-
LOUISIANA SECTION MANAGERS NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2018SILENT KEYSNorbet Newby WA5CFWElizabeth Denton KA5MTGCharles Winder, Jr. K5FNNFrank Thrash W4DLZHenry P. Forbes KC5KJSam L. Richardson W5SMHCarl Beck W5BEKNEW HAMSReport for 2018-11-02Jared A Mayeaux, KI5BVADonnis H O’bryan, KI5CBVRonald D Porter, AG5RWT J Taplin, KI5CBWRex A Schuttler, KI5BUELICENSE UPGRADESReport for 2018-11-02Camille J Guidry, KG5SWDDavid J Cantrelle, KF5WMSMichael J Decossas, KB5OZEGregory Speyrer, KE5DEUMichael A Carmouche, KG5TGGDorothy L Minor, KF5YNMRichard L Cutrer, KF5TQTShirley M Jordan, KI5BFHPatrick L Widner, KG5AAHNEW ARRL MEMBERSReport for 2018-11-02James P Marra, N5HZDivini Luccioni, N3DITed F Vander Wiede, KB1NDXNathan A Cooper, K5ZFCSteven D BrinkleyWilliam J O Donnell, W5VPMSusan Anderson, KE5FMXTimothy Sonnier, N5RKKAbbigail Wilson, KF5BEWKendra Wilson, KF5FYSGalen D Wilson, KF5BETJohn B Maylard, KC6MNODavid W Ables, KE5NIJKevin J Abshire, KE5RKTPaul J Maia, KB5AIFLeonard W Martin, WD5DNQKeith A McDavid, KF5WTKKevin N Boykin, N5CDBRonald D Porter, AG5RWTerry J Peek, KD5BIOCharles H Edwards, WC5KJeffrey W Hall, KA5YZQ——————————————————————————————————————————————FROM THE ARRLWell-Known Contester, “Antenna Farmer” Paul Bittner, W0AIH, SK11/01/2018The Reverend Paul Bittner, W0AIH, of Fall Creek, Wisconsin, died doingwhat he loved on October 31, when a tower-climbing mishap claimed hislife at his well-known antenna farm. The ARRL Life Member and MaximSociety member was 84. A member of the CQ Contesting Hall of Fame andretired Lutheran pastor, Bittner was a well-known and respected figurewithin the Amateur Radio community and a prolific contester and DXer.His call sign was nearly always present in most major operating events,and even in a few lesser-known contests, and news of his tragic deathand condolences and accolades quickly spread among those who knew himbest.“No one was more generous, loving, and encouraging to others than theReverend Paul Bittner,” said Mike Lonneke, W4AAW, in a post to thePotomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC). “He called me last week to chatabout what he and Mary were up to, like getting material together fortheir always long and hilarious Christmas newsletter. He also knocked meout with the latest of his funny experiences in his ‘Rent-a-Rev’sideline.” Bittner officiated at the June 2 wedding of two well-knownmidwestern contesters.Bittner was licensed in 1949 and held the same call sign ever since. Heand his wife, Mary, WB0PXM, moved in 2000 to “The Farm,” a 120-acrespread in west-central Wisconsin. The first of the more than 50 towersbegan sprouting there before their arrival in 1982. As a ham, he enjoyedmulti-multi contesting and DXing. His favorite band was 160 meters, andhis favorite contest was the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest. Bittner’sson-in-law — Paul Husby, W0UC — operated VHF contests from The Farmand was a multi-multi regular as well.“His station stands as a great monument to a selfless man of greatgrace and remarkable achievements,” Lonneke said. “Paul once told methat AIH stands for ‘already in heaven.’”Contester and former ARRL staffer Dave Patton, NN1N, described Bittneras “such a good man and truly great ham.” W1AW Station Manager JoeCarcia, NJ1Q, noted that Bittner had volunteered to operate as W1AW/9 asa headquarters station in the 2019 IARU HF Championship to celebrate hisdecades in ham radio.NCJ Editor Scott Wright, K0MD, said that Bittner helped to buildstations for many midwestern hams. “He was a mentor to hundreds ofhams, and his enthusiasm for contesting was infectious,” Wright said.Bittner had said he wanted to be buried with a bible, a telegraph key,and a climbing belt.“Thank you for giving so much of yourself to me and the rest of theham community,” said contester Scott Neader. “We will never forgetyou.”FCC Fines Amateur Radio Licensee $25,000 for Operating Unlicensed FMStation11/01/2018In an FCC Enforcement Bureau case going back to early 2015, a Paterson,New Jersey, Amateur Radio licensee has been penalized in the amount of$25,000 for allegedly continuing to operate an unlicensed FM radiostation. The FCC issued a Forfeiture Order on October 30 to Winston A.Tulloch, KC2ALN, a General class licensee. The fine followed an April2018 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture(NAL) issued to Tullochfor alleged “willful and repeated violation” of Section 301 of theCommunications Act of 1934, as amended, by operating an unlicensed FMradio station on 90.9 MHz in Paterson. Tulloch did not respond to theNAL, the FCC indicated.“Commission action in this area is essential because unlicensed radiostations do not broadcast Emergency Alert Service messages and thereforecreate a public safety hazard for their listener,” the FCC said in theForfeiture Order. “Moreover, unlicensed radio stations create a dangerof interference to licensed communications and undermine theCommission’s authority over broadcast radio operations.”Following up on February 2015 complaints regarding pirate radiooperations in Paterson, FCC agents spotted a signal on 90.9 MHz that“appeared to be an unauthorized radio station.” Agents determinedthe signal was emanating from a multi-family dwelling and noticed an FMantenna on the structure. The measured field strength exceeded thelimits allowed for Part 15 unlicensed devices.Through a solicitation broadcast on the station for advertisers and avehicle parked outside the building, the FCC agents were able todetermine that the telephone number in the announcement belonged toTulloch, and the car was registered in his name. FCC agents made severalvisits to Paterson in late 2015 and early 2016. In October of 2016,agents returned to Paterson and determined that the signal source hadrelocated to another nearby multi-family structure. A Notice ofUnlicensed Operation (NOUO) was posted on the door of the building andthe following month, the FCC mailed an NOUO to Tulloch.Subsequent visits revealed that the station was still in operation, and,at some point, had moved back to its prior location. Additional NOUOswere issued. Finally, on September 15, 2017, two agents returned toPaterson and determined that the station no longer was on the air.In the Forfeiture Order, the FCC incorporated by reference the detailsof the investigation spelled out in the earlier NAL.The Tulloch case is among dozens that the FCC Enforcement Bureau hasinitiated in the past couple of years in efforts to shut down piratebroadcasters across the US, the vast majority of which are not FCCamateur licensees.New CEO Wants ARRL to Serve All Ages and Amateur Radio Interests11/01/2018Newly elected ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, is still on the uphillside of the learning curve as he acquaints himself with ARRLHeadquarters and the nearly 90 staffers who work there. The New Jerseynative arrived at HQ on October 15 and has spent much of his time sincemeeting with department managers and others to get his bearings, with aneye toward building consensus and aligning people, programs, andservices in the same direction.“I’m still trying to understand what is working and where thechallenges are,” Michel said. “Once I understand where thechallenges are, I need to understand why. Before I make any changes inwhat we’re doing, I need to make sure the change is a step in theright direction and for the right reasons, and not kind of a randomprocess.”Michel would like to see ARRL focus on the future of Amateur Radio andnot become the redoubt of a particular generation of radio amateur orinterest group. He said, “Ham radio shouldn’t abandon the oldguardians of the hobby, but at the same time, it needs to have newthings that appeal to people who have different interests and differentpassions.”Ham radio appears currently entrenched with opposition often expressedto FT8 and other digital modes and protocols that bend Amateur Radiotraditions and conventions, Michel observed. However, as he sees it,technology for the whole of Amateur Radio has been changing, anddetractors to advances have always been present. He’d like ARRL toencourage more technological diversity without creating controversy.“My kick is seeing the technology advance,” the former IEEEpresident and CEO said. “I want to see hams embrace the new technology— as long as we do that in a way that those who don’t adopt the newtechnology won’t feel abandoned.” In his view, the real reasonbehind the continued enthusiasm for CW “is not the technology; it’sthe legacy.”At the same time, resources should reflect usage and interest, withrespect to the spectrum and with respect to how many pages QST devotesto a particular interest area. “Everything should reflect the growthand change, without abandoning the legacy interests.”Acknowledging the incessant push to get more young people into AmateurRadio, Michel wants to explore ways “to morph some of the League’sprocesses and services and products into something that would appeal tothe newer generation of hams.”“Young people in general don’t join organizations, but they joincauses,” he said. “With that kind of attitude, how do we develop thesame kind of ability for people interested in Amateur Radio toself-organize around causes? And if we can design the infrastructurearound that, maybe they’ll see value in ARRL and become a new type ofmember — not one who necessarily comes to ham club meetings once amonth but finds the League can facilitate what they want to do.”Michel said he’s always enjoyed tinkering with ham gear, building it,modifying it, and repairing it, and then making it do something new ordifferent. He concedes that while he has not had an opportunity to domuch hamming as he’s moved around with the military and for academicand business pursuits, he’d like to become more active, and he ispresently exploring his options as an apartment dweller. As for FT8,he’d like to try it, if for no other reason than the novelty.Michel said he definitely wants to encourage partnerships with otherorganizations with which ARRL might share some common ground, includingIEEE.“We can’t do everything ourselves. We have to find partnerships,”he said. Some IEEE operating units would be applicable to Amateur Radio,and he’s already heard from two unit heads that are both hams.Michel also feels that radio amateurs need to extend their gaze beyondthe everyday nuts and bolts of Amateur Radio operating. “What we needto do is protect the spectrum from competition, develop interest in thevarious facets of Amateur Radio, and not try to pick fights ‘inhouse,’” he said. “Spectrum is the gold of the 21st century.”Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, Elected as ITU TelecommunicationDevelopment Director11/02/2018ARRL member Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, has been elected as Directorof the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) TelecommunicationDevelopment Bureau (BDT). Her election, on the first ballot in athree-way race, came on November 1 at the ITU’s Plenipotentiary 2018Conference in Dubai. Bogdan-Martin becomes the first woman on the ITUexecutive team. Running on a campaign theme of “Sustainable DigitalDevelopment for All,” Bogdan-Martin said she would work toward aTelecommunication Development Bureau that helps its members benefit fromthe drivers of innovation and economic development.“We must help governments integrate ICTs into their nationaldevelopment frameworks, actively support[ing] their ministries to ensuredigital development strategies emphasize human capacity, digital skills,and empowering people,” she said. “I envisage the BDT redoubling itsefforts on digital inclusion, working to bring online the remaining 3.9billion people still offline.”Her candidacy had strong support from US officials, including Secretaryof State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and FCC ChairmanAjit Pai.“Ms. Bogdan-Martin is a true leader and professional who has dedicatedmore than 25 years to ensuring that all people can benefit frominformation and communication technologies,” Pompeo wrote in endorsingher candidacy. “I have no doubt that Ms. Bogdan-Martin will be adriving force to ensure connectivity for all.”FCC Chairman Pai extended congratulations to Bogdan-Martin, who, hesaid, “has deep expertise in development issues and will play apivotal role in accelerating the spread of digital communicationsthroughout the globe.”Bogdan-Martin has more than 20 years of experience at the ITU. Duringthe past decade she has headed the ITU General Secretariat StrategicPlanning and Membership Department for the Secretary-General. Herresponsibilities have included developing the ITU’s strategic andoperational plans in the context of ICT trends and the globalinformation economy, representing the ITU in engagement with otherbodies, and directing and managing all ITU global conferences.She launched Equals Global Partnership, a multi-stakeholderevidence-based network bringing women to technology, and technology towomen. She also directed the first ITU global youth summit that featured700 participants and 3,000 remote participants, and she established theITU office to the United Nations where she has been serving as ITURepresentative to the UN High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP).2018 SKYWARN Recognition DayDecember 1, 2018 from 0000z to 2400zSKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National WeatherService and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates thecontributions that volunteer SKYWARN™ radio operators make to theNational Weather Service. During the day SKYWARN™ operators visit NWSoffices and contact other radio operators across the world.SKYWARN Recognition Day Operating Instructions1. Object For all amateur stations to exchange QSO information with asmany National Weather Service Stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15,10, 6, and 2 meter bands plus the 70 centimeter band. Contacts viarepeaters are permitted. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day serves to celebratethe contributions to public safety made by amateur radio operatorsduring threatening weather.2. Date NWS stations will operate December 1, 2018, from 0000 – 2400UTC.3. Exchange: Call sign, signal report, QTH, and a one or two-worddescription of the weather occurring at your site (“sunny”, “partlycloudy”, “windy”, etc.).4. Modes: NWS stations will work various modes including SSB, FM, AM,RTTY, CW, FT8 and PSK31. While working digital modes, special eventstations will append “NWS” to their call sign (e.g., N0A/NWS).5.Station Control Operator: It is suggested that during SRD operations anon-NWS volunteer should serve as a control operator for your station.6. Event and QSL Information: The National Weather Service will provideevent information via the internet. Event certificates will once againbe electronic and printable from the main website after the conclusionof SRD.7. Log Submission: To submit your log summary for SRD use the onlinesubmission form.Deadline for log submission is January 31, 2019.——————————————————————————————————————————————***2019 ARRL Field Day is June 22-232019 Field Day will be held June 22-23, 2019. Field Day is always heldon the 4th full weekend in June.The 2019 Rules will be updated/released in March 2019.2018 Field Day results will appear in December QSTLA SECTION RESULTS:LOUISIANA SECTION 2018 ARRL FIELD DAY RESULTS(PER DECEMBER 2018 QST)TOTAL ENTRIES: 24Score listings are grouped according to the number of transmitters insimultaneous operation and their entry class. The listings show club orgroup name, call sign(s) used, total number of QSOs, number indicatingpower output used, number of participants, and total score includingbonus points and ARRL Section.THREE OR MORE PERSON CLUB/NON-CLUB PORTABLE1A-COMMERCIALWESTSIDE ARC W5ABD 32/2/6/314 LA2ALA DELTA RC KC5DR(+WA5WX) 395/2/45/1,982 LASOUTH LAKE CHARLES HAM GRP KI5EE 431/2/4/1,646 LA3ABATON ROUGE ARC W5GIX(+K5LSU) 731/2/60/3,142 LASPRINGHILL ARC LLC N5II 240/2/6/698 LA3A COMMERCIALSE LA ARC WM5T 218/2/7/522 LAACADIANA ARA W5DDL(+W5EXI) 1,365/2/20/3,836 LA5A COMMERCIALCENTRAL LA ARC N5I 1,216/2/35/4,254 LAONE OR TWO PERSONS/CLUB/NON-CLUB PORTABLE1B-1 OPERATORK5BIU 219/2/1/1,024 LAN5JSC 118/2/1/386 LAK5TAE 28/2/1/206 LA1B-1 OPERATOR BATTERYK5SL 515/5/1/5,400 LAHOME STATIONS COMMERCIAL POWER1DK1DW 175/2/1/750 LAAA5AU 318/1/1/636 LAK2ZP 57/2/1/164 LAKG5GJT 45/2/1/140 LAHOME STATIONS EMERGENCY POWER1EKA5M 406/2/1/1,774 LA3EW5GAD 1,085/2/57/4,878 LAHOME STATIONS EMERGENCY POWER-BATTERYEOC STATIONS2FBAYOULAND EMERGENCY ARC W5BMC 12/2/11/474 LA5FOZONE ARC W5SLA 102/2/25/808 LA——————————————————————————————————————————————ARES: LA SectionOctober 2018ARES Members: 352Active nets: 53 / with NTS Liaison: 3Number of Exercises/Training: 41 / 361 hoursNumber of Public Service Events: 2 / 432 hoursNumber of Emergency Operations: 0 / 0 hoursNumber of Skywarn Events: 3 / 34 hoursTotal: 46 / 827——————————————————————————————————————————————Louisiana Traffic Report October 2018SESSIONS QNI QTC QTR16 105 20 1.5 HOURSLOUISIANA HF ARES NETSSESSIONS QNI QTC QTR4 110 0 2 HOURS73,Jimmy Lewis/AB5YSLOUISIANA SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER——————————————————————————————————————————————Subject: LA Section 2018 Ham of the Year Nominations now being acceptedAll LA Section ARRL Members,Nominations for the LA Section 2018 Ham of the Year Award are now beingaccepted thru December 31, 2018. The award will be announced at theHammond Hamfest January 19, 2019.The nomination procedure is as follows:1) Please follow these instructions. Complete the form and attach yourdocumentation. The Award Selection Committee will only see your attacheddocumentation for each individual with nothing to identify the nominee.a) Minimum requirements for a nominee – 5 years uninterrupted ARRLmembership. (Committee may waive this for a new Ham who is an ARRLmember and has shown exemplary participation and accomplishments.)b) On an attached page please use only BULLET statements to documentthenominee’s participation and accomplishments.c) Do not use a name, call sign or any statement information that wouldidentify the nominee in the bullet statements.2) Mail or email the completed nomination to the ARRL Louisiana SectionManager (Mailing address available on ARRL website or latest issue ofQST).3) The Section Manager will appoint an independent selection committeeto make the final selection.4) Additional support documents (pictures, news articles) may beattached, but will not be used unless there is a tie or verification isrequired.To obtain the nomination form please email me at K5JMR@ARRL.ORG and Iwill email you the nomination form. Please return to me no later thanDecember 31, 2018.Thank you!——————————————————————–ARRL Louisiana SectionSection Manager: John Mark Robertson, K5JMRUPCOMING HAMFESTS: LA SECTIONHAMFEST/CONVENTION12/15/2018 | MARA Christmas HamfestLocation: Minden, LAType: ARRL HamfestSponsor: Minden Amateur Radio AssociationWebsite: http://n5rd.orgHAMFEST/CONVENTION01/19/2019 | 38th SELARC Hammond HamFestLocation: Hammond, LAType: ARRL HamfestSponsor: Southeast Louisiana Amateur Radio ClubWebsite: http://www.selarc.orgUPCOMING HAMFESTS: DELTA DIVISIONHAMFEST/CONVENTION12/01/2018 | Arkansas DX Association Annual ConferenceLocation: North Little Rock, ARType: ARRL ConventionSponsor: Arkansas DX AssociationWebsite: http://www.adxa.orgHAMFEST/CONVENTION01/25/2019 | Mississippi State Convention (Capital City Hamfest)Location: Jackson, MSType: ARRL ConventionSponsor: Jackson Amateur Radio ClubWebsite: http://msham.org——————————————————————–ARRL Louisiana SectionSection Manager: John Mark Robertson, K5JMR——————————————————————–To unsubscribe from messages, go to:
-
Nicholas Frederick <djnick7@gmail.com>To:John Mark RobertsonNov 28, 2018 at 12:08 PM
Hey John Mark,
I don’t really care, but I wanted you to know that I was left off the list of license upgrade. I upgraded at the same time as the rest of those guys. Like I said, I don’t care that I was left off, so don’t worry about it. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that I am now a full Amateur Extra.
—
73,
Nicholas Frederick – W4NDF
District Emergency Coordinator – LA Region 1 ARES
ARES Official Emergency Station
Member – ARRL, ARES, JARC, DDXA, SELCOM, SKYWARN
Vice Commander – USCG Aux Flotilla 47
Email: W4NDF@arrl.net
Phone: (504) 430-6018
Hamshack Hotline: 618
Fax: (504) 459-9300
Emergency Line: (504) 383-4382
From: ARRL Members Only Web site <memberlist@www.arrl.org>
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 10:51 AM
To: <w4ndf@arrl.net>
Subject: Louisiana Section Managers Newsletter November 2018LOUISIANA SECTION MANAGERS NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2018
SILENT KEYS
Norbet Newby WA5CFW
Elizabeth Denton KA5MTG
Charles Winder, Jr. K5FNN
Frank Thrash W4DLZ
Henry P. Forbes KC5KJ
Sam L. Richardson W5SMH
Carl Beck W5BEK
NEW HAMS
Report for 2018-11-02
Jared A Mayeaux, KI5BVA
Donnis H O’bryan, KI5CBV
Ronald D Porter, AG5RW
T J Taplin, KI5CBW
Rex A Schuttler, KI5BUE
LICENSE UPGRADES
Report for 2018-11-02
Camille J Guidry, KG5SWD
David J Cantrelle, KF5WMS
Michael J Decossas, KB5OZE
Gregory Speyrer, KE5DEU
Michael A Carmouche, KG5TGG
Dorothy L Minor, KF5YNM
Richard L Cutrer, KF5TQT
Shirley M Jordan, KI5BFH
Patrick L Widner, KG5AAH
NEW ARRL MEMBERS
Report for 2018-11-02
James P Marra, N5HZ
Divini Luccioni, N3DI
Ted F Vander Wiede, KB1NDX
Nathan A Cooper, K5ZFC
Steven D Brinkley
William J O Donnell, W5VPM
Susan Anderson, KE5FMX
Timothy Sonnier, N5RKK
Abbigail Wilson, KF5BEW
Kendra Wilson, KF5FYS
Galen D Wilson, KF5BET
John B Maylard, KC6MNO
David W Ables, KE5NIJ
Kevin J Abshire, KE5RKT
Paul J Maia, KB5AIF
Leonard W Martin, WD5DNQ
Keith A McDavid, KF5WTK
Kevin N Boykin, N5CDB
Ronald D Porter, AG5RW
Terry J Peek, KD5BIO
Charles H Edwards, WC5K
Jeffrey W Hall, KA5YZQ
——————————————————————————————————————————————
FROM THE ARRL
Well-Known Contester, “Antenna Farmer” Paul Bittner, W0AIH, SK
11/01/2018
The Reverend Paul Bittner, W0AIH, of Fall Creek, Wisconsin, died doing
what he loved on October 31, when a tower-climbing mishap claimed his
life at his well-known antenna farm. The ARRL Life Member and Maxim
Society member was 84. A member of the CQ Contesting Hall of Fame and
retired Lutheran pastor, Bittner was a well-known and respected figure
within the Amateur Radio community and a prolific contester and DXer.
His call sign was nearly always present in most major operating events,
and even in a few lesser-known contests, and news of his tragic death
and condolences and accolades quickly spread among those who knew him
best.
“No one was more generous, loving, and encouraging to others than the
Reverend Paul Bittner,” said Mike Lonneke, W4AAW, in a post to the
Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC). “He called me last week to chat
about what he and Mary were up to, like getting material together for
their always long and hilarious Christmas newsletter. He also knocked me
out with the latest of his funny experiences in his ‘Rent-a-Rev’
sideline.” Bittner officiated at the June 2 wedding of two well-known
midwestern contesters.
Bittner was licensed in 1949 and held the same call sign ever since. He
and his wife, Mary, WB0PXM, moved in 2000 to “The Farm,” a 120-acre
spread in west-central Wisconsin. The first of the more than 50 towers
began sprouting there before their arrival in 1982. As a ham, he enjoyed
multi-multi contesting and DXing. His favorite band was 160 meters, and
his favorite contest was the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest. Bittner’s
son-in-law — Paul Husby, W0UC — operated VHF contests from The Farm
and was a multi-multi regular as well.
“His station stands as a great monument to a selfless man of great
grace and remarkable achievements,” Lonneke said. “Paul once told me
that AIH stands for ‘already in heaven.’”
Contester and former ARRL staffer Dave Patton, NN1N, described Bittner
as “such a good man and truly great ham.” W1AW Station Manager Joe
Carcia, NJ1Q, noted that Bittner had volunteered to operate as W1AW/9 as
a headquarters station in the 2019 IARU HF Championship to celebrate his
decades in ham radio.
NCJ Editor Scott Wright, K0MD, said that Bittner helped to build
stations for many midwestern hams. “He was a mentor to hundreds of
hams, and his enthusiasm for contesting was infectious,” Wright said.
Bittner had said he wanted to be buried with a bible, a telegraph key,
and a climbing belt.
“Thank you for giving so much of yourself to me and the rest of the
ham community,” said contester Scott Neader. “We will never forget
you.”
FCC Fines Amateur Radio Licensee $25,000 for Operating Unlicensed FM
Station
11/01/2018
In an FCC Enforcement Bureau case going back to early 2015, a Paterson,
New Jersey, Amateur Radio licensee has been penalized in the amount of
$25,000 for allegedly continuing to operate an unlicensed FM radio
station. The FCC issued a Forfeiture Order on October 30 to Winston A.
Tulloch, KC2ALN, a General class licensee. The fine followed an April
2018 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture(NAL) issued to Tulloch
for alleged “willful and repeated violation” of Section 301 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, by operating an unlicensed FM
radio station on 90.9 MHz in Paterson. Tulloch did not respond to the
NAL, the FCC indicated.
“Commission action in this area is essential because unlicensed radio
stations do not broadcast Emergency Alert Service messages and therefore
create a public safety hazard for their listener,” the FCC said in the
Forfeiture Order. “Moreover, unlicensed radio stations create a danger
of interference to licensed communications and undermine the
Commission’s authority over broadcast radio operations.”
Following up on February 2015 complaints regarding pirate radio
operations in Paterson, FCC agents spotted a signal on 90.9 MHz that
“appeared to be an unauthorized radio station.” Agents determined
the signal was emanating from a multi-family dwelling and noticed an FM
antenna on the structure. The measured field strength exceeded the
limits allowed for Part 15 unlicensed devices.
Through a solicitation broadcast on the station for advertisers and a
vehicle parked outside the building, the FCC agents were able to
determine that the telephone number in the announcement belonged to
Tulloch, and the car was registered in his name. FCC agents made several
visits to Paterson in late 2015 and early 2016. In October of 2016,
agents returned to Paterson and determined that the signal source had
relocated to another nearby multi-family structure. A Notice of
Unlicensed Operation (NOUO) was posted on the door of the building and
the following month, the FCC mailed an NOUO to Tulloch.
Subsequent visits revealed that the station was still in operation, and,
at some point, had moved back to its prior location. Additional NOUOs
were issued. Finally, on September 15, 2017, two agents returned to
Paterson and determined that the station no longer was on the air.
In the Forfeiture Order, the FCC incorporated by reference the details
of the investigation spelled out in the earlier NAL.
The Tulloch case is among dozens that the FCC Enforcement Bureau has
initiated in the past couple of years in efforts to shut down pirate
broadcasters across the US, the vast majority of which are not FCC
amateur licensees.
New CEO Wants ARRL to Serve All Ages and Amateur Radio Interests
11/01/2018
Newly elected ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, is still on the uphill
side of the learning curve as he acquaints himself with ARRL
Headquarters and the nearly 90 staffers who work there. The New Jersey
native arrived at HQ on October 15 and has spent much of his time since
meeting with department managers and others to get his bearings, with an
eye toward building consensus and aligning people, programs, and
services in the same direction.
“I’m still trying to understand what is working and where the
challenges are,” Michel said. “Once I understand where the
challenges are, I need to understand why. Before I make any changes in
what we’re doing, I need to make sure the change is a step in the
right direction and for the right reasons, and not kind of a random
process.”
Michel would like to see ARRL focus on the future of Amateur Radio and
not become the redoubt of a particular generation of radio amateur or
interest group. He said, “Ham radio shouldn’t abandon the old
guardians of the hobby, but at the same time, it needs to have new
things that appeal to people who have different interests and different
passions.”
Ham radio appears currently entrenched with opposition often expressed
to FT8 and other digital modes and protocols that bend Amateur Radio
traditions and conventions, Michel observed. However, as he sees it,
technology for the whole of Amateur Radio has been changing, and
detractors to advances have always been present. He’d like ARRL to
encourage more technological diversity without creating controversy.
“My kick is seeing the technology advance,” the former IEEE
president and CEO said. “I want to see hams embrace the new technology
— as long as we do that in a way that those who don’t adopt the new
technology won’t feel abandoned.” In his view, the real reason
behind the continued enthusiasm for CW “is not the technology; it’s
the legacy.”
At the same time, resources should reflect usage and interest, with
respect to the spectrum and with respect to how many pages QST devotes
to a particular interest area. “Everything should reflect the growth
and change, without abandoning the legacy interests.”
Acknowledging the incessant push to get more young people into Amateur
Radio, Michel wants to explore ways “to morph some of the League’s
processes and services and products into something that would appeal to
the newer generation of hams.”
“Young people in general don’t join organizations, but they join
causes,” he said. “With that kind of attitude, how do we develop the
same kind of ability for people interested in Amateur Radio to
self-organize around causes? And if we can design the infrastructure
around that, maybe they’ll see value in ARRL and become a new type of
member — not one who necessarily comes to ham club meetings once a
month but finds the League can facilitate what they want to do.”
Michel said he’s always enjoyed tinkering with ham gear, building it,
modifying it, and repairing it, and then making it do something new or
different. He concedes that while he has not had an opportunity to do
much hamming as he’s moved around with the military and for academic
and business pursuits, he’d like to become more active, and he is
presently exploring his options as an apartment dweller. As for FT8,
he’d like to try it, if for no other reason than the novelty.
Michel said he definitely wants to encourage partnerships with other
organizations with which ARRL might share some common ground, including
IEEE.
“We can’t do everything ourselves. We have to find partnerships,”
he said. Some IEEE operating units would be applicable to Amateur Radio,
and he’s already heard from two unit heads that are both hams.
Michel also feels that radio amateurs need to extend their gaze beyond
the everyday nuts and bolts of Amateur Radio operating. “What we need
to do is protect the spectrum from competition, develop interest in the
various facets of Amateur Radio, and not try to pick fights ‘in
house,’” he said. “Spectrum is the gold of the 21st century.”
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, Elected as ITU Telecommunication
Development Director
11/02/2018
ARRL member Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX, has been elected as Director
of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication
Development Bureau (BDT). Her election, on the first ballot in a
three-way race, came on November 1 at the ITU’s Plenipotentiary 2018
Conference in Dubai. Bogdan-Martin becomes the first woman on the ITU
executive team. Running on a campaign theme of “Sustainable Digital
Development for All,” Bogdan-Martin said she would work toward a
Telecommunication Development Bureau that helps its members benefit from
the drivers of innovation and economic development.
“We must help governments integrate ICTs into their national
development frameworks, actively support[ing] their ministries to ensure
digital development strategies emphasize human capacity, digital skills,
and empowering people,” she said. “I envisage the BDT redoubling its
efforts on digital inclusion, working to bring online the remaining 3.9
billion people still offline.”
Her candidacy had strong support from US officials, including Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and FCC Chairman
Ajit Pai.
“Ms. Bogdan-Martin is a true leader and professional who has dedicated
more than 25 years to ensuring that all people can benefit from
information and communication technologies,” Pompeo wrote in endorsing
her candidacy. “I have no doubt that Ms. Bogdan-Martin will be a
driving force to ensure connectivity for all.”
FCC Chairman Pai extended congratulations to Bogdan-Martin, who, he
said, “has deep expertise in development issues and will play a
pivotal role in accelerating the spread of digital communications
throughout the globe.”
Bogdan-Martin has more than 20 years of experience at the ITU. During
the past decade she has headed the ITU General Secretariat Strategic
Planning and Membership Department for the Secretary-General. Her
responsibilities have included developing the ITU’s strategic and
operational plans in the context of ICT trends and the global
information economy, representing the ITU in engagement with other
bodies, and directing and managing all ITU global conferences.
She launched Equals Global Partnership, a multi-stakeholder
evidence-based network bringing women to technology, and technology to
women. She also directed the first ITU global youth summit that featured
700 participants and 3,000 remote participants, and she established the
ITU office to the United Nations where she has been serving as ITU
Representative to the UN High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP).
2018 SKYWARN Recognition Day
December 1, 2018 from 0000z to 2400z
SKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather
Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the
contributions that volunteer SKYWARN™ radio operators make to the
National Weather Service. During the day SKYWARN™ operators visit NWS
offices and contact other radio operators across the world.
SKYWARN Recognition Day Operating Instructions
1. Object For all amateur stations to exchange QSO information with as
many National Weather Service Stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15,
10, 6, and 2 meter bands plus the 70 centimeter band. Contacts via
repeaters are permitted. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day serves to celebrate
the contributions to public safety made by amateur radio operators
during threatening weather.
2. Date NWS stations will operate December 1, 2018, from 0000 – 2400
UTC.
3. Exchange: Call sign, signal report, QTH, and a one or two-word
description of the weather occurring at your site (“sunny”, “partly
cloudy”, “windy”, etc.).
4. Modes: NWS stations will work various modes including SSB, FM, AM,
RTTY, CW, FT8 and PSK31. While working digital modes, special event
stations will append “NWS” to their call sign (e.g., N0A/NWS).
5.Station Control Operator: It is suggested that during SRD operations a
non-NWS volunteer should serve as a control operator for your station.
6. Event and QSL Information: The National Weather Service will provide
event information via the internet. Event certificates will once again
be electronic and printable from the main website after the conclusion
of SRD.
7. Log Submission: To submit your log summary for SRD use the online
submission form.
Deadline for log submission is January 31, 2019.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
***2019 ARRL Field Day is June 22-23
2019 Field Day will be held June 22-23, 2019. Field Day is always held
on the 4th full weekend in June.
The 2019 Rules will be updated/released in March 2019.
2018 Field Day results will appear in December QST
LA SECTION RESULTS:
LOUISIANA SECTION 2018 ARRL FIELD DAY RESULTS
(PER DECEMBER 2018 QST)
TOTAL ENTRIES: 24
Score listings are grouped according to the number of transmitters in
simultaneous operation and their entry class. The listings show club or
group name, call sign(s) used, total number of QSOs, number indicating
power output used, number of participants, and total score including
bonus points and ARRL Section.
THREE OR MORE PERSON CLUB/NON-CLUB PORTABLE
1A-COMMERCIAL
WESTSIDE ARC W5ABD 32/2/6/314 LA
2A
LA DELTA RC KC5DR(+WA5WX) 395/2/45/1,982 LA
SOUTH LAKE CHARLES HAM GRP KI5EE 431/2/4/1,646 LA
3A
BATON ROUGE ARC W5GIX(+K5LSU) 731/2/60/3,142 LA
SPRINGHILL ARC LLC N5II 240/2/6/698 LA
3A COMMERCIAL
SE LA ARC WM5T 218/2/7/522 LA
ACADIANA ARA W5DDL(+W5EXI) 1,365/2/20/3,836 LA
5A COMMERCIAL
CENTRAL LA ARC N5I 1,216/2/35/4,254 LA
ONE OR TWO PERSONS/CLUB/NON-CLUB PORTABLE
1B-1 OPERATOR
K5BIU 219/2/1/1,024 LA
N5JSC 118/2/1/386 LA
K5TAE 28/2/1/206 LA
1B-1 OPERATOR BATTERY
K5SL 515/5/1/5,400 LA
HOME STATIONS COMMERCIAL POWER
1D
K1DW 175/2/1/750 LA
AA5AU 318/1/1/636 LA
K2ZP 57/2/1/164 LA
KG5GJT 45/2/1/140 LA
HOME STATIONS EMERGENCY POWER
1E
KA5M 406/2/1/1,774 LA
3E
W5GAD 1,085/2/57/4,878 LA
HOME STATIONS EMERGENCY POWER-BATTERY
EOC STATIONS
2F
BAYOULAND EMERGENCY ARC W5BMC 12/2/11/474 LA
5F
OZONE ARC W5SLA 102/2/25/808 LA
——————————————————————————————————————————————
ARES: LA Section
October 2018
ARES Members: 352
Active nets: 53 / with NTS Liaison: 3
Number of Exercises/Training: 41 / 361 hours
Number of Public Service Events: 2 / 432 hours
Number of Emergency Operations: 0 / 0 hours
Number of Skywarn Events: 3 / 34 hours
Total: 46 / 827
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Louisiana Traffic Report October 2018
SESSIONS QNI QTC QTR
16 105 20 1.5 HOURS
LOUISIANA HF ARES NET
SSESSIONS QNI QTC QTR
4 110 0 2 HOURS
73,
Jimmy Lewis/AB5YS
LOUISIANA SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Subject: LA Section 2018 Ham of the Year Nominations now being accepted
All LA Section ARRL Members,
Nominations for the LA Section 2018 Ham of the Year Award are now being
accepted thru December 31, 2018. The award will be announced at the
Hammond Hamfest January 19, 2019.
The nomination procedure is as follows:
1) Please follow these instructions. Complete the form and attach your
documentation. The Award Selection Committee will only see your attached
documentation for each individual with nothing to identify the nominee.
a) Minimum requirements for a nominee – 5 years uninterrupted ARRL
membership. (Committee may waive this for a new Ham who is an ARRL
member and has shown exemplary participation and accomplishments.)
b) On an attached page please use only BULLET statements to document
the
nominee’s participation and accomplishments.
c) Do not use a name, call sign or any statement information that would
identify the nominee in the bullet statements.
2) Mail or email the completed nomination to the ARRL Louisiana Section
Manager (Mailing address available on ARRL website or latest issue of
QST).
3) The Section Manager will appoint an independent selection committee
to make the final selection.
4) Additional support documents (pictures, news articles) may be
attached, but will not be used unless there is a tie or verification is
required.
To obtain the nomination form please email me at K5JMR@ARRL.ORG and I
will email you the nomination form. Please return to me no later than
December 31, 2018.
Thank you!
——————————————————————–
ARRL Louisiana Section
Section Manager: John Mark Robertson, K5JMR
UPCOMING HAMFESTS: LA SECTION
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
12/15/2018 | MARA Christmas Hamfest
Location: Minden, LA
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Minden Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://n5rd.org
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
01/19/2019 | 38th SELARC Hammond HamFest
Location: Hammond, LA
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Southeast Louisiana Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.selarc.org
UPCOMING HAMFESTS: DELTA DIVISION
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
12/01/2018 | Arkansas DX Association Annual Conference
Location: North Little Rock, AR
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Arkansas DX Association
Website: http://www.adxa.org
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
01/25/2019 | Mississippi State Convention (Capital City Hamfest)
Location: Jackson, MS
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Jackson Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://msham.org
——————————————————————–
ARRL Louisiana Section
Section Manager: John Mark Robertson, K5JMR
——————————————————————–