Dear Officers, Directors and Vice Directors,

The following story will appear in today's ARRL Letter.

73, Howard, WB2ITX

--
ARRL is getting underway with the development phase of the new Volunteer
Monitors program and has contracted with former Atlantic Division Vice
Director Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, to oversee the development and
implementation of the program, which replaces the Official Observers
program. Hollingsworth, a retired Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) enforcement official, has resigned his vice directorship in order
to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

“I am grateful for the Atlantic Division ARRL members supporting me, but
I think I can better serve the Atlantic Division, and all ARRL
divisions, by working in the Volunteer Monitors program,” Hollingsworth
said in his resignation letter.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said that Hollingsworth is the ideal
person to lead the ARRL’s efforts in the development and implementation
of this joint program with the FCC. “I support Riley’s decision to
concentrate his efforts on this very valuable project on behalf of the
ARRL,” said Roderick. (Details on appointment of a new vice director for
the Atlantic Division are still to be determined.)

The new Volunteer Monitors program, which was approved by the ARRL Board
in July 2018, is a program of the ARRL in cooperation with the FCC in
which volunteers trained and vetted by the ARRL will monitor the
airwaves and collect evidence that can be used to correct misconduct or
recognize exemplary on-air operation. Cases of flagrant violations or
noncompliance will be directed to the FCC by the ARRL for action in
accordance with guidelines establish by the FCC. The intent of this
program is to re-energize enforcement efforts in the Amateur Radio
bands. It was proposed by the FCC in the wake of several FCC regional
office closures and a reduction in field staff.

Hollingsworth has identified three phases to the program – Development,
Solicitation and Training, and Implementation. The Development phase
will include drafting a mission statement, clearly defining the ARRL’s
and FCC’s requirements and needs as part of the program, writing a job
description for the volunteer manager position, and developing a
training manual for volunteers.

The Solicitation and Training phase will involve identifying the
geographic locations where volunteer monitors will be most needed,
soliciting applications and screening applicants. Current Official
Observers will be invited to apply for appointment as Volunteer Monitors
(VMs). The ARRL Board continues to express its appreciation for the OOs
and their dedicated volunteer service over the years.

The Implementation phase of the program will involve having the
volunteers providing field reports and ARRL staff providing guidance to
the volunteers to ensure that the information collected meets FCC
requirements. In addition, there will be continuing education provided
to the volunteers.

Hollingsworth has committed to FCC and ARRL officials to ensure the
adequacy of training for the new positions, to review the quality and
utility of Volunteer Monitor submissions to the FCC for enforcement
actions, and to advocate for rapid disposition of cases appropriately
submitted to the FCC.

ARRL officials estimate that it will take 9 to 12 months for the first
Volunteer Monitors to begin filing their reports.


--
Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX
Chief Executive Officer
ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio®
225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA
Telephone: +1 860-594-0404
email: hmichel@arrl.org

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