I don't want to cite the source given the climate within the FCC, but Director Vallio and I were told this by an informed source: Martin has deployed all available resources to the campaign to inform the public about the digital TV conversion and nothing else, including amateur enforcement, was going to get any attention until after that event in February. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "Joel Harrison" <w5zn@arrl.org> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:45:35 To: arrl-odv<arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Subject: FCC Enforcement, Antenna Legislation & Misc An update on a few things. 1. There is quite a bit of "news" floating around now from CQ Magazine about the lack of FCC enforcement. It is quite disappointing that they have chosen to publicly tout the fact that the FCC is currently in limbo in replacing Riley Hollingsworth and no FCC enforcement is occurring. We're not asleep at the wheel here in trying to rectify this. Fact is, the FCC Enforcement Bureau is quite bothered by this as well and the hold up is squarely with Chairman Martin. What we know is that until the Chairman gives the Enforcement Bureau the green light to hire a replacement, it will not happen. A few weeks ago, following the EC meeting and at their direction, Chris drafted a letter that I signed and sent to the Chairman requesting they act on this matter immediately. That letter is attached for your information. As a follow up, Chris is attempting to schedule a meeting with the Chairman or representatives from his office in order to attempt to move this forward. Obviously, a major obstacle that we have comes in both good news and bad. The good news is that Chairman Martin's days are numbered. The bad news is there is probably no desire or initiative on his part to do anything whatsoever. So, just so you are all aware we continue to work to resolve this ASAP, we're not sitting on our butts, but sadly it may not happen for some time. 2. Antenna Legislation - At the EC meeting in October we reviewed a draft legislative agenda for the next Congress that will be presented to you for approval at the 2009 Annual Meeting. Obviously, some form of antenna legislation is seriously needed for the Amateur Radio Service to assist us in relieving the restrictions that exist. Chwat & Co. has been lobbying the Hill for a representative to sponsor an antenna bill for us before this Congress ends. The possibility of it passing in what is left of this Congress is VERY rare and something we don't expect will happen, but the strategy for doing so is to have sort of a place holder. If we identify a willing sponsor of a bill, someone obviously that will be returning to the next Congress, then we expect that representative to re-introduce the bill for us again in the next Congress. Chwat & Co. have identified interest from Representative Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas as an interested person that may want to sponsor our bill. Congressperson Lee serves on the House Homeland Security Committee and our tie-in is through that effort. I have directed Chwat to work directly with Chris to draft a bill and to continue to interface with the Congressperson's staff. More as this develops. 3. IARU Region I Conference - Dave and Rod have been attending the IARU Region I Conference this week in Croatia. Dave is representing the IARU Administrative Council and Rod as a representative of IARU Region II. The conference concluded last night. You recall IARU Region I President Ole Garpstadt, LA2RR, was nominated as the person to serve as IARU Vice President and did not seek re-election in Region I. In addition, Don Beatty, G3BJ, did not seek re-election as Region I Secretary. The newly elected officers for IARU Region I are: President - Hans Blondeel Timmermann, PB2T Vice President - Tafa Diop, 6W1KI Secretary - Dennis Green, ZS4BS The next IARU Region I conference will be in South Africa in 2011. Dave will have a report upon his return to the office next week. Tomorrow is ballot counting day for Director and Vice Director elections. The results will be sent to you as soon as they are declared official and the candidates are notified. As usual, I will be contacting the candidates during the day tomorrow. The Administration & Finance Committee, under the direction of Chairman Jim Fenstermaker, will meet Saturday at ARRL HQ to discuss and approve for forwarding to the full board the 2009 Plan that will be voted on by the board in January. I will be in attendance and look forward to an interesting and productive meeting. I want to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone one of you a very pleasant and gracious Thanksgiving holiday next week. 73 Joel W5ZN