<<033011.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 34, No. 13 March 30, 2011 -- Covers the period March 20-26. Upcoming Meetings and Events Administration & Finance Committee April 9 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ Technical Relations Reported by Brennan Price, N4QX Washington staff are evaluating candidates for the vacant administrative position and preparing for upcoming CITEL and ITU Working Party 5A meetings in May and June, respectively. Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND The letter-writing campaign on HR 607 continues to go full steam. During the week, we received reports of hamfest-letter campaigns in both Connecticut and Nebraska. Chwat & Co. reported 778 usable letters received the week of March 7. (They are running about two-weeks behind in their reporting totals.) There continues to be a significant number of letters that either are addressed to members of the Senate or are not usable - about one in six that Chwat is receiving. A teleconference was held at the request of General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and included Imlay, Utah Section Manager Mel Parkes, HQ Field Organization supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, HQ Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, W5MPC, and the HQ Regulatory Information Manager concerning an ongoing problem related to an unaffiliated EmComm group in Utah that continues to use the ARRL ARES logo and name. It was decided that a follow-up letter to the February letter would be sent to all officers of the group. Director Mileshosky and Vice-Director Allen were unable to participate in the teleconference but are aware of the problem and the status. Several queries asking for information on the recent emission type filing were handled, as were several basic questions on reciprocal licensing. We received a copy from Ryan Cairnes, K3XC of his zoning denial written decision and made sure he is aware that he is welcome to contact the ARRL Amateur Radio Legal Defense and Assistance Committee through ARRL General Counsel should he and his attorney wish to seek support if they take the case forward to the NC courts. The Field Day station locator is up and running with 173 stations already listed in the queue. We also are working with a volunteer provided through Allen Pitts, W1AGP, on preparing a version of the Field Day rules in Spanish, which will be added to our website. (Thanks Allen!) Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP HR 607 continues to be a hot media topic and more articles have appeared pointing out the problems of Section 207 of that bill. Among these have been USA Today and Homeland Security Today's daily briefing. There also have been TV and radio spots about it. Creating and maintaining cordial and informative relationships with the reporters involved is paying off. Meanwhile, the ongoing work of writing the monthly issues of Contact! (to come out April 1) and responding to requests for information and promotional materials continues. Text for the 2010 annual report is almost completed and a good selection of illustrations has been gathered from many sources for Graphics to use in layup work. While cleaning out closet storage, Lisa found old audio and video promo tapes which I am having digitized as they may be useful in the centennial. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH Diamond Club revenues have topped $87,000 or 31% of the 2011 revenue goal. Responses are coming in from the large mailing that was sent out in early March. The ARRL Defense Fund has topped $37,000 so far this year. The first issue of Spectrum Defense Matters is complete and printed. It will mail on April 5 to 33,000 donors and be posted on the ARRL web site. A small group of donors who have requested electronic mailing will receive this issue at the end of this week. More than 100,000 ARRL members will receive a link to the newsletter after the paper copies are mailed. Thanks to CEO Sumner, CTO Price and Dan Henderson for their considerable efforts to fill this issue with so much information on a variety of Spectrum Defense related topics. An invitation letter for campaign committee members for the Second Century Campaign has been drafted and sent to Chairman Brandenburg and President Craigie for approval. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE The May 2011 issue of QST has been released to the printer. Production, editorial and web support staff reviewed the videos submitted for the first ARRL Video Contest. The three top entries will receive a prize. Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed the ARRL Letter and produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for March 24, 2011. Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Lab Renovation The lab has temporarily moved to the attic of W1AW. The Lab's renovation and asbestos abatement continues. The tiling of the floor has been started. RFI Initial U-Verse complaints have been filed using the new AT&T process. Thanks to Gordon Beattie, W2TTT for his help in developing this process. The Sounds of RFI Page is now completed on the ARRL's RFI page. Thanks to volunteer Craig Miller, KA1GYB for getting it back online. Two RFI cases of interest include: Interference from Pacific Gas & Electric's Smart Grid to an operator in the 902 MHz band. Although this is also an ISM band under Part 18, the Smart Grid operates under Part 15. Under the FCC rules, a Part 97 operator would have protection from a Part 15 operator. Given the extent of PG&E's Smart Grid deployment, this case may present some unique challenges. Interference from a Phillips LED light bulb. Typically, CFL bulbs operate under Part 18 as a residential RF lighting device. These bulbs have the tightest absolute emissions limits of any Part 15 or 18 device. The new Phillips bulb, however, operates under Part 15. Bob Allison reports it does cause harmful interference on 160 and 80 meters when he uses it at home. While the FCC made special provisions for Part 18 bulbs, there is no special classification for Part 15 bulbs. Product Review The yearly calibration of all test equipment used for Product Review has been completed. The calibration cycle was coordinated during Lab renovations. All test equipment has been re-installed and is up and running with no impact on the test schedule due to renovations. Web Zack Lau updated the propagation forecast for April. It takes about an hour to extrapolate the solar flux for the upcoming month and to choose the forecast that best matches that prediction. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N Field Organization/Public Service Team Thanks to the Mailroom Staff, the Nevada Section Manager election ballots and candidate statements were mailed to members in Nevada this past week ahead of the scheduled April 1 mailing deadline. Leona Adams has been in touch with all Section Managers to share electronic copies of their Field Organization appointment rosters for their review. As of last week, thanks to the IT Staff, Section Managers are now able to use the report generator on the Section Managers' ARRL Web page to download copies of their Field Organization appointment rosters in HTML, CSV and text formats. Steve Ewald continues to work closely with the Mike Corey and Ken Bailey of the Emergency Preparedness Team on a few projects. Chuck Skolaut noticed that a number of interference cases were dealt with this week. To summarize, we received an update on a long-standing repeater case in California, and another California case involved jamming to a 2 meter repeater. Jammers have also hampered several Long Island repeaters. We received progress reports on an Eastern Massachusetts repeater case and more information on continued interference to a nightly 75 meter net. Official Observers in Alaska followed up on a report of military communications that was heard on 6 meters. An Official Observer in Arkansas reported hearing a station transmit WWV every 10 minutes on 3990 kHz. This is under investigation. Complaints were received about language and interference on 14313 kHz, 14250 kHz, and 14272 kHz. These, too, are being checked out. We also received reports regarding unlicensed truckers operating on 10 meters. This was forwarded onto the FCC along with reports about fishing boats that are using 2 meters around the San Francisco area. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 4/22 Holiday Leona Adams 4/1 Vacation Margie Bourgoin 3/28-4/1 Vacation Steve Ewald 4/18-4/25 Vacation Steve Ford 4/20-4/22 Vacation Scott Gee 3/30-4/1 Vacation Mike Gruber 4/29 Vacation `` 5/31-6/3 Vacation Dan Henderson 4/25-4/29 Vacation Mary Hobart 4/4-4/6am Vacation Gail Iannone 3/30-4/1 Vacation Joel Kleinman 3/31 Vacation Zack Lau 5/6 Vacation `` 6/16-6/17 Vacation Maryann Macdonald 4/13-4/15 Vacation Brennan Price 3/30-3/31 Vacation John Proctor 6/22-7/8 Vacation Dave Sumner 4/4 Vacation Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings Bob Inderbitzen 3/31-4/2 AES Superfest, Milwaukee, WI Mary Hobart 4/14-4/17 International DX Convention, Visalia, CA Allen Pitts 4/15-4/18 Communications Academy, Seattle, WA Dan Henderson 4/22-4/24 Louisiana State Convention, Monroe, LA Bob Allison 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Margie Bourgoin 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation Jackie Ferreira 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Steve Ford 5/19-5/24 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation Mike Gruber 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Dan Henderson 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Mary Hobart 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Sabrina Hughes 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Amy Hurtado 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Diane Petrilli 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Bob Allison 6/8-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Jackie Ferreira 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mike Gruber 6/9-6/10 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Dan Henderson 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mary Hobart 6/9-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Amy Hurtado 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Bob Inderbitzen 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Diane Petrilli 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Brennan Price 4/1 ARRL HQ