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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 30
July 27, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL Board of Directors Acts on Background Checks, Digital Issues at
July Board Meeting 
* + FCC Commissioner Lauds BPL in House Testimony; ARRL Responds 
* + ARRL Board of Directors Names 2007 Award Recipients 
* + Now Appearing on the ARRL Stage at the 2007 National Convention... 
* + ARRL Membership Pages Go "Live" on the Internet 
* + FCC Denies Vanity Call Sign Petition 
*  IN BRIEF: 
      This Weekend on the Radio
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
    + Get Ready for the 2007 ARRL On-line Auction 
      National Contest Journal 
      9U0X DXpedition Approved for DXCC Credit 
      ARISS Update 
      Syria to Celebrate 60 Years of Amateur Radio 
      Let Us Know 

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> 

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>;
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>;
===========================================================

==> ARRL Board of Directors Acts on Background Checks, Digital Issues at
July Board Meeting  

The ARRL Board of Directors took action on two pressing matters,
background checks and emerging digital technologies, at its second
meeting of 2007, held July 20-21 in Windsor, Connecticut. Invited guests
included IARU Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and Radio Amateurs of
Canada President Earle Smith, VE6NM. 

A major concern at this Board meeting was the topic of served agencies
and background investigations. The Ad Hoc Background Investigation
Committee agreed that pursuing federally recognized credentialing for
Amateur Radio volunteers was critical for the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) to function. The Committee chairman, ARRL Atlantic
Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, proposed that the Board adopt a
policy with regard to Memoranda of Understanding with the various served
agencies. 

The Board adopted a policy that "communications volunteers participating
in ARRL-sponsored programs should not be required by served agencies to
undergo background investigations of any kind," but notes that criminal
background checks--performed by law enforcement agencies--are "generally
acceptable." The policy continues, "It is not reasonable for a served
agency to require these volunteers to consent to credit checks, mode of
living investigations or investigative consumer reports. In negotiating
or renegotiating Memoranda of Understanding that commit the League to
provide volunteer emergency communications support, the League must be
assured that these volunteers will not be required by the partner
organization to consent to credit checks, mode of living investigations
or investigative consumer reports."
 
Digital communication was another topic up for discussion at the Board
meeting. One question was the extent to which D-STAR systems fall within
the FCC definition of "repeater." Some repeater coordinators do not
consider D-STAR to be a repeater. 

The Board also thanked existing VHF/UHF frequency coordination groups
for their efforts "to promote orderly use of amateur frequencies." The
Board requested that such groups "extend their efforts to coordinate
digital systems such as D-STAR" and consider the bandwidths actually
required for successful operation.

In a related action, the Board thanked those involved in digital
networks that serve ARES, specifically radio e-mail systems, for
creating a system that facilitates Amateur Radio's ability to provide
emergency communications. The League affirmed its desire to work with
developers of digital systems to improve efficiency, address control
issues and enhance compatibility with other users of the Amateur Radio
bands.

John Chwat and Janet Worthington, KB3PDS, of Chwat & Company, ARRL's
Washington, DC legislative consultant, presented the Legislative
Relations report. In this session of Congress, the firm hired
Worthington, who with more than three years' experience on Capitol Hill,
actively advocates on behalf of the League. Chwat & Company has
continuously monitored and reported on congressional legislation and
activities to the ARRL, and networks ARRL legislative priorities with
House and Senate members and staff. They have also conducted targeted
lobbying on the key issues of Broadband over Power Lines and antenna
placement, assisted in the grassroots networking of ARRL Officers,
Directors and members to contact their elected officials, as well as
constant monitoring the legislative activities in all 50 states. Chwat
and Worthington also work closely with General Counsel Chris Imlay,
W3KD, on relevant legislative matters.

The report also discussed the status of two bills pending in the US
Congress, HR 462 and S1629. 

In January, Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-Arkansas), introduced HR 462, the
"Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007." It calls
on the FCC to study the interference potential of BPL technology and
report its findings back to Congress. It has been referred to the
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.  

In June, Senator Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas) introduced S1629, "The
Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007." This bill
is currently pending in the Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee. 

The Board also voted to support HR 2743, "The Military Affiliate Radio
System Emergency Communications Act of 2007." This bill would permit the
continued use of the MARS and SHARES programs of frequency-stabilized
Amateur Radio equipment that meets FCC Part 97 technical standards.
Otherwise, volunteers in these programs might be prevented from using
their regular station equipment. 

Recognizing the significance of recent FCC actions that included the
removal of the Morse testing requirement, the Board set a goal of
attaining 30,000 new licensees in 2008, increasing in the following
years. With approximately 6,000 licensees disappearing from the ranks of
amateurs each year through attrition and non-renewal, the Board
recognized the importance of striving to create real growth in the
Service. The new licensing regime along with the approaching increase in
sunspots can provide the motivation and inspiration for all hams to use
to increase the numbers of licensees as well as the interest level of
all. 

The Board decided to ask the Programs and Services Committee to evaluate
how the Section Field Organization is governed. In doing so, the Board
will request progress reports from the Committee regarding this study,
with final results reported to the Board no later than the July 2008
Board meeting.

The Rules and Regulations concerning the League's elections were
clarified to and amended with regard to "mass communication" of campaign
material during Director, Vice Director and Section Manager elections.
The Board prohibited "communications by mail, electronic distribution,
posting to a Web site, e-mail, hand delivery or any other means of
distribution to League members in the particular Division or Section"
involved in an election at League expense during the campaign period if
the material might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of the
election.

At the close of the meeting, President Harrison noted that Director
Frank Butler, W4RH, after 50 years of elected service to the ARRL
(starting out as Western Florida Section Communications Manager in
1957), was not standing for re-election this October. Everyone present
gave him a standing ovation in appreciation of his long service. 

The next meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors is scheduled for January
18-19, 2008.

==> FCC Commissioner Lauds BPL in House Testimony; ARRL Responds 

On July 24, FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein testified at a House
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing that "three
of the many urgent priorities we face" include the need for "a national
broadband strategy to ensure the ubiquitous deployment of affordable,
high speed broadband infrastructure to this country." FCC Chairman Kevin
Martin and Commissioners Tate, McDowell and Copps testified as well at
the "Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission" hearing.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, responded via fax on
July 25 to Commissioner Adelstein's remarks. "I cheered silently when I
came to your reference to the 'current anemic definition of high-speed'
that includes service that is too slow to meet citizens' reasonable
expectations," he wrote. "I was even more impressed with your statement
in the next paragraph, 'We must take a hard look at our successes and
failures.'"

Sumner, however, expressed "great disappointment" over Adelstein's
reference to "broadband over power line" (BPL) as "a technology
deserving of 'increasing incentives for investment.' None of your
colleagues' testimonies contain a similar reference," he pointed out.

Sumner reiterated the ARRL's position with regard to BPL technology and
"its propensity to interfere with radio communication, a flaw that is
not shared by other broadband delivery platforms. As long as
interference is avoided," Sumner said, "it is of no concern to us
whether private investment is devoted to BPL. However, we must object to
your identification of BPL as a technology that is particularly
deserving of favorable public policy treatment."

Calling the FCC's "inexplicable favoritism of BPL in the face of
contrary evidence" one of the Commission's "failures," Sumner noted that
according to the Commission's own latest figures, "of 64,600,000
'high-speed' lines, only about 5000 are BPL. This is a share of 0.008
percent, a share that actually declined in the six-month period between
reports--and if an 'anemic' definition were not used, none of the 5000
or so BPL lines would qualify."

ARRL's concern, Sumner said, at the "prospect of an even greater
encouragement of BPL, as your testimony suggests, is that--even at the
very low level of deployment that exists to date--the FCC's enforcement
efforts have proved to be woefully inadequate to address ongoing cases
of harmful interference from BPL systems."

Sumner went on to note "one example of documented interference
(Enforcement Bureau File No. EB-06-SE-083) has been caused by the
Ambient Corporation's Briarcliff Manor, New York installation for more
than three years without being corrected and without penalty to the
system operator...If the Commission is unable to protect its licensees
from harmful interference from BPL now, it is difficult to imagine how
it will be able to do so should BPL be more widely deployed in the
future."

Sumner also attached a letter from William E. Burton, Chairman of the
Public Safety and Security Committee of the Westchester County Board of
Legislators. Burton's letter described the interference BPL is causing
to local Amateur Radio operators in the village of Briarcliff Manor. He
stressed that the FCC "should require that...Ambient cooperate with the
ARRL and its BPL technical experts forthwith...This would include both
the current experimental system, as well as any future or 'second
generation' technology." 

Burton's letter went on to say that "the best way for the FCC to promote
a new technology while protecting public safety...[is to] make clear
that complaints concerning harmful interference are taken seriously."

Sumner concluded his comments: "We respectfully submit that BPL has not
earned a place in the much-needed national broadband strategy to benefit
all Americans. Resources are better devoted elsewhere, to more promising
technologies that do not pose a threat to the Commission's radio service
licensees."

==> Now Appearing on the ARRL Stage at the 2007 National Convention... 

One of the main features of the 2007 ARRL National Convention, to be
held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest August 18-19 in
Huntsville, Alabama, is the ARRL EXPO area. Part of the ARRL EXPO is the
ARRL Stage. ARRL Headquarters staffers and Field Organization leaders
will be giving short mini-forums on the ARRL Stage during the
Convention. Topics will range from how to write an article for QST, to
membership benefits, to BPL, to Logbook of the World, to education and
more!

ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, will give the latest on
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) and how they affect Amateur Radio. ARRL
News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, will present two talks: How to
write for QST, and a general Q-and-A session about Amateur Radio and the
news. ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, will discuss the
"ever-expanding benefits of ARRL membership."

ARRL Regulatory Information Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND will
speak about the responsibility every amateur shares when they get on the
air--operating legally, safely and appropriately. ARRL Contributing
Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, will present Dr Beldar's Contest Emporium,
always a crowd-pleasing hit at the ARRL EXPO. 

ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, will talk about the
newly dedicated Diamond Terrace and ways amateurs can be a part of this
lasting tribute at ARRL Headquarters. ARRL Education Services Manager
Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, will speak about opportunities with ARRL for
mentors and instructors. ARRL Emergency Preparedness & Response Manager
Dennis Dura, K2DCD, will be introducing himself and meeting hams
interested in or already involved with public service. DXCC Manager Bill
Moore, NC1L, will discuss operating awards and the QSL service. 

ARRL Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, will host the ARRL
Section Manager Forum, while ARRL Southern Florida Section Manager and
Chairman of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee Sherri Brower, W4STB,
will talk about why Public Information Officers are so crucial to the
ARRL Field Organization. 

Stay tuned for more details. For more information on the ARRL 2007
National Convention, please visit the ARRL EXPO Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/expo>.

==> ARRL Board of Directors Names 2006-2007 Award Recipients 

The ARRL Board of Directors named four ARRL award recipients at their
July 20-21 meeting in Windsor, Connecticut. The four awards conferred
were the 2007 Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award, the 2006
Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award, the 2006 Hiram Percy Maxim
Award and the Joe Knight Distinguished Service Award.

The recipient of the 2007 McGan Award is Daniel M. McMonigle, N3IXQ, of
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. McMonigle has been involved with public
service and emergency communications, making speeches to civic and
community groups. In 2007, through his tireless efforts, permission was
received from the Comcast East cable network to place ARRL public
service announcements on the company's networks. The cable air time
value of this advertising was valued at more than $1.5 million. The
McGan award is named for Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), the first
chairman of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee. After his death,
friends in the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Association joined with the
ARRL Board of Directors to pay a lasting tribute to the important
contributions he made on behalf of Amateur Radio. The McGan Award goes
to that ham who has demonstrated success in Amateur Radio public
relations and best exemplifies the volunteer spirit of Phil McGan.
Public Relations activities for which the McGan Award is presented
include efforts specifically directed at bringing Amateur Radio to the
public's attention (and most often the media's) in a positive light.
This may include traditional methods, such as news releases, or
non-traditional methods, such as hosting a radio show or being an active
public speaker.

The recipient of the 2006 Instructor of the Year Award is Dr William P.
Birmingham, KC8WBD, of Grove City, Pennsylvania. Over a period of many
years, Dr Birmingham has demonstrated his commitment to teaching Amateur
Radio in the classroom, as well as promoting Amateur Radio outside the
classroom. Herb S. Brier, W9AD, long-time CQ Novice Editor, represented
the spirit of effective, caring Amateur Radio instruction. The ARRL, in
conjunction with the Lake County (IN) Amateur Radio Club, sponsors this
award in his memory to recognize the very best in volunteer Amateur
Radio instruction and recruitment.

The recipient of the 2006 Maxim Award is Greg S. Davis, N3ZL, of
Florence, South Carolina. This award, given annually to a licensed radio
amateur under the age of 21, takes into account the nominee's most
exemplary nature of accomplishments and contributions to both the
community of Amateur Radio and the local community. Davis, first
licensed at 14, upgraded to Amateur Extra class before he turned 16.
While his first love is ragchewing, he likes to DX, contest and operate
all digital modes and SSTV. Davis is interested in and active in
emergency communications. As part of his Eagle Scout project, he was
responsible for planning, assembling and installing emergency
communications antennas at Red Cross emergency evacuation centers. 

The recipient of the Distinguished Service Award is ARRL Puerto Rico
Section Manager Victor Madera, KP4PQ. This award, first established in
2003, honors the exceptionally notable contributions by a Section
Manager to the League's health and vitality. It is named for New Mexico
Section Manager Joe Knight, W5PDY (SK), who served as New Mexico's
Section Manager for 27 years.

==> Revamped ARRL Membership Pages Go "Live" on the Internet 

The fully automated, easy-to-use, online membership application,
<http://www.arrl.org/join> which now provides immediate confirmation to
ARRL members, became a reality July 22. "Our new membership Web page
went live due to the inter-departmental team effort of Membership,
Circulation, Web Services, Accounting, IT and Business Services,"
commented ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB.

"ARRL Circulation Manager Amy Hurtado, KB1NXO, and I visited many
membership organization Web sites to see if we could find details we
liked and wanted to use for our site. We then took those bits and pieces
to ARRL graphic artist Diane Szlachetka, KB1OKV. Diane worked to
decipher our notes, and ultimately we ended up with this awesome set of
pages," she said. 

But it doesn't stop there. "Having a front page was only the beginning.
We needed to get all the systems behind the scenes to talk to each
other. One of the big parts related to credit card processing. ARRL Web
Developer Hugh Brower, KB1NFI, spent countless hours working with our
merchant services company to set up all kinds of security protocols, and
ARRL Web Applications Developer Micah Murray created all the
nitty-gritty scripts to make the site actually work! Wow--what a
process!" Breen said.

Breen said the online membership process "definitely needed an
overhaul." She added that more than 65 percent of ARRL members use the
ARRL Web site to join or renew their membership. "For existing members
who renew, when they log in to their member page and follow the link to
"Renew," the page will automatically populate with their existing
information. When a new ham joins and enters their call sign, their page
is automatically populated with data from the FCC. Again, the idea is to
make it as easy and streamlined as possible."

Calling the old online membership process "cumbersome," Breen said it
did not allow ARRL members to add family members at the same time, make
additional donations to the League or even add a subscription to QEX or
NCJ. "You can now also choose a Life Membership online, which previously
was not available. You can upgrade to Diamond Club while in the
system--again, this was not an option previously. Now when you join or
renew, you will receive an immediate confirmation by e-mail that
includes the type of membership selected, when it expires and when the
first issue of QST will arrive."

Breen said she hopes ARRL members will find this new Web page beneficial
and she welcomes any feedback. She can be reached via e-mail
<w1krb@arrl.org>;. 

==> FCC Denies Vanity Call Sign Petition 

On Friday, July 20, the FCC denied the petition of Quinten R. Erickson,
N0RD (formerly N7GXA), of Big Lake, Minnesota, requesting a
reconsideration of his application for vanity call sign N7AZ. The FCC
granted N7AZ to Jon F. Goering (formerly NJ7I) of Apache Junction,
Arizona on February 13, 2007. 

Section 97.19(c)(1) of the Commission's Rules provides that a call sign
shown on an expired license is not available to the vanity call sign
system for two years following the expiration of the license. This
two-year period corresponds to the grace period during which the
licensee of an amateur station may apply for renewal of the station and
operator license. The expired call sign becomes available for
reassignment the day after the two-year period ends. Call sign N7AZ
expired on January 13, 2005 and was available for assignment on January
14, 2007. 

Goering's application for N7AZ was received by the FCC on Sunday,
January 14, 2007. Because the application was received on a weekend, the
FCC deemed it to be filed on the next business day, Tuesday, January 16.
Erickson argued that the FCC should have dismissed Goering's application
for N7AZ as "premature." The FCC said that Erickson "assert[s] that Mr.
Goering's application should have been dismissed because the prior
license was still reflected in the Commission's licensing records on
Sunday, January 14, 2007. We disagree. That the Commission's records
were not updated until after the weekend does not change the date on
which the call sign became available to the vanity call sign system. Mr.
Goering's application therefore was not premature." 

Goering and Erickson's applications for N7AZ, the FCC said, were
included in a lottery to determine the processing order of applications
with a filing date of January 16, 2007. Of the applications that
requested N7AZ, Goering's was the first selected. "Consequently, we
conclude that his application was properly granted, and your application
was properly dismissed," the Commission said. 

Erickson subsequently applied for vanity call sign N0RD on April 10,
2007 and received it on April 28, 2007. 

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: This weekend, the NCCC Sprint Ladder is on
the air July 27 and the ARD Flight of the Bumblebees is July 28. The
RSGB IOTA Contest is July 28-29. Next weekend, look for the ARRL UHF
Contest, 1800 UTC August 4-1800 UTC Saturday, August 5. The TARA Grid
Dip Shindig and the European HF Championship are August 4, while the
10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), the National Lighthouse
Weekend QSO Contest and the North American QSO Party (CW) are August
4-5. The RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are August 5. The
ARS Spartan Sprint is scheduled for August 7. See the ARRL Contest
Branch page http://www.arrl.org/contests/, the ARRL Contester's Rate
Sheet <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, August 5 for these online
courses that begin on Friday August 17: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Level 3 (EC-003R2); Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital Communications
(EC-005); VHF/UHF--Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), and Radio
Frequency Propagation (EC-011). To learn more, visit the CCE Course
Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the
Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>;.

* Get Ready for the 2007 ARRL On-line Auction: Planning for the ARRL
On-line auction, scheduled for October 24-November 2, is already in high
gear, according to ARRL Business Services Manager Debra Jahnke, K1DAJ.
"We have a head start this year, as many of the items used in QST's
product review articles will be part of the Auction." In past years,
product review items were auctioned off throughout the year via
announcements in QST and written bids. QST "Old Radio" columnist John
Dilks, K2TQN, started off the donation process when he dropped by ARRL
HQ with a Hallicrafters SX-25 Super Defiant receiver and matching
speaker. Jahnke commented: "During and after the conclusion of the first
ARRL On-Line Auction last year, we were bowled over with the level of
interest and the extremely positive feedback from both bidders and our
generous donors. We anticipate another terrific turnout and will have
even more items to bid on--a large selection of new and vintage
equipment, Amateur Radio-related products and services--and a few
surprises, too! Our goal is to make this an exciting, fun event for
everyone."

* National Contest Journal: The July/August issue of NCJ is on the
streets. This issue features an article about the 2007 Contest
University held at this year's Dayton Hamvention. This exciting event,
led by Tim Duffy, K3LR, and an instructor staff of 10, brought together
more than 150 contesters, ranging from beginner level to expert, for a
day of contesting topics such as propagation, shack design and layout,
DXpedition contesting, contest logging software and antennas. John
Unger, W4AU, writes about participating in the Pennsylvania QSO Part as
a Multi-Multi station, and Pete Smith, N4ZR, reviews the new Elecraft
XG-1. Ranko Boca, YT6A, writes about contest techniques and wonders if
there are more yet to be discovered. There are also articles on
contesting activities at the Visalia DX Convention and a profile of
Geoff Howard, W0CG.Regular columns, such as "Contest Tips, Tricks and
Techniques," "RTTY Contesting," "VHF-UHF Contesting" and "Workshop
Chronicles" are included. Visit the National Contest Journal's Web site
<http://www.ncjweb.com/>. Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, is Editor of NCJ. He
can be reached via e-mail <ncjeditor@ncjweb.com>;. NCJ is available from
the ARRL and starts at $20/year (6 issues). To subscribe to NCJ, visit
the NCJ Subscription Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/ncjsub.html>
or call 1-888-277-5289.

* DXpedition Approved for DXCC Credit: The ARRL DXCC desk reports that
the 2007 DXpedition to Burundi, 9U0X, has been approved for DXCC credit.
ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, said, "If you had cards rejected for
this operation, please send an e-mail <dxcc@arrl.org>; and you will be
placed on the list for update."

* ARISS Update: ARRL Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) Coordinator Rosalie White, K1STO, said that the ARISS program is
moving along splendidly. On Tuesday, July 17, long-term hospitalized
children at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida,
spoke with astronaut Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, aboard the ISS. Anderson
answered the children's 33 questions. The Challenger Learning Center of
Lucas County, in Oregon, Ohio has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on
Wednesday, July 25 at 1148 UTC. The center has a science lab that is
used for the summer camp programs, and schools from northwest Ohio and
southeast Michigan participate in the programs which reach approximately
3000 students each year. An ARISS contact has also been has been planned
for the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford, England. Special Event
Station GB100J will operate at the Jamboree from July 27-August 8, 2007.
Approximately 40,000 scouts from 200 countries are expected to attend
this event. The contact will take place on Saturday, August 4 at 2110
UTC. There have been 306 ARISS International Space Station-to-Earth
school contacts to date.

* Syria to Celebrate 60 Years of Amateur Radio: The Technical Institute
of Radio, the IARU member-society in Syria, will celebrate 60 years of
Amateur Radio in that country from October 15-November 15. In honor of
this important milestone, TIR members will be using special prefix 6C60
on all HF bands during the month. 

* Let Us Know: What's your favorite part of The ARRL Letter? What kind
of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would you prefer the
Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your chance to let
your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL News Editor S.
Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, at k1sfa@arrl.org, with the subject line "ARRL
Letter  Suggestions." All messages will be read and discussed, and we
look forward to implementing positive suggestions into the ARRL Letter.


=========================================================== 
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.

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/American Radio Relay League.

==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
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==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa@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

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The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

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.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org

Editorial questions or comments: John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, at news@arrl.org.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box.  When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Thunderbird

Use the menu item "View/Message Body As/Plain Text" or "View/Message Source" options.

OS X Mail (Mac)

Use the "View/Message/Plain Text Alternative" menu item.

GMail

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...

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