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A couple of things from the mail bag.
6 December 2013 | by A new video (quite well done) that you may want to keep on hand for showing to those who have or are expressing a deisre to become an Radio Amateur.
First, here’s the link to the full version (which is a bit longer than what is embedded here): http://youtu.be/ivUMIADFSDw
Next, from Jim W4QO considering the current “Buddies in the Caribbean” DXpedition to St. Lucia:
In order to step up the pace here in St. Lucia, if you (running QRP @5 cw/dig or 10 PEP SSB) work 3 of the 7 ops on the Buddies in the Caribbean DXpediton this week, you can earn the coveted BIC QRP certificate. It’s not the Buddies who have to be running QRP – it’s YOU! Many of us are running QRP
but some are not.
http://dx-world.net/2013/st-lucia-buddies-in-the-caribbean-dxpedition/
Sadly, Joe didn’t make it so you only have to work 3 of the other 7 using QRP to earn this valuable certificate.
We have worked many of you QRPers already so how hard can it be? Find 3 of us on any band, any mode.
To find us, go to this easy link:
http://www.dxwatch.com/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=3647
The Buddies are the ones with a J6/ in front of their calls. There are still 3.5 more days to do this, so come on, work us!
Send a #10 envelope with SASE to W4QO at qrparci.org with a list of the 3 (or more) you worked. If you work 5 or more, well, just wait and see what you get!! 🙂
If you worked J6/W4QO, then include your QSL card and get one in return.
73,
Budd, J68FF #6260
Chris, J6/W6HFP #15226
Rick, J6/AA4W #4046
Craig, J6/NM4T #8137
Jim, J6/W4QO #6515
John, J6/W5EXJ #15219
Jerry, J6/N9AW #6694
Lastly, I thought this announcement from the League regarding the Communications Act of 1934 was of interest:
SB QST @ ARL $ARLB033
ARLB033 Plans Announced to Update the Communications Act of 1934
ZCZC AG33
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 33 ARLB033
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT December 5, 2013
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB033
ARLB033 Plans Announced to Update the Communications Act of 1934
The US House Communications and Technology Subcommittee has announced plans for a multi-year effort to examine and update the Communications Act of 1934, the overarching law under which the FCC functions. The subcommittee, part of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, is chaired by Oregon Republican Greg Walden, W7EQI. Walden and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton of Michigan made the announcement December 3.
“Today we are launching a multi-year effort to examine our nation’s communications laws and update them for the Internet era,” Upton said in a news release. “The United States has been the global leader in innovation and growth of the Internet, but unfortunately, our communications laws have failed to keep pace.”
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, noted that the most recent significant update of the Communications Act was in 1996. “Under the leadership of Greg Walden, the subcommittee and its staff are well equipped to take up the challenge,” Sumner said. “The ARRL will be monitoring the work closely as it goes forward next year and beyond.”
The plan was made public via Google Hangout, where the committee leaders were joined by former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who said he was “delighted” to learn of the update plans. Upton explained that the process, to start in 2014, will involve a series of white papers and hearings focusing on what might be done “to improve the laws surrounding the communications marketplace as well as a robust conversation utilizing all platforms of digital media.” He suggested a bill would be ready by 2015.
Walden said, “A lot has happened since the last update” and that the Communications Act is “now painfully out of date.” He pointed out that the Act, drafted during the Great Depression, was last updated “when 56 kilobits per second via dial-up modem was state of the art.”
Upton said, “We must ensure that our laws make sense for today but are also ready for the innovations of tomorrow.”
Walden said he wants to open the discussion to input from everyone. Interested parties may follow the plan’s progress via Twitter. “It’s important for people to have an opportunity to weigh in,” he said. “This is really a public process to get better public policy.”
Call me a pessimist, but I hope we’re not opening Pandora’s Box here.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
3 Responses to “A couple of things from the mail bag.”
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I agree with you Larry about the Pandora’s Box. I get a very uneasy feeling when they want to mess with the Communication Act of 1934. It’s like when certain people want to have another constitutional convention to make changes to our countries constitution, you worry about opening that dreaded Pandora’s Box! I don’t trust this current administration as far as I can throw them. All of us Ham’s we’ll have to hope the ARRL does a good job covering our six, making sure they don’t pull anything sneaky in their updates.
Joe KB3PHL
Larry thanks for sharing this information. I notice the “powers that be” are using “unsocial media” to invite citizens to follow the process. Kind of tells me already how they plan on this working out! Many of us still do not do twitter,facebook or or whatever form of “unsocial” media is the latest fad,and will be left out in the cold. I’m sure they planned it that way! This just might be the opening the Feds have been looking for to sell off Amateur bandwidth to the highest bidder.
My guess is that “Progressive Ideas” will end Amateur Radio as we have known it in the past. If we don’t get good leadership and an outstanding letter writing campaign to our elected representatives , Amateur Radio is going to loose ground and will be watered down .