October 2020 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:31204] Shelley / You
by david davidsiddall-law.com 19 Oct '20

19 Oct '20

Mike, Sorry to hear about Shelley, our prayers are with you. Dave From: Michael Ritz <w7vo(a)comcast.net> Date: Monday, October 19, 2020 at 5:32 PM To: "Roderick, Rick, K5UR via arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:31203] Re: Executive Committee Meeting Rick; Shelley's post-operative recovery is a bit rough at the moment, so I don't know that I'll be able to attend the EC meeting as a guest on Thursday. We'll see.... Just in case, I will let you know that I will "go with the flow" in support of what ever the EC decides upon regarding an in-person or virtual meeting in January. I have no preference either way. My guess is that we will end up having another virtual meeting though, as this COVID thing just keeps dragging along. 73; Mike W7VO

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[arrl-odv:31201] Executive Committee Meeting
by k5ur＠aol.com 19 Oct '20

19 Oct '20

Hi all: FYI, we have an EC meeting scheduled for this Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM Eastern. See info below. The main item is to discuss the arrangements for the January Board meeting and whether to have an in-person meeting or a virtual meeting. 73,Rick - K5UR AGENDA – ARRL Executive Committee Meeting 2:00 PM Eastern October 22, 2020 via Zoom 1. Welcome and consideration of the agenda for the meeting 2. Approval of agenda 3. January Board Meeting arrangements 4. Chief Executive Officer/Secretary's Report 5. FCC Counsel's Report 6. Recognition of new Life Members 7. Other Business 8. Adjournment -----Original Message----- From: Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX <cpereira(a)arrl.org> To: exec-com <exec-com(a)arrl.org> Sent: Mon, Oct 19, 2020 8:15 am Subject: [exec-com:9651] Executive Committee Meeting Carla Pereira is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82387280120?pwd=Wm16dmdxUnA0SzdDOU9jU2s0cG5IZz09 Meeting ID: 823 8728 0120 Passcode: 600 One tap mobile +13126266799,,82387280120#,,,,,,0#,,600# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,82387280120#,,,,,,0#,,600# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 823 8728 0120 Passcode: 600 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbwYCK0xj2 _______________________________________________ exec-com mailing list exec-com(a)reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/exec-com

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[arrl-odv:31184] Re: FCC Proposed Fees on Radio Amateurs
by david davidsiddall-law.com 18 Oct '20

18 Oct '20

ODV, The fees Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in this morning’s Federal Register (https://tinyurl.com/yyk8f2yp) The deadline for comments is November 16, and the Reply comment deadline is November 30. As you discuss this with your constituents, or write articles for your newsletters, you might find the following suggestions of mine helpful. Take what you like, ignore what you don’t (or something like that). (Good) Arguments Against FCC Fees for Radio Amateurs 1. Amateurs contribute to the public good. In many areas they provide an emergency communications backbone capability at no taxpayer cost. Consistently we have witnessed storms and natural disasters completely wipe out internet, cellular, and other means of communication. Radio amateurs often fill that void on an unmatched, flexible basis when needed. One recent example is the California wildfires. 1. Unlike operators in other FCC licensed services, Amateur Radio operators by law – domestic and international -- must eschew using their license for any pecuniary interest. Amateurs are prohibited from earning or charging any money for any communications activity. The expenses for their equipment and activities come out of their own pockets, with no opportunity for reimbursement or payment of any kind. 1. The United States is experiencing a severe lack of RF engineers and expertise at the very time it is needed by the burgeoning wireless industries. Amateur radio is helping to meet the deficit, but much more is needed and youngsters (High School and College-aged) are least able to afford licensing fees. RF knowledge and related digital expertise is needed to maintain U.S. leadership in wireless industries. At a minimum, young people (below the age of 26) should be exempt from the proposed license fees. 1. Amateur radio is self-regulating. (a) Amateur examinations are written and administered by radio amateur volunteers. (b) Examination results and paperwork most often are submitted electronically to the FCC. Electronic submission could be required if there would be a cost savings to the Commission. (c) Amateur radio educational classes are conducted by volunteers who by-and-large do not charge fees or tuition for teaching. (d) The amateur service, in cooperation with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, has a volunteer corp that monitors the amateur airwaves and has programs that try to prevent their misuse before FCC involvement might be needed. The amateurs also observe non-amateur signals both within amateur spectrum and outside it, and report unusual or suspicious signals. 1. Amateur radio continues to be a source of significant technological innovation that should be encouraged, not discouraged. Some Suggestions * I do not recommend arguing that the $50. fee every 10 years, which amounts to $5.00 a year, will “kill” amateur radio, even though as proposed this is for each covered application, which includes upgrade applications. Tech-General-Extra could be $150. if exams taken at different sessions, a substantial amount. But it “rings” the wrong way to say the whole service turns on $5./year for each licensee. If that’s all it would take …. * The Commission argues that the charges are required by the statute. The word used is “shall”, which is mandatory, not optional. But the statute does not set the amount, nor does it prohibit reasonable exceptions – evidenced by the Commission’s proposal to exempt from fees administrative update applications based on policy grounds. * This is not “aimed at amateur radio to kill it.” There is a long history and precedent on charging fees for the licensing service involved, just as there is for passports, green cards, drivers licenses (issued by states), etc. Better to make pertinent arguments on why the fees would impair the public benefits of the amateur radio service than argue that the whole service might die as a result of a fee that, in fact, is less than the fee many of us paid in the 1960’s and 1970’s, including myself as a struggling high school and college student (if adjusted for inflation). * For background: this proceeding is being handled by staff unfamiliar with amateur radio. It is being handled in the FCC’s Office of Managing Director (OMD), not in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau where the amateur-specific Part 97 matters are handled. The focus of OMD is accounting – budgets and the like for the entire Commission. The fee proposals cover every FCC license and service across the board and the consideration was directed by Congress. I recommend keeping “ham jargon” out of comments, it won’t be understood by the intended recipients. 73, Dave K3ZJ David R. Siddall Managing Partner DS Law, PLLC 1629 K St. NW, Ste 300 Washington, DC 20006 direct: +1 202 559 4690 Unauthorized Disclosure Prohibited. This e-mail is intended solely for the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is proprietary, confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, it is prohibited to disclose, copy, distribute, or use the contents of this email and its attachments. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all electronic and physical copies of the e-mail message and its attachments. Unintended transmission shall not constitute waiver of attorney-client or any other privilege. Thank you.

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[arrl-odv:31199] FCC talking points, Cliff Notes version
by Michael Ritz 18 Oct '20

18 Oct '20

I was reading the 2019 ARRL Annual Report last night, and what is printed on the back cover of that document tells us just about all the major talking points that need to go into FCC comments regarding Docket 20-270. It's reminding them of what is already covered in Part 97.1 of Title 47: Basis and Purpose of Amateur Radio (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&ifra… to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&ifra… through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art. (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts. (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. 73; Mike W7VO BTW, my wife Shelley came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon, and is now recovering at home. Friday was difficult, as the surgery that was supposed to take less than two hours actually took over six. Those last four were the longest hours of my life. I would like to thank everybody in the ODV family for the prayers and well wishes. It really made a difference, and hopefully, the worst is behind us.

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[arrl-odv:31177] FW: Amateur Radio frequencies being used by Oathkeepers network
by Bob Famiglio, K3RF 17 Oct '20

17 Oct '20

The board may recall a few weeks ago I relayed some concerns EPA section members, who are VEs, had about helping certain groups get licensed. Some here pointed out it may not be our call as to what is business use and what is not, concerning amateur radio. That may be right or at least reasonable minds may differ as to whether intended use by non-profit groups for operations is considered business or improper use of our spectrum. The use by the oath keepers may be little different than a big radio club. Below I forward some follow up. The video presentation by the Oath Keepers is interesting. I make no judgement, and many people would suggest the referenced group in the video are mostly honorable folks – I think that may be right. But my concern might be use of our spectrum for other than traditional amateur radio operations, even if licensed and even if entirely non-profit. Some on this board responded privately to me last time I raised this and observed similar interest by prepper or other groups in getting a large group licensed only to not pursue any licensing after they were shown the systems and radios available. An analogy which might be useful to consider is if the Red Cross used its licensed operators to run regular non-profit operations over the amateur bands. Sometimes they border on that in my area. Is it helpful to our long-term health as a radio service? The video is interesting as they suggest use of even certain public safety radio frequencies is allowed during emergency operations by non-law enforcement groups to coordinate with police or other emergency responders. The applicable FCC rules, part 90 and others, are a bit more complicated than that of course. Just an FYI. I don’t know there is much more to be discussed about this, yet, nor is there anything we might do. If this type of use becomes more popular in a few years, well. . . But I thought this might be of interest. I hope I am wrong, but such use may be a problem a few years from now. Bob Famiglio, K3RF Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division 610-359-7300 www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF From: melody(a)mars73.com Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 11:52 AM To: K3RF Bob Famiglio <RBFamiglio(a)verizon.net> Subject: Amateur Radio frequencies being used by Oathkeepers network Hi Bob, I have a Google Alert on Amateur Radio and yesterday I saw a new entry that includes a video I found disturbing: The Oathkeepers have chosen Amateur Radio frequencies to be their communication method for emergency communication. This video was created in AZ with the goal to share it with members in other states. I believe this has to do with their activities planned in and around the general election. My club was contacted twice this year by someone claiming to be a regional coordinator for the Oathkeepers. His name is Chuck Ortwein and he requested license training with a focus on the creation of a communication network and a license exam session for thirty people. We declined the request — we are not meeting or offering exams due to the pandemic. I didn’t think too much of it until I saw the recent threats for a “civil war” made by their national leader which led to the groups’s recent ban on Twitter and Facebook. It’s my understanding that they will soon receive training and an exam session by another person or group in SE PA. There are many hams who like and defend this group. Many of their members are former law enforcement and military personnel. But their planned use of Amateur Radio frequencies as a tool for their group emergency communications is very concerning to me. This usage is not in the spirit of Amateur Radio. If you think it is appropriate I’d appreciate your sharing this with others in the ARRL so they can be made aware of this effort. Yesterday I shared it with the EPA Section Mgr. Page link: https://prescottenews.com/index.php/2020/10/11/oath-keepers-4-the-communica… YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/DoYpn77H6NA (26:45 minutes) Thank you. 73 Melody, KB3SJR Melody Bowers 484-363-9219 Melody(a)mars73.com <mailto:Melody@mars73.com> Melody

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[arrl-odv:31190] ARES group publishes book?
by Mark J Tharp 16 Oct '20

16 Oct '20

So the proceeds from this go directly to the ARRL as ARES is a league program right? I'm wondering if the title of this story should be changed so it does not imply that the ARES group actually did this. Rather three individuals who happen to belong to this ARES group did? ?? Discuss.. Mark, HDX [image: image.png]

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[arrl-odv:31188] IN Newsletter October 16, 2020
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 16 Oct '20

16 Oct '20

Please see this week's IN Newsletter, attached, for recent updates from HQ. Happy Friday everyone!

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[arrl-odv:31183] FCC fee proposal
by rjairam＠gmail.com 15 Oct '20

15 Oct '20

It has been published in the federal register today: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/10/15/2020-21530/schedule-of… I hope our response conveys not only to the FCC but to members that we vigorously oppose this fee. 73 Ria N2RJ

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[arrl-odv:31182] BOARD CONFIDENTIAL
by Middleton, Diane, W2DLM (CFO) 15 Oct '20

15 Oct '20

Good afternoon - Attached for your review is ARRL's 2019 Form 990 that will be submitted to the IRS next week. Please note that this copy includes the non-public Schedule B that lists donor information that should not be shared. Once the IRS accepts our filing, the public version (which excludes Schedule B) will be posted on our website. I am happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. 73, Diane Middleton, W2DLM Chief Financial Officer ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio (r) 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0225

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[arrl-odv:31181] Nobel prize for spectrum auctions
by rjairam＠gmail.com 14 Oct '20

14 Oct '20

Two Stanford economists get rewarded somewhat for showing the FCC how to sell off the radio spectrum for the most money: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/business/nobel-economics-paul-milgrom-ro… Interesting. 73 Ria N2RJ

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