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NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #889 - POSTED 08/27/94
 
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   The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio
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        In bulletin number 6 of the ham radio conference
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Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...
 
WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
 KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN
 and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!
 
(****************************************************************
 
[889]
 
   Newsline report number 889 for release on Friday, August 26
 1994 to follow.
 
 
                    The following is a QST
 
   The FCC issues a Notice of Apparent Liability to a repeater owner
 failed to take his machine off the air after it's coordination is
 canceled.  In taking the action the commission may have codified the
 right of coordinators to set and enforce rules governing relay
 operations nationwide.
   Also, the Foundation for Amateur Radio hands out fifty
 scholarships and more on the New Zealand group proposing worldwide
 no-code licensing.  These stories and more on Newsline report
 number 889 coming your way right now!
 
 
(*****
                 NAL = COORDINATION RECOGNIZED
 
   A Notice of Apparent Liability issued to a Puerto Rico ham
 whose repeater is alleged to have caused interference to other
 Amateur Radio operations has set the stage to give repeater
 frequency coordinators legal recognition of their activities.
 That is, if the coordinator is one that is recognized by the
 American Radio Relay League.  Heres the story.
   According to an FCC press release,  on April 13th, its San
 Juan, Puerto Rico office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability to
 Monetary Forfeiture in the amount of $7000 against Juan Anthony
 Rodriguez.  Rodriguez who holds the call sign NP4VG was cited for
 his alleged violation of Section 97.101, sub-part D of the
 Amateur Service Rules.  This is the section that deals with
 willful interference by one radio amateur to another, and the
 FCC says that Rodriguez failure to remove his repeater when told
 to do so by the local frequency coordinator and the FCC
 constitutes such a violation.
   The FCC says that back on March 25th, inspectors from its San
 Juan office were called out to investigate repeated interference
 complaints on the frequency of 145.350 MHz.  They used the usual
 close-in direction finding techniques to trace the interference to
 a home in Canovanas, Puerto Rico.  The transmitter allegedly
 causing the interference had a Morse code identifier signing
 NP4VG.
   The FCC says that it took the action in an attempt to solve a
 long standing dispute between the license holders of amateur
 repeater stations WP4CNU and NP4VG.  When the interference
 complaints began to reach the FCC, both parties were reminded of
 the Commission rules as outlined in the Report and Order on
 Private Radio Docket 85-22.  Local FCC officials even went so far
 as to meet individually with the trustees of both systems in an
 attempt to reach a solution to the problem.  Ultimately, they
 returned the case to the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Volunteer
 Frequency Coordinators Incorporated.  This the FCC says this is
 the local organization that is recognized by both the areas
 repeater trustees and the American Radio Relay League as the
 frequency coordinator of choice for Puerto Rico and the Virgin
 Islands.  Note carefully the wording because this is where any
 precedent has been set.  The key words here are "Recognized by
 both the area's repeater trustees and the American Radio Relay
 League."
   Continuing with the story.  Based on information provided to
 the Commission by the coordination council the FCC determined
 that Rodriguez' repeater had been previously decoordinated.  A
 part of the decoordination process was for NP4VG to remove his
 repeater from service and take it off the air.  In other words,
 the FCC says that by loosing its coordination, the NP4VG repeater
 was operating contrary to the will of the amateurs of the region
 as represented by the decision of the ARRL recognized frequency
 coordinator.
   The Commission notes that Rodriguez failed to stop operations
 even after receipt of an order from their San Juan office.  As a
 result it found that Juan Anthony Rodriguez, NP4VG to be -- and we
 quote -- willfully and maliciously causing interference to ongoing
 amateur communications -- end quote.
   In taking this action against NP4VG, the FCC not just given
 validity to the existence and purpose of voluntary frequency
 coordinators in Amateur Radio.  It has gone the one step further
 that coordinators have been seeking for years.  It has codified
 their ability to make decisions concerning who may and may not
 have a repeater on the air.  It has given them the right to order
 a repeater off the air.  It has also said that it will back up the
 decisions of ham radio frequency coordinators with the power of
 federal law, but only for coordinators who are recognized by the
 American Radio Relay League.
   The full text of this FCC press release appears in the current
 issue of the ARRL Field Forum newsletter.  At airtime, it's not
 known if Rodriguez has filed an appeal.
 
(*****
                            TASMA FEE
 
   A new policy of Southern California's two meter frequency
 coordinator will add ten dollars a year to the cost of maintaining
 a two meter repeater.  The Two Meter Area Spectrum Management
 Association of Southern California has voted to impose what it
 terms as an annual "Database Maintenance Fee" on every repeater
 now coordinated by the group.
   Note that this is not being billed as a coordination fee, but
 none the less, if a system fails to pay, its coordination could be
 canceled and its owner asked to remove his repeater from the air.
   Again the idea here is not to collect the fee as much as it is
 to insure that every available kilohertz of two meter relay
 spectrum is used to maximum efficiency.  TASMA seems to feel that
 the owners of non existent or paper repeaters will not want to
 cough up money just to keep a two meter channel pair in reserve.
 Whether the organization is right or wrong on this one, remains to
 be seen.
   The big question is whether or not TASMA can force the issue of
 collection since the idea of a database fee is not sitting well
 with many long time repeater owners.  Numerous packet radio
 bulletins have been posted which are highly critical of the TASMA
 database maintenance fee.  Some flatly say that it should be
 ignored.  But there is the action just reported having taken place
 in Puerto Rico.  It seems to give repeater coordinators sweeping
 new powers.  This considered, the TASMA database fee would seem to
 bring with it almost the power of collection of federal law.
 
(*****
                    PIRATE RADIO AND THE FCC
 
   A tip from a ham radio operator has helped nab another unlicensed
 broadcast operation.
   Yet another self professed pirate mini broadcaster has
 been put off the air, and this time its a ham that made the
 enforcement action possible.  It happened in Dallas, Texas after
 the FCC's regional office received a complaint from an amateur
 radio operator complaining of a an unlicensed AM radio station in
 the area identifying itself as "Hard Rock 1620."
   FCC investigators traced the illegal broadcasts more than ten
 miles.  They finally arrived at the residence of the operator in
 Rowlette, Texas.  They say that the pirate Disk Jockey was using a
 transmitter that was FCC approved for Part 73, but that he held no
 station license.  He also was using the power lines as his antenna
 system to help conceal his operation.
   Further investigation revealed that the operator was the same
 person that they had closed down in 1991 for similar pirate radio
 operation.  The operator still owes $600 on his $1,200 fine from
 1991.
   Guess what.  He is going to owe a lot more in a few weeks after
 his next fine arrives in the mail.
 
(*****
                        FAR SCHOLARSHIPS
 
   The Maryland-based foundation for Amateur Radio has announced
 the 1994 winners of the 50 college scholarships that it administers.
 The top, $2,000 winner Craig A. Gullickson, KC6CEX.  Craig is 20
 years old, holds an Extra class license and attends Cal Poly in San
 Louis Obispo, California.  He says that the Foundation administered
 Scholarships are important to all young people seeking a high
 education:
 
   "It gives them a opportunity to show what they have done, be
 competitive as to working hard and being able to actually be
 recognized and help out a little bit in their studies.  Kind of
 giving them something for showing towards the future that they have
 something to work for."  Craig Gullickson, KC6CEX.
 
   Another 20 student hams received scholarships of $1,000 or
 more.  These grants are open to all radio amateurs meeting the
 qualifications and residence requirements of the various sponsors.
 The non-profit Foundation represents more than 50 clubs in
 Maryland, northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
   For more information and application forms for 1995
 scholarships contact the Foundation for Amateur Radio, 6903 Rhode
 Island Avenue, College Park, Maryland 20740.
 
(*****
            N0ONP - A PROFILE OF A SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
 
   As we said, the Foundation for Amateur Radio oversees a large
 number of educational endowment programs every year.  Awarded the
 YLRL International Scholarship for 1994 is 17 year old Stefnee
 Lindberg, N0ONP, of Kansas City, Missouri.  Stefnee told Newsline
 that getting this monetary grant is very important to her because
 it means she can devote all of her attention to her studies:
 
   "It will allow me more time to concentrate on the work at hand,
 rather than trying to concentrate on a job at the same time."
 Stefnee Lindberg, N0ONP.
 
   Stefnee, who was also awarded a $2,000 scholarship earlier this
 year by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association will be entering the
 University of Missouri at Columbia this fall.  She plans to major
 in computer engineering.  N0ONP says even that was a decision
 influenced by Amateur Radio:
 
   "I've done a little work with packet and did just a lot of work
 with my ham friends and have seen what it can do.  Like in the flood
 for example we used packet to communicate between shelters in the
 Salvation Army.  I saw the benefits of it there, and how important it
 is in todays world and how much easier it make things."  Lindberg,
 N0ONP.
 
   By the way, Stefnee Lindberg, N0ONP has been a ham for about three
 years.  She holds an Advanced class license.
 
(*****
                       ORACLE FOLLOW-UP
 
   Now a follow-up to our story last week on the newly formed
 Organization Requesting Alternatives by Code Free Examinations --
 ORACLE.  That item seems to have generated more interest than
 anything since the FCC enacted the no-code Technician class
 ticket.
   For those of you who may have missed last weeks newscast,
 ORACLE is a New Zealand based international lobbying effort aimed at
 making testing for knowledge of Morse Code an option in international
 radio law, rather than it being a rule.
   Many of the messages were the anticipated "Morse Code Forever"
 calls.  Those were expected.  What truly amazed us was the number
 of hams wanting to know more about how a group of six people in
 the South Pacific might be able to convince telecommunications
 administrations worldwide to do away with the Morse Code
 requirement for ham radio licensing.  The answer to that came in
 an Internet message to us from ORACLE founder Bob Vernall, ZL2CA.
   According to Vernall, the idea is for a separate branch of
 ORACLE to form as an incorporated society in each country.  This
 gives each organization an official status with each nation.
   ZL2CA adds that the New Zealand founding branch of ORACLE
 will be happy to assist groups in other countries to start up.
 It's also willing to provide international co-ordination for their
 efforts.
   For those of you who asked that we give the organizations
 address again, its simply ORACLE, 90 Campbell Street, Karon,
 Wellington, New Zealand.  Also, at airtime we have no knowledge
 of any ORACLE affiliate group operating in Canada or the United
 States.
 
(*****
                               DX
 
   In DX, word that VE3MJQ has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda for a
 six month stay.  He hopes to receive a callsign soon and plans to
 operate mostly SSB.  QSL him via VE2PR.  Also listen for PA3DZN
 who is in Kigali on UN related business.  He should be on as we
 go to air.
 
(*****
                          RADIO MUSEUM
 
   If you talk on HF or your local repeater, if you use a cellular
 phone, or if you just enjoy listening to your favorite songs on
 the broadcast radio, you're among the millions of people
 benefiting from the technology of radio communications.  Now, the
 earliest years of radio broadcasting are getting special, permanent
 recognition.  On July 23rd, the Alabama Historical Radio Society
 opened that state's first radio museum.  The museum's opening is one
 man's dream come true.
 
   "These are some of the pioneers in the industry here.  You
 probably recognize the name of Atwater Kent, and this is Major
 Armstrong.  Of coarse this is Marconi.  And you will find Samuel B.
 Morse over on this side here."  Tour guide of new Radio Museum.
 
   Take a walk through the Don Kresge Radio Museum and you travel
 back to the beginning of radio broadcasting.  From the people to
 the earliest radio receivers.  On one shelf a 1927 Superflex.
 Nearby is a 1942 Philco carefully restored by Society members.
 The museum is full of names many hams will recognize:
 Hallicrafters, Transoceanic and Zenith.  One name with special
 significance here is Don Kresge, a society member who first
 started talking about a museum five years ago.  Robert Frye is
 President of the Alabama Historical Radio Society.
 
   "Don was in radio and helped build the FM radio with Major
 Armstrong and he was an engineer for over 62 years and he had many,
 many radios that he wanted to give a place to.  And at that time we
 didn't have it.  Don pasted last year and as you can see today we
 have that dream for him fulfilled."  Frye.
 
   Society members believe that radio's historical importance is
 in danger of becoming lost in today's high-tech world.  The Radio
 Museum recognizes the tremendous contributions radio has made
 since it's start, contributions that are no less important today.
   If you'd like to visit the Don Kresge Radio Museum, the
 Fairfield Civic Center is about a 20 minute drive from downtown
 Birmingham.  The Museum is open weekdays.
 
(*****
 
   And for this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
 You can write to us at:
                          NEWSLINE
                          P.O. Box 463
                          Pasadena, California
                          91102
 
 
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