The ARRL Letter Online September 13, 1996 (Vol 15, No. 9) Page author: rlindquist@arrl.org Page last revised 9:45 AM ET= 9/13/96 IN THIS EDITION: League petitions FCC to change RF safety rules ARRL membership hits all-time high FCC puts test electronic vanity filing site on Web FCC clarifies vanity filing procedures W1AW/127 Atlantis set for SAREX mission FCC levies $6000 fine for interference Ham radio goes Hollywood--again UNAMSAT-B in orbit 1996 FAR scholarship winners In Brief: Director Vydareny resigns; Balloon launch; National Amateur Radio Exam Days; Goldwater suffers stroke; K1AR leaves CQ; New Hong Kong ham radio prefixes. LEAGUE PETITIONS FCC TO CHANGE NEW RF SAFETY RULES The ARRL has petitioned the FCC to reconsider and reverse portions of the Commission's August 1, 1996, Report and Order that imposed RF-emission safety standards on Amateur Radio, including a 50-W threshold to trigger an RF-safety evaluation. In setting the 50-W threshold, the ARRL said, the FCC failed to consider the effect of antenna height, antenna gain, emission mode, duty cycle or operating frequency. The League asked the FCC either to scale the evaluation threshold by frequency to match the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limits--directly corresponding to the way the regulations scale the exposure levels with frequency--or to set the evaluation threshold for all HF operation at 150 W at a distance of 10 meters from all parts of the antenna. At or below that power level and at that distance from the radiator, "you'd be well on the side of safe, even at 100% duty cycle, with any antenna likely to be encountered on HF," said ARRL Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, KA1CV, our HQ staff liaison to the ARRL RF Safety Committee. "Some VHF/UHF and microwave station configurations could result in an RF exposure exceeding the requirements of the regulations, so the 50-W limit to trigger an evaluation is more appropriate above 30 MHz," said Hare. The ARRL Laboratory staff is working on a QST article that explains the new RF-safety regulations. "The article will tell hams how to evaluate their stations to be in compliance with the new rules," Hare explained. Hare also emphasized that all stations, regardless of output power or frequency, still must abide by the specified MPE limits for RF. "Even my 10-mW HF station has to be in compliance with the MPE limits. At that power level, even under the existing rules, I don't have to evaluate whether it is compliance, however; it is presumed that stations running less than 50 W PEP are in compliance." The new rules, effective January 1, 1997, require licensees of amateur stations running 50 W output or more on any band to conduct a routine RF- safety evaluation to determine if the station could expose people to RF levels that exceed the MPE limits specified in the new rules. (Mobile installations using push-to-talk, regardless of power, are exempt from the environmental evaluation requirement.) In its reconsideration filing, the League called the 50-W threshold "regulatory overkill" and "without scientific basis." Among other things, the League said the means to conduct RF radiation evaluations are not yet available, and the ability to reconfigure a station that might exceed the new limits "is highly problematic." Coupled with any state and local land-use and RF-exposure regulations that might exist, application of the new rules "may constitute a de facto revocation or modification of the station license," the League said. "If amateurs cannot operate using outdoor antennas due to deed restrictions, and they cannot use indoor antennas due to concern about exceeding the MPE levels, all amateur communications are precluded." In addition, the ARRL contends that rules imposed in the Commission's Report and Order "were adopted through flawed procedures." The League said the FCC adopted the rules without advance notice and opportunity for prior comment by those who would be most affected. "Neither the League, nor radio amateurs generally, had any opportunity to comment on, or suggest alternatives to, the rules adopted by the Commission," the ARRL petition said. "The Commission cannot impose substantive rule changes without adequate notice." The ARRL said that the new rules differentiate between ham stations and other Commission licensees, "which are treated far less restrictively." While the FCC preempted state and local government regulation of personal wireless service facilities based on environmental effects of RF emissions, it refused to do the same for ham radio "without any basis for the distinction." The League's petition also said the rules in the Report and Order "contain substantive obligations" that affect both individual hams and the preparation of ham radio examinations. The ARRL already has asked the FCC to extend the deadline to change amateur examinations and modify question pools, but the Commission has yet to act on the request. "The Commission failed to address the impact on radio amateurs, amateur groups, or publishers of Amateur Radio examination preparation materials" the League said. Noting that the FCC has not yet issued revised documents to assist Amateur Radio licensees in determining MPE compliance, the League said that, as it now stands, hams have no way to determine the scope of their obligations under the new rules. The League suggested the FCC vacate its new RF safety rules governing amateur stations and issue a further notice to permit comment on the proposed rules, and, in particular, the 50-W threshold. Hare said the League's proposed HF threshold of 150-W at 10 meters distance from the antenna "encompasses a much greater range of typical Amateur Radio operation without compromising safety." According to the September 9, 1996, issue of Radio Communications Report, the ARRL was not the only one to challenge the RF exposure guidelines. Others filing petitions for reconsideration or clarification are the Personal Communications Industry Association, the Electromagnetic Energy Association, Hammett & Edison Inc (a consulting firm) and the US Department of Defense. ARRL MEMBERSHIP IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH Good news as the 1996 ARRL National Convention gets under way in Peoria, Illinois, this weekend: ARRL membership hit an all-time record of 173,491 members in August. The previous all-time high of 172,752 was reached in March 1995, just before a small dues increase took effect that caused a slight decline. Especially over the past two months, radio amateurs have been joining the ARRL in large numbers to express their support for the League's efforts to defend Amateur Radio frequency allocations against commercial encroachment. In a typical month, about 1500 people join the ARRL for the first time. During July and August 1996, the figures were 2461 and 1988 respectively. ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, was encouraged by the membership trend and hopes it will continue. "In this uncertain period, when more and more of the radio spectrum is being offered to the highest bidder, amateurs recognize that we have to stick together. The ARRL is the best glue we have," he commented. FCC PUTS TEST ELECTRONIC VANITY FILING SITE ON THE WEB This is only a test! In preparation for an expected onslaught of Gate 2, 3 and 4 vanity call sign applications, the FCC has made available a test version of the electronic Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign Request form, Form 610V. The electronic test form is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.html (click on Interactive Beta Test Server to access the form). Detailed filing instructions are available by clicking on the item number on the Internet form. The FCC plans to run the Internet electronic filing test for approximately one week, so prospective electronic filers can get a feel for the process and comment on the form. At that point, the FCC is expected to issue another public notice saying when the the electronic Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign Request form will be put on line for real (check W1AW bulletins and the ARRLWeb page for late-breaking information). Send written comments and suggestions regarding electronic filing to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to webmail@fcc.gov. Over the next few months, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau intends to allow applicants for all services to submit their applications over the Internet. For technical assistance, contact the FCC Technical Support Group at 202-414-1250. For general questions regarding the application, call the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Consumer Assistance staff at 800-322-1117.--FCC FCC CLARIFIES VANITY FILING PROCEDURES With vanity call sign Gate 2 set to open September 23, the FCC is asking hams to direct all inquiries concerning amateur vanity call sign requests and filing procedures to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Consumer Assistance Branch in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (800-322-1117). Do not call the Commission's lockbox contractor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Bureau also notes that vanity call sign requests--as well as other application types--are processed in receipt date order only. The time of delivery within a given receipt date has no bearing on the order of processing on that day. An application filed at 12:01 AM has the same processing priority as an application received at 11:59 PM that same day. Applications will be processed in the order received at the processor's work station. The Bureau suggests taking this into consideration when delivering applications to Pittsburgh. (As vanity call sign gates open, no grants will occur until all first-day applications have been received, no matter the manner of delivery--Ed.)--FCC W1AW/127 Ed Hammond, WN1I, one of the newest ARRL staff members, was among those at the Maxim Memorial Station who helped hand out contacts as W1AW/127 from ARRL HQ during the annual= Hiram Percy Maxim Birthday Celebration. Several HQ staffers volunteered to be W1AW guest operators during the final weekend of the event that ran from August 31 to September 8. ATLANTIS SET FOR SAREX MISSION The space shuttle Atlantis is poised for a September 16 launch after being returned to the launch pad following the threat of Hurricane Fran to central Florida. Atlantis had been moved off the pad and into the nearby vehicle assembly building as a precaution, due to the approach of the storm. NASA managers say the launch window opens at about 0854 UTC for mission STS-79, which will carry the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment, or SAREX. Three hams will be aboard Atlantis for STS-79: Jay Apt, N5QWL, Carl Walz, KC5TIE, and John Blaha, KC5TZQ. Prearranged ham radio contacts are scheduled with schools in Kansas, Ohio, and England, and with family and friends of the crew. The astronauts will also make random contacts with the amateur community as their busy schedules permit. During the flight, the shuttle will rendezvous and dock with the Russian space station Mir, ferrying supplies, personnel, and scientific equipment to the complex 240 miles above Earth. Blaha will switch places with astronaut Shannon Lucid, who has been aboard Mir since March. Additional SAREX information can be found on the ARRLWeb SAREX page, http://www.arrl.org/sarex/. FCC FINES ARIZONA MAN FOR VIOLATING AMATEUR RULES One of the more egregious cases of malicious interference to Amateur Radio has apparently ended in Arizona, thanks to a determined effort by amateur volunteers and a little intervention from First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and several members of Congress. On August 30, the FCC fined Timothy Harold Hoffman of Phoenix, Arizona, $6000 for willful violations of various Federal laws last spring. But the headaches did not begin then. Lance Halle, KC7FVX, reports Phoenix repeaters have been plagued for approximately four years by "vile, malicious interference" from an individual posing as a ham and expropriating call signs to use on the air. The problems included interference with ham radio nets and phone patches. Halle said the Arizona Repeater Association's local interference committee had tracked down and identified the guilty party two years earlier and notified the FCC, which caught him "singing vulgar lyrics over a swap net" and issued a Notice of Violation, but not fined. As Halle explained, "That stopped him for a couple of months, but he soon was back, worse than ever" and thumbing his nose at the FCC. The committee kept documenting his activities and began keeping the ARRL in the loop. After a year of "no action," the club began a letter-writing campaign to the Congress and the White House. Last month, Halle got a letter from FCC Compliance and Information Bureau Chief Beverly G. Baker that began, "First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton has asked me to respond to your inquiry." Halle says he also heard from three members of Congress who also got similar letters from the FCC. "It seems the system does work, but needs a little help from Congress at times," Halle observed after the FCC issued the $6000 fine to Hoffman. Halle said he hopes future malicious interference cases get more prompt attention as a result of this case. According to an FCC Further Notice of Apparent Liability, agents from the FCC's Douglas, Arizona, field office using mobile direction-finding equipment last May 14 detected LSB signals on CB channel 36 (27.365 MHz) coming from Hoffman's residence. The transmissions consisted of retransmitted signals from a ham radio repeater on 147.24 MHz, in contravention of federal regulations that prohibit one-way transmissions and transmission of "material to amuse or entertain." The following evening, agents tracked signals on 146.34 MHz, a common 2-meter repeater input frequency, to Hoffman's residence. The operator was using a false Amateur Radio call sign. FCC agents attempted to inspect the radio station, but Hoffman did not allow them to, nor would he confirm or deny the radio operation. However, the FCC says the transmissions stopped after the attempted inspection. After issuing an Official Notice of Violation to Hoffman in June (which cited five specific violations, including transmitting on ham frequencies without a valid operator or station authorization, and willfully and maliciously interfering with ham radio communications), Hoffman admitted responsibility for the violations. At that point, the FCC notified Hoffman that he faces a $6000 fine. "The real credit goes to the volunteers of the Amateur Auxiliary, who did the legwork and follow-up to make it happen," said ARRL Field Services Department Manager Rick Palm, K1CE. "They never gave up and are now entitled to bask in the sunshine of this FCC action. Our hats are off to our League volunteers for a job well done in the face of daunting challenges." MORE HAM RADIO ON THE SILVER SCREEN! Ham radio has another movie role on the horizon, in the Warner Bros movie Contact (based on Carl Sagan's 1985 novel of the same name), due out next summer. ARRL HQ staffers have worked with a representative of the movie maker to provide authentic Amateur Radio props. Contact will star Jodie Foster, James Woods and Matthew McConaughey. Foster will play Ellie Arroway, who, as a girl, got her ham ticket along with her father in the late 1960s, then goes on to become a radio astronomer and the first person to decipher a message received on Earth from extraterrestrial intelligent life. Eventually, she's among the team sent into space to explore the message's origin. Robert Zemeckis will direct the film. ARRL Media Relations Assistant Jennifer Gagne, N1TDY, provided the filmmakers with an ARRL map (thanks to Circulation Manager Deb Jahnke) and other League publications of the 1960s, Executive Vice President David Sumner supplied some vintage QSLs from his own collection, and Educational Activities Department Manager Rosalie White, WA1STO, advised the Warner Bros contact about types of antennas and equipment they'd need to make the movie set realistic. She also sent an appropriate copy of The ARRL Handbook (donated by Mike Tracy, KC1SX) and several late '60s QSTs. ARRL Southwestern Division Director Fried Heyn, WA6WZO, was to assist the film company in obtaining appropriate 1960s-vintage ham equipment. Also, Dave Newkirk, W9VES, contributed a 1971 copy of The ARRL Handbook as well as his historical expertise. Filming for Contact begins this fall. Ham radio played roles in the current films Independence Day and Phenomenon. League staff members also helped to supply some props used in the latter film. UNAMSAT-B IN ORBIT UNAMSAT-B, the first Mexican Amateur Radio satellite, has been launched into orbit from Plesetsk, Russia. The successful launch on September 5, 1996, follows years of postponements and disappointments, including the destruction of UNAMSAT-1. The satellite was built at the Autonomous University of Mexico under the tutelage of David Liberman, XE1TU.= UNAMSAT-B functions as a 1200-baud store-and-forward packet file server similar to OSCARs 16 and 19. Uplinks: 145.815, 145.835, 145.855 and 145.875 MHz; downlink: 437.206 MHz. In addition to its packet capability, UNAMSAT carries a meteor experiment. The satellite will transmit pulses on 40.997 MHz to detect the presence of meteors entering Earth's atmosphere. By analyzing the data files, which will be made available on the server, hams can get a glimpse of meteor activity over various parts of the globe at specific times. Reports indicate the satellite is sending strong signals back to Earth. AMSAT says a first look at telemetry from UNAMSAT indicates all is working well aboard the satellite.= Congratulations to the UNAMSAT team at the National Autonomous University of Mexico! For more information, see their Web page at http://serpiente.dgsca.unam.mx/unamsat/unameng.htm. FOUNDATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO 1996 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Our congratulations and best wishes to these Foundation for Amateur Radio 1996 scholarship winners: John W. Gore Memorial Scholarship ($1250): Tony Drake, KC4OBY, Bradenton, Florida Edwin S. Van Deusen Memorial Scholarship ($1250): Jason W. Nelson, N8XEF, Maysville, West Virginia QCWA Memorial Scholarships: Max Jacobson-John Kelleher Family Scholarship ($1100), Ethan Handwerker, N1SOH, Lexington, Massachusetts; QCWA Memorial Scholarships ($700): Jeffrey Gallant, N2HNY, Monsey, New York; QCWA Leo Meyerson Family Living Scholarship; Adam P. Lekach, N2VEG, Oakhurst, New Jersey, Ralph Hasslinger Charter Member Memorial Scholarship; Terrell R. Clark, KB0JHU, Hopkins, Minnesota; Nathan P. Jeffries, KI7QT, Spokane, Washington; LeAnn S. Kessler, N9ZYJ, Anna, Illinois; Anthony L. Long, KC6QHP, San Diego, California; Joanne C. Peca, N3JFB, Williamsburg, Pennsylvania; April D. Rodgers, N3PPU, Butler, Pennsylvania; James Sikorski, N3PBH, Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania; John M. Steenis, KI7LX, Phoenix, Arizona; Seth A. Strayer, N8YOH, Bellevue, Ohio; David Swaney, N3KCS, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania; Sarah A. Tobin, N0KGY, Jamestown, North Dakota. Radio Club of America Scholarships ($750): from the Grant-in-Aid Fund, Grant P. Kesselring, N0ICI, Ottumwa, Iowa; from the Poppele Fund, Zachary D. Sadecki, KB7FUV, Ashton, Idaho; Scott A. Zastoupil, KB0KFX, Williston, North Dakota; from the Grebe Fund, Kenneth N. Warren, AD4OS, West Lafayette, Indiana. Richard G. Chichester Memorial Scholarship ($1000), sponsored by Patricia and Jack (W9AMF) Chichester: Roland A. Flores, AB5KG, San Antonio, Texas. Young Ladies' Radio Relay League Scholarship ($1200): Patricia L. Pelczar, KA1TPM, Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Columbia Amateur Radio Association Scholarship ($1000): Amy Chadwick, KA3TMI, Kensington, Maryland. Baltimore Amateur Radio Club Scholarships ($1000): Edward J. Calhoon, N3GJI, Arnold, Maryland; Andrew M. Leeds, N3MCB, Finksburg, Maryland; Nicholas P. Schaub, KE3HV, Baltimore, Maryland; Franklin L. Wright, N3OQB, Silver Spring, Maryland; Paige E. Forrest, KE3UB, Baltimore, Maryland (Ernie Dobos Memorial Scholarship). Ralph V. "Andy" Anderson, K0NL, Memorial Scholarship ($1000): Suzanne L. Chimel, KC3GG, Clark's Summit, Pennsylvania. Dade Radio Club Tropical Hamboree Scholarships ($1000): Matthew D. Shannon, KF4AKL, Melbourne, Florida; Chris B. Wilson, KD4RHJ, Gainesville, Florida. Rose Ellen Bills Memorial Scholarship ($2000): Taras B. Zima, KD6VWQ, Reno, Nevada. Victor C. Clark, W4KFC, Memorial Scholarship ($1000), sponsored by the Vienna Wireless Society: Lawrence Baugh, AD4FX, Stafford, Virginia. Frederick Amateur Radio Club Scholarship ($1000): Mark W. Lazzaro, N3BVW, Mt Airy, Maryland. 10=AD10 International Net Scholarships ($1000): David A. Case, KA1NCN, Hampton, Connecticut; Joanna Gallant, KB2EJP, Monsey, New York; Jason Handwerker,= N1UEQ, Lexington, Massachusetts. Free State Amateur Radio Scholarship ($1000): Dana L. Eshelman, WS3L, Ft Washington, Maryland. WARAC Memorial Scholarships ($1000), sponsored by the West Allis Radio Amateur Club: Christopher D. Molek, KB9GTK, Richland Center, Wisconsin; Karl J. Mueller, N9NFQ, West Allis, Wisconsin; Amy L. Tlachac, N9TLN, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Kevin Barry Perdue Memorial Scholarship ($1000), sponsored by Kay (WT3P) and Carter (KD3AO) Craigie: Michelle G. Pettus, KC4FBE, Lineville, Alabama. South Milwaukee Amateur Radio Club Scholarships ($500): Brian J. Brechlin, KB9JFP, Waukesha, Wisconsin; Michael D. Kaun, N9RNC, Menomonie, Wisconsin; Raymond G. Meyer, N9PBY, Port Washington, Wisconsin; Steven D. Miller, KB9DFE, Spooner, Wisconsin. Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club Scholarship ($1000): Darla L. Dilks, KB2LJX, Culpeper, Virginia. Murgas Amateur Radio Club Scholarship ($500): Shawna M. Lutton, KB3AOG, Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Virginia Beach Hamfest Scholarships ($750): Victoria L. Crawford, N4XDR, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Matthew P. Ipock, KM4WZ, Chesapeake, Virginia; Christopher Schaab, KD4NFW, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Martin County ARA Scholarship ($1000): Wendy Joy Silverman, KC4ZQW, Spring Hill, Florida. Redington-Grenfell Memorial Scholarship ($500): John M. R. Rask, KJ5LM, Taylor Lake Village, Texas. Baltimore Radio Amateur TV Society Scholarship ($1000): Shaun E. Lewy, N3SWB, Randallstown, Maryland. Beatrice Chapman, K1OKC, Family Memorial Scholarship ($500), sponsored by the Augusta Amateur Radio Association: Donald G. Trask, N1TZR, Augusta, Maine. Robert E. True Memorial Scholarship ($1000), sponsored by Mrs Shirley True Banning: Aaron D. Hohenbrink, AA8MH, Hamler, Ohio. In Brief: Director Vydareny resigns: ARRL Hudson Division Director Paul Vydareny, WB2VUK, has resigned, effective September 5, 1996. Vydareny cited job and church obligations as preventing him from doing what he considers a proper job of fulfilling his duties as director. Under the provisions of Article 7, Vice Director Richard Sandell, WK6R, of Scarsdale, New York, becomes director for the remainder of the term, which expires January 1, 1997. Sandell, 58, was appointed vice director of the Hudson Division last April to fill the seat left vacant when Stephen Mendelsohn, WA2DHF, was elected first vice president and Vydareny--then Hudson Division vice director and Eastern New York section manager--succeeded Mendelsohn as division director. Sandell is an ARRL life member and a past Hudson Division assistant director. He is president and CEO of Aura Technology Corporation. His wife, Phyllis, is KD2OG. The couple's three daughters, Alyssa, Karyn and Sylvie, also hold ham tickets. Balloon launch: New Augusta Public Academy in Indiana will launch a balloon carrying ham radio FM, packet and ATV equipment on September 21. The package will include a crossband repeater, as well as GPS packet and ATV. The balloon is expected to reach an altitude of 100,000 feet; the flight--a "satellite simulation," according to its sponsors--will last up to three hours. The launch window is set for 1200-1300 UTC. The launch site is five miles northwest of Indianapolis. Pre-launch nets on 3870 kHz and 146.97/repeater start at 1130 UTC on launch day. For details, contact Chuck Crist, e-mail mai@iquest.net; tel 317-787-6674, or set your browser to http://klingon.cs.iupui.edu/~pacer/new_augusta/windtrax.html on the World Wide Web. National Amateur Radio Exam Days: Many clubs will offer ham radio exams on September 28 and 29 this year. If your club would like to participate, contact Media Relations Assistant Jennifer Gagne, N1TDY, e- mail jgagne@arrl.org or call 860-594-0328. Goldwater suffers stroke: Former US Senator Barry M Goldwater, K7UGA, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was undergoing tests in a Phoenix hospital this past week after suffering a stroke. A spokesman said Goldwater, 87, suffered a minor stroke September 9. Family members said he was "resting comfortably." Goldwater, author of the book "Conscience of a Conservative," ran for President against Democrat Lyndon Johnson in 1964. K1AR leaves CQ: John Dorr, K1AR, has stepped down as general manager of CQ magazine. On September 16, he joins Cerulean Technology, Marlboro, Massachusetts, as product marketing director for the company, owned by Ken Wolff, K1EA. Dorr had been with CQ for four years. He will continue to edit the magazine's Contest Calendar. New Hong Kong ham radio prefixes: Hams in Hong Kong will be allowed to use several prefixes to commemorate the transfer of sovereignty over the territory from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997. At the request of the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (HARTS), Hong Kong amateurs will be allowed to change the numeral in their call sign to 96 during 1996, to 97 during 1997, and to 98 during 1998. Amateurs began to use these new prefixes on September 10, 1996, starting with a contact between VS96BG and VR96GO. HARTS will announce later the details of a new award to be offered to amateurs for contacting stations using these special prefixes. All Hong Kong amateurs have held licenses with call signs using the prefix VR2 for several years now, although those previously holding VS6 calls are allowed to continue to use the VS prefix before July 1, 1997. The VRA-VRZ block allocated by the ITU to the UK will be transferred to the PRC at that time. The only other use of that block by amateurs at present is in Pitcairn Island, where VR6 calls are still in use. For more information, contact HARTS President Brett Graham, VR96BG, at vr2bg@harts.org.hk.-- Brett Graham, VR96BG The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President. Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org. Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail rlindquist@arrl.org. Visit the ARRLWeb page at http://www.arrl.org. The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate and readable in our reporting. Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.