors, and our staff. It's a great source of pride among our team! 73 Bob NQ1R

1 0