Interesting update, Dick. Thanks. It's unfortunate that a very well-meaning hobby organization (not meant in a denigrating way) like AMSAT is essentially fragmented operationally and collaboratively because of ITAR. It's even more unfortunate that this is the outcome of their trying to be honest. Go government. 73, Brian N5ZGT -----Original Message----- From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Richard J Norton Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 9:19 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:20517] AMSAT ITAR Update Longtime AMSAT member Ray Soifer, W2RS of Arizona, noticed the comments about AMSAT and ITAR in the League's Board Meeting minutes that were recently published. Ray and I have known each other since the 1950's, when we were teenagers active in the NLI CW traffic net. Ray suggested to me that he thought my background might enable me to be of some use to AMSAT regarding ITAR, and asked if I would contact the AMSAT President, Barry Bains, WD4ASW. I first lined up a volunteer who offered to assist AMSAT in understanding the ITAR processes and even in writing Technical Assistance Agreements, a key component in getting permission for technical interchange. I then called Barry Bains to offer the services. It turns out that Bains already has considerable knowledge of the ITAR program, and will not need the assistance I had lined up. The State Department has made some interesting rulings regarding AMSAT's operation. One is that AMSAT cannot make a TAA that covers AMSAT members because they are volunteers and not employees. Each AMSAT member would have to make an application to have interface with each foreign national, and the foreign national would have to agree to, among other things, to be subject to the laws of the USA. AMSAT has made a number of requests that it considered reasonable, and all have been turned down. This has, as you remember, essentially put a halt to the interchange with AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-Germany. Bains believes the most promising solution to the AMSAT dilemma is found in a proposed bill in the House, HR3288, sponsored by Representative Howard Berman of southern California. The bill would transfer jurisdiction of commercial satellites from the Department of State to the Department of Commerce, where export regulations might be more sensible. AMSAT has talked with the Berman staffer responsible for the bill, and they expect him to add university/education satellites and Amateur Radio satellites to the bill. As Berman's district is in the Southwestern Division, we talked about possibly soliciting constituent letters though the ARRL's director E-mailing system. Should AMSAT decide that they desire this type of assistance, I believe I would need ARRL board approval for such action. Right now, it appears that AMSAT needs nothing from the ARRL. Bains said that he would update President Cragie should anything change. If I get any requests for constituent letter help, I'll request board approval before proceeding. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org http://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv