Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org

This feature -- including convenient web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things the ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of November.

Ballots were counted in the race for ARRL Hudson Division Director and ARRL Northwestern Division Director and Vice Director.

The new QST iOS app for Apple devices was released.

The FCC dismissed a March 2010 Petition for Reconsideration filed by the ARRL that asked the Commission to deny pending Public Safety Pool license applications associated with the ReconRobotics video and audio surveillance system; however, in doing so, the FCC made it clear that the devices may not exceed 100 kHz of bandwidth. The FCC also issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking to allocate the entire 160 meter amateur band to primary status to the Amateur Radio Service.

ARRL’s Logbook of The World QSO confirmation system has undergone maintenance to fix issues concerning uploading delays and overwritten logs.

ARRL International Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, K0QB, and ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, represented IARU Region 2 at the IARU Administrative Council meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, held just prior to the IARU Region 3 conference.

The minutes from September’s ARRL Executive Committee meeting were posted to the ARRL website.

W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, announced its 2012/2013 winter operating schedule. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, assembled an M-Squared 70 centimeter 42-element crossed Yagi antenna and a 160 meter dipole for use at W1HQ, the Laird Campbell Memorial HQ Operators Club.

A new Section Manager was appointed in the ARRL’s Western Washington Section, while all incumbent Section Managers in this election cycle faced no opposition and were declared re-elected.

The Administration and Finance Committee -- one of the ARRL Board of Directors’ two standing committees -- met in Newington November 17.

The ARRL’s Maxim Society -- comprised of radio amateurs who have made financial commitments to the ARRL exceeding $10,000 in lifetime contributions -- now has 116 members.

The ARRL Atlantic Division held the first-ever ARRL virtual Division Convention.

ARRL Dakota Division Director Greg Widin, K0GW, and Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI, activated W1AW for the ARRL November Phone Sweepstakes, making 675 QSOs with 74 Sections, for a claimed score of 99,900.

The UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee is seeking input as it develops revised national plans for 6 and 3 centimeters (5 and 10 GHz).

The ARRL updated its online privacy policy.

The ARRL announced that entries are now being accepted for the Third Annual Video Contest.

A new QuickStats poll was posted to the ARRL website.

The USPS is seeks to stop selling IRCs in January 2013.

The winner of the November QST Cover Plaque award is Robert Bastone, WC3O, for his article “A Different Way to Assemble PL-259 Coax Plugs.”

The January print issue of QST was released to the printer and the digital edition was released to the digital publisher. The December digital edition of QST was made available to ARRL members. The November/December issue of QEX was released to the printer.

Official Observer Desk: ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, handled complaints concerning problems on 14.313 MHz, an interference problem on 40 meters, jamming and music on 75 meters, a pirate FM station, bootlegged call signs, jamming on 2 meter repeaters in South Texas and South Florida, and interference on a 20 meter net. He also answered questions from radio amateurs concerning power limits on bands, operating overseas and antenna restrictions.

Member Contact: ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, attended the ARRL Indiana Section Convention in Ft Wayne, Indiana; ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, attended the IARU Administrative Council Meeting and Region 3 Conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Sumner also attended the Radio Club of America’s 103rd annual awards banquet in New York City.