*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 07 February 13, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +FCC proposes to give the go-ahead to BPL * +More cosponsors for ham radio bills "an optimistic sign" * +Astronaut's wife, kids augment school group contact * +Musical chairs again for next ISS crew * +Former licensee gets second chance to renew * +WRC-07 planning already under way * +Jim White, K4OJ, SK * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration ARRL Emergency Communications course registration Nominations for ARRL ham radio instructor awards due by March 1 President Bush thanks ham radio volunteer +AMSAT announces ECHO launch delay Six hams set to ride shuttle "Return to Flight" mission Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award Three ARRL awards discontinued Department of State ham club on the air for Presidents' Day +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== NOTE: ARRL Headquarters will be closed February 16: ARRL Headquarters will be closed Monday, February 16, for the Presidents' Day holiday. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, February 17, at 8 AM Eastern Time. =========================================================== ==>FCC OKAYS BPL PROPOSAL The FCC has unanimously approved a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to deploy Broadband over Power Line (BPL). The NPRM is the next step in the BPL proceeding, which began last April with a Notice of Inquiry that attracted nearly 5200 comments--many from the amateur community. The FCC did not propose any changes in emission limits for unlicensed Part 15 devices, but said it would require BPL providers to apply "adaptive" interference mitigation techniques to their systems. An ARRL delegation that attended the February 12 FCC open meeting in Washington later expressed disappointment in the FCC action. "The Commission clearly recognized that the existing Part 15 emission limits are inadequate to stop interference," Sumner said," but it's placing the burden of interference mitigation on the licensed user that's supposed to be protected," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. Sumner said that if the FCC really believed current Part 15 emission limits were sufficient, it would not have had to require that BPL providers institute interference mitigation systems. The FCC has not yet released the actual NPRM, and a presentation by the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) revealed only its broad outlines. Sumner said the League would not take a formal position until it reviews the full NPRM. Anh Wride of the OET staff spelled out the scope of the NPRM, which only addresses so-called "access BPL"--the type that would apply radio frequency energy to exterior overhead and underground low and medium-voltage power lines to distribute broadband and Internet service. She said the OET staff believes that interference concerns "can be adequately addressed." Wride said the FCC's BPL NPRM: * Applies existing Part 15 emission limits for unlicensed carrier-current systems to BPL systems. Part 15 rules now require that BPL systems eliminate any harmful interference that may occur "and must cease operation if they cannot," she noted. * Requires BPL systems to employ "adaptive interference-mitigation techniques, including the capabilities to shut down a specific device, to reduce power levels on a dynamic or remote-control basis and to include or exclude specific operating frequencies or bands." * Subjects BPL providers to notification requirements that would establish a public database that would include the location of BPL devices, modulation type and operating frequencies. * Proposes guidelines to provide for consistent and repeatable measurement of the RF emissions from BPL and other carrier-current systems. Mirroring his colleagues' enthusiasm, FCC Chairman Michael Powell called BPL "tremendously exciting," although he conceded that BPL has "a long way to go." Powell also said the FCC's OET has worked very hard to try to "get their hands around" the issue of interference and that the FCC would continue its vigilance in that area. The FCC has posted additional information, including a public notice <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243879A1.doc> on its Web site. The Commission is expected to issue the complete Notice of Proposed Rule Making within a few days and will invite comments on it sometime after publication. Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. To support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>. ==>NEW AMATEUR RADIO BILL COSPONSORS "AN OPTIMISTIC SIGN," HAYNIE SAYS ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says he's encouraged to see additional members of the US House of Representatives agreeing to cosponsor The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003, HR 713, and the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003, HR 1478--also known as "the CC&R bill." In Washington this week with an ARRL delegation, Haynie called it "an optimistic sign" for Amateur Radio that League members are continuing to urge their lawmakers to sign aboard the two pieces of legislation, which are ARRL initiatives. "House members have proven to be very responsive to entreaties from the amateur community to get behind these bills," an elated Haynie said this week. "The campaign continues to pay off in terms of additional cosponsors for our bills." As of this week, 84 House members have gone on record as HR 713 cosponsors. An identical companion bill in the US Senate, S 537, has attracted eight cosponsors. Among recent House cosponsors of HR 713 are representatives Chris Bell (R-TX), Candice S. Miller (R-MI), Jim Turner (D-TX), Jay Inslee, (D-WA), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Stevan Pearce, (R-NM) and Baron Hill, (D-IN). Sponsored in the House by Rep Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and in the Senate by Sen Michael Crapo (R-ID), the bill would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs. HR 713 has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. The Senate version, S 537, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Meanwhile, the cosponsor count on the CC&R bill, HR 1478, rose to 32 this week with the addition of Rep Jim DeMint (R-SC), who was approached by ARRL South Carolina Section Manager Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, to consider cosponsoring both HR 1478 and HR 713. Introduced by Rep Steve Israel (D-NY), the CC&R bill would require private land-use regulators such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. Recent HR 1478 cosponsors also include representatives Donald Manzullo (R-IL) and Anibal Acevedo-Vila (D-PR). HR 1478 also has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Although buoyed by the bills' recent cosponsorship progress, Haynie is continuing to encourage ARRL members to send cards and letters to their House of Representatives member urging them to cosponsor HR 713 and HR 1478, and to their state's two US senators to cosponsor S 537. "There's a long way to go, and that's what it's going to take," Haynie said. "Cards and letters from individual voters do make a difference." Meanwhile, Louisiana Republican Billy Tauzin's announcement that he'll step down as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and not run for re-election has set off a political sideshow. On February 6, nearly every committee member urged House Speaker Dennis Hastert to appoint Rep Joe Barton (R-TX) to replace Tauzin as chairman. Barton also serves on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, but he has not yet signed on as a cosponsor of either HR 713 or HR 1478. Additional information--including the bills' texts, sample letters and information on how to write members of Congress--is on the ARRL "The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003" Web page <http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html> and on the "HR 1478, The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2003" Web page <http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/hr1478/>. Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail <specbill03@arrl.org>. Those writing their House member on behalf of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act, HR 1478, are asked to copy their correspondence to <ccr-bill@arrl.org>. ==>ASTRONAUT CHATS WITH HIS SON, TEXAS YOUNGSTERS VIA HAM RADIO Ian Foale, the son of International Space Station Expedition 8 Commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, was among several other youngsters attending his school who got to ask questions of his dad February 4 via Amateur Radio. The contact with James F. Bay Elementary School in Houston, Texas, was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. The third-grader first lobbed a softball question at his dad--"How far is the space station from Earth in miles and kilometers?"--but followed up with a more challenging query about whether the ISS crew could detect changes in land forms on Earth. "Yes, we can detect changes," his father responded. "They happen slowly over many months, but we can see the snow building up on mountains, and we can see the glaciers developing in the Patagonia area." The elder Foale also said the crew is able to see erosion of earth and mud down rivers into the sea. What the crew cannot see, Foale said in reply to another question, are the great pyramids or the Great Wall of China. While these should be visible, Foale said, they blend in too much with their surroundings. Foale conceded that living aboard the ISS with only one crewmate can be a lonely experience for both of them. "My hardest adjustment to life here is being away from lots of nice people," Foale said. "I have one crewmate, Sasha, and we are good friends, but we miss other people." The youngsters let loose with a hearty round of applause as the approximately 10-minute-long contact ended. Visiting the school for the event and taking part in pre-contact activities were Foale's wife, Rhonda, and his 12-year-old daughter, Jenna, who attended James Bay Elementary in her younger years. Rhonda Foale presented a "video post card" from her husband that offered the elementary schoolers additional insights into daily life aboard the ISS. Daughter Jenna, meanwhile, told the youngsters about her Aibo <http://www.us.aibo.com/> robotic dog, for which Foale writes programs while aboard the ISS. Astronauts Scott Kelly and Julie Payette also attended the event and answered questions from the pupils about space travel. ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach project with participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>IT'S MUSICAL CHAIRS AGAIN FOR NEXT ISS CREWS After replacing the commander of the next International Space Station crew less than a month ago, NASA and its ISS partners now have announced the assignment of an altogether new crew. The Expedition 9 crew now will consist of astronaut Mike Fincke and cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, RN3DT. Padalka, 45, will serve as Expedition 9 commander and Soyuz commander, while Fincke, 36, will be the NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer. They have been training together as a space station crew for nearly two years, NASA said. Their experience as a team was cited as a primary reason for the personnel shift. Expedition 10 crew assignments also will change. "After a very thorough evaluation by our partners, I'm confident that these assignments make the very best use of our crew resources and skills and will ensure the flights' full success," NASA Chief Astronaut Kent Rominger said. Fincke passed his Amateur Radio Technician class exam this week--in plenty of time for Expedition 9's April 18 launch from Russia aboard a Soyuz vehicle. Having an US Amateur Radio licensee aboard is necessary if the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station--or ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss>--program is to continue its schedule of school group contacts via NA1SS. Last November, NASA and Russia had decided on William McArthur Jr, KC5ACR, as Expedition 9 crew commander and cosmonaut Valery Tokarev as flight engineer for the six-month mission. Last month, however, NASA swapped McArthur for Leroy Chiao, due to a temporary medical issue affecting McArthur. Chiao and Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov now have been assigned to Expedition 10. Chiao also has been studying for his ham radio license while undergoing training in Russia. This will mark Fincke's first space flight. It's the second for Padalka, who lived aboard the Russian Mir space station for 198 days in 1999.--NASA ==>FCC GIVES SECOND CHANCE TO FORMER LICENSEE The FCC has given a former Indiana radio amateur another chance to renew his General ticket, which expired in 2000. In an Order on Reconsideration released February 3, the Commission granted a waiver to Frank R. Michalak, ex-KA9EMU, permitting him to submit a late-filed renewal application. Michalak has 60 days from the Order's release to do so. In its Order, the FCC dismissed Michalak's petition seeking reconsideration of a December 1999 FCC action that dismissed his license renewal application. Michalak initially ran afoul of the requirement to provide a taxpayer identification number--typically a Social Security number--with his application. Later, he encountered problems using the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and with illness. The FCC said it had reviewed his request anew using all information it currently had before it in the proceeding. The Commission agreed with Michalak that his situation was sufficiently exceptional to permit him to refile for renewal if he's still interested in being a radio amateur. "Based on such review, we conclude that Michalak should be granted a waiver to permit the filing of a late-filed renewal application," the Commission said. ==>ARRL TECHNICAL RELATIONS OFFICE EYES WRC-07 While it may seem like World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) was just yesterday, the ARRL Technical Relations Office in Washington already is participating in a new cycle of meetings to prepare for what's tentatively being called WRC-07. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, says ARRL's involvement is in two arenas--the FCC WRC-07 Advisory Committee and its informal working groups (IWGs), and regular meetings of various International Telecommunication Union <http://www.itu.int/home/index.html> "working parties." ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Walt Ireland, WB7CSL, has been especially active as vice chairman of the IWG 4, which is dealing with broadcasting and Amateur Radio WRC-07 agenda items. Ireland also is the convener of US Working Party 6E, which deals with terrestrial delivery in the broadcasting service. Both groups are focusing on the possible allocation of additional broadcast spectrum in the 4 to 10 MHz band, which, Rinaldo points out, could impact amateur allocations. Additional information on WRC-07 preparations is on the FCC Web site <http://www.fcc.gov/wrc-07/>. ==>JIM WHITE, K4OJ, SK--J7A OPERATION DEDICATED TO POPULAR CONTESTER The Amateur Radio contesting community is mourning the death of James A. "Jim" White, K4OJ, (ex-K1ZX and ex-WA1NNC), of Seffner, Florida. The well-known ham radio contesting enthusiast underwent heart valve surgery February 11, but succumbed to liver failure the following day. The J7A operation from Dominica during the ARRL International DX Contest (CW) <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2004/intldx.html> February 21-22 will be dedicated to White. "Jim White, K4OJ, was a dear friend and a continual inspiration to contesting," said George Wagner, K5KG, in announcing the planned on-the-air tribute. "OJ, as we affectionately called him. was always positive and ready to help, inspire, learn, tease, quip, pontificate and challenge all of us." A member of The Florida Contest Group (FCG) <http://www.floridacontestgroup.org/> which White organized, Wagner, fellow FCG member John Colyard, W4IX, and John Bednar, K3TEJ, will be the J7A operators. Wagner says FCG members will always remember White as the father of the organization, which he founded a decade ago, serving as its first president. "When you see that sea of orange shirts at Dayton, you will remember OJ," he said, referring to the group's brightly hued signature apparel. An ARRL Life Member and a Headquarters employee during the 1970s, White was the son of Ellen White, W1YL, and the late Bob White, W1CW, both well-known amateurs and former ARRL staff members. Not surprisingly, Jim White worked in the ARRL Contest Branch. Over the years, he also authored articles for National Contest Journal as well as for QST. After Bob White died in 2002, Jim White established the R. L. White Memorial Operators' Club to keep his father's W1CW call sign active during various operating events. Always sporting a big signal out of South Florida, Jim White shared a multiop contest station with his mother. Ellen White said K4OJ was on the air during the First Class CW Operators' Club <http://www.firstclasscw.org.uk/> Marathon just this past weekend. "His operating abilities were manifest, and he almost always was the first one to volunteer his help, in spite of his declining physical abilities," she said. White once said he was bitten by the contest bug after being enlisted as the Novice op for the Connecticut Wireless Association's Field Day effort. In the years since, his call sign has turned up regularly in the results of various contests--often at or near the top of the pile. "I love contesting," he said in his call sign listing on QRZ.com. "There is something about the camaraderie, discipline and knowledge contesting demands that fits me; it doesn't fit everyone . . . but it sure fits me." In addition to his mother, White's survivors include his wife Theresa and five stepchildren. Per his wishes, there will be no formal service. The family invites memorial donations to the Florida Contest Group White Memorial Fund--now honoring both W1CW and K4OJ--care of Fred Perkins, K4LQ, 3437 Lake Josephine Dr, Lake Placid, FL 33852. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Propagation guru Tad "(The Sun is Shining Like a) Red Rubber Ball" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar flux and sunspot numbers were up slightly this week, and average planetary A index was down a little. Unfortunately, this isn't likely a trend, at least over the long term. Over the next few days expect solar flux to stay around 110, then gradually decline toward 100, where it should stay until around February 22. Due to a coronal hole and a solar wind stream, geomagnetic conditions should remain unsettled to active. For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. Sunspot numbers for February 5 through 11 were 109, 98, 92, 74, 81, 78 and 91, with a mean of 89. The 10.7 cm flux was 105.5, 106.7, 111.1, 116.2, 117.8, 116.5 and 114.2, with a mean of 112.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 14, 21, 11, 8, 8, 9 and 26, with a mean of 13.9. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL School Club Roundup, the KCJ Topband Contest, the CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, SARL Kid's Day, the SARL Field Day Contest, the Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint (CW), the Dutch PACC Contest, the OMISS QSO Party, the FISTS Winter Sprint and the RSGB First 1.8 MHz Contest (CW) are the weekend of February 14-15. The AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening is February 18. JUST AHEAD: The ARRL International DX Contest (CW), the YL-ISSB QSO Party (CW) and the CQC Winter QSO Party are the weekend of February 21-22. The CQ 160-Meter Contest (SSB) is the weekend of February 28-29. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the ARRL VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) and ARRL HF Digital Communication (EC-005) courses opens Monday, February 16, 12:01 AM Eastern Time (0501 UTC). Registration remains open through Sunday, February 22. Classes begin Tuesday February 24. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page. For more information, contact Certification and Continuing Education Program Department cce@arrl.org. * ARRL Emergency Communications course registration: Registration opens Monday, February 16, 12:01 AM Eastern Time (0501 UTC), for the Level III Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-003). Registration remains open through the February 21-22 weekend or until all available seats have been filled--whichever comes first. Class begins Tuesday, March 2. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course. During this registration period, approximately 50 seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org, 860-594-0340. * Nominations for ARRL ham radio instructor awards due by March 1: The deadline to submit nominations for ARRL's two Amateur Radio instructor awards in March 1. The ARRL Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/award/herb-tor.html> is presented to a volunteer Amateur Radio instructor, while the ARRL Professional Educator of the Year Award <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/award/pey-tor.html> is presented to a teacher who uses Amateur Radio as part of the curriculum or after-school program, or teaches it in an educational institution, such as a community college. These awards honor those hams who put in countless volunteer hours to seek out newcomers and teach them the standards and practices of Amateur Radio. Nominating forms for the Brier award <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/edunom.html?aw_id=7> and the Professional Educator award <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/edunom.html?aw_id=9> are available on the ARRL Web site. Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by March 1. All nominees will be invited to confirm their interest in competing for the award and to submit material documenting their activities. Winners receive engraved plaques and up to $100 worth of ARRL publications. * President Bush thanks ham radio volunteer: Shortly after stepping off Air Force One February 5 during a visit to South Carolina, President George W. Bush took a few moments to express his appreciation to ARRL member and Charleston County ARES Emergency Coordinator Charlie Hall, K4AOT. "For all Charlie has done for ham radio and the community, he certainly deserves to be put in the spotlight," said his friend Alex Krist, KR1ST. A member of the Charleston Amateur Radio Society and a retired US Army sergeant, Hall, 64, volunteers with a newly formed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) <http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/cert.shtm>, a Citizen Corps <http://www.citizencorps.gov/> program. The president shook Hall's hand and thanked him for his efforts on behalf of the community. ARRL is a Citizen Corps affiliate, and in a growing number of localities, Amateur Radio emergency response activities are being incorporated into CERTs. Hall, who also volunteers with the American Red Cross and a SKYWARN team, was tapped as Charleston County's "official greeter" for the presidential visit mainly because of his Citizen Corp/CERT activity.--some information from Alex Krist, KR1ST, and Jim Boehner, N2ZZ * AMSAT announces ECHO launch delay: AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, has announced that due to a delay in the delivery of the primary payload to the launch site in Kazakhstan, the launch of the ECHO satellite has been delayed by some three months. "The 'official' launch date is now June 29, 2004," Haighton said. "I assume that this new date is the start of the new launch window, which may last several weeks."--AMSAT-NA * Six hams set to ride shuttle "Return to Flight" mission: Six Amateur Radio licensees will be aboard when the shuttle Atlantis returns to space--something NASA now says might not happen until 2005. The mission, STS-114--which NASA is calling the "Return to Flight" mission--will be the first since Columbia broke apart February 1, 2003, during reentry following a 16-day science mission. The mishap claimed the lives of seven astronauts--three of them Amateur Radio licensees. NASA has announced the STS-114 crew members as Mission Commander Eileen Collins, KD5EDS; Pilot James Kelly, KC5ZSW; Mission Specialist Charles Camarda, KC5ZSY; Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, KC5KII; Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP; Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson, and Mission Specialist Andy Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR. A veteran of three space flights, Collins has logged more than 530 hours in space. During the Return to Flight mission, the crew will test and evaluate new procedures for flight safety and shuttle inspection and repair techniques.--NASA * Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for January is Rod Vlach, NN0TT, for his article "The Challenge of Being a Little Pistol." Congratulations, Rod! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award--given to the author--or authors--of the best article in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members. Voting takes place each month on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the February issue of QST. Voting ends February 29. * Three ARRL awards discontinued: Effective immediately, the ARRL Awards Branch has discontinued the Rag Chewer's Club, the Old Timer's Club and the Friendship Award. ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, says that the number of amateurs applying for awards in general has declined significantly over the years, and interest in these three awards had slowed to a trickle. DXCC and WAS remain among the most popular ARRL Awards, he said, but the eliminated awards "had outlived their interest level." For more information on ARRL awards, visit The ARRL Awards Program page <http://www.arrl.org/awards/>. * Department of State ham club on the air for Presidents' Day: The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> reports that the Department of State Amateur Radio Club's W3DOS will be on the air February 14-16 to celebrate Presidents' Day. Approximate operating frequencies will be CW: 3.530, 7.030, 10.130 14.030, 18.080, 21.030, 24.910 and 28.030 MHz. SSB: 3.880, 7280, 14280, 18150, 21380, 24.980 and 28.480 MHz. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League. ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org ==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/> ==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call 860-594-0384 ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery: ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site <http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). 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