The ARRL Letter
January 7, 2021
* FCC Reduces Proposed Amateur Radio Application Fee to $35
* FCC to Require Email dress with Applications and on File
* QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Returning in March
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARRL ARES Volunteers Were Ready to Assist in Wake of Nashville
Blast
* Christmas Eve Forecast Calls ARES/RACES/SKYWARN into Action
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Announcements
* Amateur Radio in the News
* The K7RA Solar Update
* ARRL Member Designs New Ham Radio License Plate for Kentucky
* In Brief...
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
FCC Reduces Proposed Amateur Radio Application Fee to $35
The FCC has agreed with ARRL and other commenters that its proposed $50
fee for certain amateur radio applications was "too high to account for
the minimal staff involvement in these applications." In a Report and
Order (R&O), released on December 29, the FCC scaled back to $35 the
fee for a new license application, a special temporary authority (STA)
request, a rule waiver request, a license renewal application, and a
vanity call sign application. All fees are per application.
ministrative updates, such as a change of mailing or email address,
are exempt.
ARRL had filed comments opposing the FCC's $50 fee and application fees
and urged its members to follow suit.
As the FCC noted in its R&O, although some commenters supported the
proposed $50 fee as reasonable and fair, "ARRL and many individual
commenters argued that there was no cost-based justification for
application fees in the Amateur Radio Service." The fee proposal was
contained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in MD Docket
20-270, which was adopted to implement portions of the "Repack Airwaves
Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act" of 2018 -- the
so-called "Ray Baum's Act."
"After reviewing the record, including the extensive comments filed by
amateur radio licensees and based on our revised analysis of the cost
of processing mostly automated processes discussed in our methodology
section, we adopt a $35 application fee, a lower application fee than
the Commission proposed in the NPRM for personal licenses, in
recognition of the fact that the application process is mostly
automated," the FCC said in the R&O. "We adopt the proposal from the
NPRM to assess no additional application fee for minor modifications or
administrative updates, which also are highly automated."
The FCC turned away the arguments of some commenters that the FCC
should exempt amateur radio licensees. The FCC stated that it had no
authority to create an exemption "where none presently exists." The FCC
also disagreed with those who argued that amateur radio licensees
should be exempt from fees because of their public service contribution
during emergencies and disasters.
"[W]e are very much aware of these laudable and important services
amateur radio licensees provide to the American public," the FCC said,
but noted that specific exemptions provided under Section 8 of the
so-called "Ray Baum's Act" requiring the FCC to assess the fees do not
apply to amateur radio personal licenses. "Emergency communications,
for example, are voluntary and are not required by our rules," the FCC
noted. "[W]hile the value of the amateur service to the public as a
voluntary noncommercial communications service, particularly with
respect to providing emergency communications, is one of the underlying
principles of the amateur service, the amateur service is not an
emergency radio service.'"
The Act requires that the FCC switch from a Congressionally mandated
fee structure to a cost-based system of assessment. The FCC proposed
application fees for a broad range of services that use the FCC's
Universal Licensing System (ULS), including the Amateur Radio Service,
which had been excluded previously. The 2018 statute excludes the
Amateur Service from annual regulatory fees, but not from application
fees.
The effective date of the fee schedule has not been established. Read
more.
FCC to Require Email dress with Applications and on File
Effective on June 29, 2021, amateur radio licensees and candidates must
provide the FCC with an email address on all applications. If no email
address is included, the FCC may dismiss the application as
"defective." On September 16, the FCC adopted a Report and Order (R&O)
in WT Docket 19-212 on "Completing the Transition to Electronic Filing,
Licenses and Authorizations, and Correspondence in the Wireless Radio
Services," which appeared on December 29 in the Federal Register. The
FCC has already begun strongly encouraging applicants to provide an
email address and will email a link to an official electronic copy of
the license once it's granted.
While many, if not most, amateurs already have provided an email to the
FCC, this also will become a requirement. Under Section 97.21 of the
new rules, as amended, the holder of a valid amateur radio station
license "must apply to the FCC for a modification of the license grant
as necessary to show the correct mailing and email address, licensee
name, club name, license trustee name, or license custodian name." For
a club or military recreation station license, the application must be
presented in document form to a club station call sign administrator
who must submit the information to the FCC in an electronic batch file.
Under new Section 97.23, as amended, each license must show the
grantee's correct name, mailing address, and email address. "The email
address must be an address where the grantee can receive electronic
correspondence," the revised rule will state. "Revocation of the
station license or suspension of the operator license may result when
correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the
grantee failed to provide the correct email address."
Licensees can log into the ULS License Manager System with their FRN
and password to update their FCC license record, including adding an
email address. For questions or password issues, call the CORES/FRN
Help Line, (877) 480-3201 (Monday - Friday, 1300 - 2300 UTC) or reset
the password on the FCC website. Read more.
QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Returning in March
The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will return March 13 - 14 for a full 48
hours, QSO Today host Eric Guth, 4Z1UG/WA6IGR, announced this week.
ARRL is a QSO Today Expo Partner. Guth said the inaugural QSO Today
Expo last August attracted more than 16,000 attendees, and he
anticipates that the March 2021 event will be even more successful.
The upcoming QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will feature new speakers and
presenters, panel discussions, and kit-building workshops among other
activities. Guth pointed out that attendees can log in from anywhere.
While he anticipates a good turnout by those who typically attend such
ham radio events, the virtual Expo also offers an opportunity for those
concerned about pandemic travel restrictions as well as for those who
don't typically attend in-person events.
"At our last Expo, we found that 60% of attendees don't go to in-person
national conferences, and 40% don't attend state or local events," Guth
said, noting that distance and the high cost of travel and lodging were
the most oft-cited reasons.
Registration is required, and to help cover the costs of staging this
event, there will be a charge to attend. vance tickets are $10
($12.50 at the "door") and include entry for the live, 2-day show as
well to the 30-day on-demand period. At the Expo, visitors can:
* Learn from a line-up of such well-known ham radio personalities as
Bob Allphin, K4UEE, on "My Favorite DXpeditions to DXCC Top 10 Most
Wanted;" Michael Foerster, W0IH, on "Using the Arduino in Your
Shack," and Ron Jones, K7RJ, on "3D Printer Basics."
* Take part in live virtual kit-building workshops. (Kits will be
available for purchase and delivered to attendees in time for the
Expo.)
* Walk through the virtual exhibit hall to visit an array of amateur
radio vendors and see live demonstrations of the latest equipment.
This show will leverage newer video technology to provide a better
experience for attendees to engage with exhibitors.
Those planning to attend the Expo may take advantage of new speaker
calendar technology to create their own calendar of presentations in
their time zones, which can be saved to a Google or Outlook calendar.
Registrants may return over the 30 days following the live event to
catch speakers and presentations missed during the live period, as well
as to explore and re-engage exhibitor offerings.
"The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo has all of the familiar hallmarks of an
in-person hamfest, including opportunities to connect and learn," ARRL
Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, said. Read more.
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ARRL Podcasts Schedule
The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 12) features a
discussion about storm spotting and SKYWARN, with Mike Corey, KI1U.
The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 24) discusses solid-state
hard drive failures and features a chat with Scott Tilley, VE7TIL,
about receiving signals from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
ARRL ARES Volunteers Were Ready to Assist in Wake of Nashville Blast
ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES(R)) volunteers went on
alert, ready to deploy in Williamson County, Tennessee, in the
aftermath of an apparently intentional explosion early on Christmas Day
in front of an AT&T switching facility in downtown Nashville. The blast
injured several people and killed the individual believed responsible
for the blast. It also damaged buildings, broke water mains, and
disrupted telecommunications.
ARRL Vice Director and Williamson County Emergency Coordinator Ed
Hudgens, WB4RHQ, who lives in Nashville, monitored the situation.
"The explosion did a lot more damage than was originally thought,"
Hudgens said in the immediate aftermath. "Since about 0730 yesterday,
we have had monitoring nets up and running on the local analog
repeaters and DMR repeaters. We have mainly been answering questions as
best we can." Hudgens said his ARES group was among those that stood
ready to deploy to the Williamson County PSC to assist with
communications for various county offices.
The Middle Tennessee Emergency Amateur Repeater System (MTEARS) held
nets on its DMR repeater system several times a day. The main repeater
at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) site was affected
by the outage. Hudgens said it was fortunate that two DMR repeaters had
gone online recently in Williamson County, and all communications went
going through them.
WCARES held a continuous net on its five-repeater linked system to
assist hams as needed. The net also relayed news updates from AT&T and
county governments and assisted callers on AT&T to implement wireless
calling on their phones. In addition to the WCARES net, a net activated
in Davidson County in Middle Tennessee.
"A big thanks to those monitoring and providing updates!" Don Williams
said in a post to the MTEARS Facebook page. "I was able to turn on my
HT, locate a good frequency, and get up-to-date information. This was a
great help in keeping my house calm with updated info as to the AT&T
outage, as both our cell and internet were affected..."
ARRL Headquarters reached out to Tennessee Section Manager David
Thomas, KM4NYI, to offer assistance.
Christmas Eve Forecast Calls ARES/RACES/SKYWARN into Action
ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R)), RACES, and SKYWARN
volunteers in Upstate New York were called upon on the morning of
December 24 to provide current snowpack amounts, future rainfall
amounts, and river and stream gauge levels to the National Weather
Service (NWS).
"Our ARES groups got a request from two local county emergency managers
in the Catskill District of New York -- Chenango and Otsego counties,"
said Otsego County Emergency Coordinator Cory Telarico, KD2HXE. "The
reason for concern and activation was the December 16 - 17 snowstorm
that dumped between 17 and 41 inches of snow on the area, compounded
with forecast rain for Christmas Eve into Christmas Day and the
potential for serious localized flooding."
Between the two county ARES groups, which included members of the
Chenango Valley Amateur Radio Association out of Norwich and the
Oneonta Amateur Radio Club in Otsego County, the volunteers were able
to run nets on December 24 at 10 AM with 10 check-ins and at 7 PM with
9 check-ins, as well as a Christmas morning net at 7 AM with 8
check-ins.
"I observed the Susquehanna River rise in the City of Oneonta between
4.5 and 5.5 feet in a matter of about 6 hours while on duty as a New
York State Park Police Officer, Telarico said. "All of our reports were
forwarded to the National Weather Service as well as the two county
emergency managers."
Telarico said the event demonstrated "the true dedication of our
members in the field in taking time away from their families during the
holiday for the goal of public service." The groups received a
complimentary email from Otsego County Emergency Services Coordinator
Arthur Klingler, Jr. "Your team's dedication is greatly appreciated,"
he said.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars
Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.
The schedule is subject to change.
Amateur Radio Logging: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT
Discover the advantages of keeping an electronic amateur radio log.
Find out why you may need more than one software program for
logging-contesting, digital modes, special events, etc. Learn about
using one full-featured logging program to pull everything together,
interface with outside databases, handle electronic QSLing, and more.
The discussion will include file formats, importing and exporting data
between programs, submitting contest logs online, and safe backup of
data.
Thursday, January 14, 2021, 12:30 PM PST / 3:30 PM EST (2030 UTC)
Emergency Communications: Why Train? -- North Texas Section Emergency
Coordinator Greg Evans, K5GTX
Why should we train? Utilizing amateur radio operators in an emergency
communication situation is a key function that can save lives. We must
be able to respond to the needs of our served agencies quickly and
responsibly. Topics covered include the Incident Command System and its
relevance; building on consistent training; interoperability with
multiple communication providers; interoperability with VOAD and
partners, and Mission One: Get the information delivered.
Thursday, January 21, 2021, 12:30 PM PST / 3:30 PM EST (2030 UTC)
Easy Helical Copper Tape and PVC 2-Meter Vertical Antenna -- John
Portune, W6NBC
Here's how to quickly build from hardware-store copper tape and PVC
pipe an 18-inch, continuously loaded, light weight portable or base
station 2-meter omnidirectional vertical with performance and
efficiency comparable to a 5-foot J-pole. The cost is roughly $10. It's
an easy afternoon project, ideal for the new ham but equal to the
serious ham's needs. It is great for events like bike-a-thons. It also
makes an excellent ham radio club hands-on building project, and the
design is adaptable to other bands.
Tuesday, February 2, 2021, 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST (1800 UTC)
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Announcements
* The agenda for the January 15 - 16, 2021, Annual Meeting of the
ARRL Board of Directors has been posted.
* The FCC has announced that the Technological visory Council (TAC)
January 14, 2021, 10 AM - 12 noon EST, videoconference will be
available to the public. TAC membership includes several radio
amateurs.
* Category 1 licensees in Uzbekistan now have permission to operate
on 60 meters in a secondary allocation of 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz, 100
W maximum power. -- Thanks to Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, Editor, The 5
MHz Newsletter
* AMSAT is transitioning to a virtual office and now will communicate
primarily via email via a contact form on the AMSAT website, or
direct email. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service
* ARRL Amateur Radio North America Map cartographer Curt Roseman,
K9AKS, of Moline, Illinois, died in December. He was 79. An active
VHFer, he once served as the "VHF-UHF Contesting!" editor for NCJ
* The RAC Canada Day Contest 2020 results and soapbox are now
available. The more than 735 participants counted among the best
turnouts in recent years.
Amateur Radio in the News
ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news. Share
any amateur radio media hits you spot with ARRL.
* Balloon Launched by Pella Students Makes 3rd Trip Around the Globe.
KNIA-KRLS Radio (Iowa), December 28, 2020.
* Living in space can get lonely. What helps? Talking to random
people over ham radio. Los Angeles Times, December 23, 2020.
* Amateur Radio Crews Celebrate Local Legend with Car Parade. WHEC-10
News (New York), December 21, 2020
* Tecumsuh Students Call Space Station. Countywide Sun (Oklahoma),
December 10, 2020
* Ramona Amateur Radio Club Links Elementary School Students to Space
Station Astronaut. Ramona Sentinel (California), December 9, 2020.
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The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots disappeared after January 2,
so the average daily sunspot number dropped from 27.1 last week to 10
for the December 31 - January 6 reporting week. Of course, average
daily solar flux declined as well, from 86.4 to 78.6.
Geomagnetic indicators remain quiet, with planetary A index changing
from 6.9 to 5.1, and middle latitude numbers from 5 to 4.
Predicted solar flux for the next 30 days looks depressed -- far
different from the high 80s we saw around Christmas. Solar flux is
expected at 74 on January 7 - 13; 76 on January 14; 80 on January 15 -
16; 82 on January 17 - 27; 80 on January 28 - 31, and 78 on February 1
- 5. Flux values rise to 82 around mid - February.
Planetary A index is predicted at 8 on January 7; 5 on January 8 - 9; 8
on January 10 - 11; 5 on January 12 - 16; 10 on January 17 - 20; 5 on
January 21 - 24; 8 on January 25 - 26; 5 on January 27 - 31; 10, 10,
and 8 on February 1 - 3, and 5 on February 4 - 5. A index rises back to
10 on February 13 - 16.
Sunspot numbers for December 31 - January 6 were 25, 23, 22, 0, 0, 0,
and 0, with a mean of 10. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 81.2, 80.4,
81.5, 80.4, 77.6, 75.1, and 74.1, with a mean of 78.6. Estimated
planetary A indices were 3, 4, 2, 2, 3, 11, and 11, with a mean of 5.1.
Middle latitude A index was 2, 3, 1, 1, 3, 9, and 9, with a mean of 4.
A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.
A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.
Share your reports and observations.
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ARRL Member Designs New Ham Radio License Plate for Kentucky
A ham radio license plate designed by ARRL member Matt Makaveli,
KY4GPD, o
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