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The ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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February 15, 2024

John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <news@arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- Senators Roger Wicker and Richard Blumenthal Introduce S.3690 to
Eliminate Private Land Use Restrictions on Amateur Radio
- Amateur Radio as Educational Tool Represented to Policymakers in
Washington DC
- Highlights from 2024 Orlando HamCation
- Veteran DXpedition Leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, SK
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

==> SENATORS ROGER WICKER AND RICHARD BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCE S.3690 TO
ELIMINATE PRIVATE LAND USE RESTRICTIONS ON AMATEUR RADIO

On January 30, 2024, US Senators Roger Wicker (MS) and Richard
Blumenthal (CT) introduced S.3690
<https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3690/text>,
the Senate companion bill to H.R.4006, introduced last June
<https://www.arrl.org/news/legislation-to-remove-private-land-use-restrictions-on-amateur-radio-introduced-in-congress>.

Both bills reflect the Congressional campaign efforts by ARRL
<http://www.arrl.org/> to eliminate homeowner association land use
restrictions that prohibit, restrict, or impair the ability of an
Amateur Radio Operator to install and operate amateur station antennas
on residential properties they own.

Amateur Radio Operators repeatedly are relied upon to provide essential
communications when disaster strikes, but their ability to do so is
being impaired by the exponential growth of residential private land
use restrictions that hinder their ability to establish stations in
their homes with which to train and provide emergency communications
when called upon.

In announcing the introduction of S.3690, Senator Wicker said: "Because
communication during natural disasters is often hindered, we should be
making every attempt to give folks more options. Reliable access can
make the difference between life and death in an emergency. Our
legislation removes roadblocks for amateur radio operators looking to
help their friends, families, and neighbors."

In a similar announcement, Senator Blumenthal stated: "Our measure will
help clarify the rules so ham radio enthusiasts can successfully
continue their communications.

In the face of emergency or crisis, they help provide vital,
life-saving information that allow listeners to properly and safely
respond, but prohibitive home association rules and confusing approval
processes for installing antennas have been an unnecessary impediment.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act resolves these bottlenecks
and ensures that radio operators can function successfully."

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and Director John Robert Stratton,
N5AUS, Chair of the ARRL's Government Affairs Committee, both extended
on behalf of ARRL, its Members, and the Amateur Radio community their
thanks and appreciation for the leadership of Senator Wicker and
Senator Blumenthal in their continuing efforts to support and protect
the rights of all Amateur Radio Operators.

Read more on ARRL News
<https://www.arrl.org/news/senators-roger-wicker-and-richard-blumenthal-introduce-s-3690-to-eliminate-private-land-use-restrict>

==> AMATEUR RADIO AS EDUCATIONAL TOOL REPRESENTED TO POLICYMAKERS IN
WASHINGTON DC

ARRL and Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) represented
Amateur Radio at a symposium in Washington on February 1 at which the
top domestic spectrum policymakers from across the federal government
considered implementation of the National Spectrum Strategy
<https://www.ntia.doc.gov/sites/default/files/publications/national_spectrum_strategy_final.pdf>

(NSS) [PDF].

ARRL ensures that Amateur Radio is represented at sessions such as
this so that decisionmakers understand amateur radio's roles when
spectrum decisions are made, including its substantial contributions to
student interest and education in STEM subjects at schools throughout
the country and its role during emergencies and natural disasters.

In the NSS, released by the White House in November, national
policymakers identified some 2,790 megahertz of spectrum to be
considered for future commercial needs. No new amateur spectrum was
included, with only the ongoing reallocation studies related to 3.1 -
3.45 GHz being addressed.

The NSS was prepared for the President by the National
Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) in collaboration
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). NTIA considered input
from Federal Executive Branch agencies that use spectrum as well as
from other spectrum users, including amateur radio operators. As the
NSS was being formulated during 2023, ARRL's Washington Counsel
presented information on amateur radio to the policymakers at an NTIA
listening session. This was followed with a written submission about
amateur radio spectrum concerns
<https://www.regulations.gov/comment/NTIA-2023-0003-0141>, and later
with a one-on-one meeting with NTIA's Senior Spectrum Advisor in
overall charge of formulating the NSS.

The February symposium followed release of the NSS in November and was
in support of finalizing implementation plans for the strategy that are
expected to be announced by the White House in mid-March.

For the symposium, ARRL Life Member Phil Karn KA9Q, a director and
past-president of ARDC, participated as a panelist and reinforced
amateur radio's important national role in workforce development with
personal testimony based on his own career.

Karn's recruitment by Qualcomm in its early days was due directly to
his pioneering amateur radio accomplishments with digital wireless
projects that included many firsts. Karn retired from Qualcomm as Vice
President for Technology in 2011. He shared with policymakers the value
of amateur radio to interest and recruit youth into STEM areas and into
wireless specifically. Karn's life experience lent special weight to
his remarks about amateur radio's role in attracting youth to STEM
projects.

"I see [amateur radio] - having been involved in it for 52 years now -
as fundamental as an educational system... It is a type of hands-on
intuitive learning that is almost impossible to get any other way,"
said Karn. Watch a video of the panel on YouTube
<https://youtu.be/NaaFb6Sh61E?t=21090>.

==> HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024 ORLANDO HAMCATION

Warm weather greeted the crowds of radio amateurs who attended the 2024
Orlando HamCation® from February 9 - 11. The convention hosted the ARRL
Florida State Convention, but drew attendees from across the country,
and some from even farther, renewing HamCation's place as the second
largest US ham radio convention.

HamCation <https://www.hamcation.com/> is sponsored by the Orlando
Amateur Radio Club (OARC). The convention was sprawled out across the
Central Florida Fairgrounds, including a huge outdoor tailgate and
buildings filled with exhibitors and swap tables. The convention enjoys
significant participation from amateur radio manufacturers, dealers,
clubs, and organizations. In the months leading up to this year's
convention, HamCation International Relations Co-Chairs, Lidy Meijers,
KJ4LMM, and Peter Meijers, AI4KM, traveled to ham radio conventions
across Europe to cast a spotlight on the convention. Their work paid
off, garnering an attendance of amateurs from many other countries, and
even attracting other international societies to exhibit, including the
Radio Society of Great Britain, and the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
(Germany).

"It was very successful and very busy," said OARC President John Knott,
N4JTK. "The vendors reported traffic at their booths was high and both
the trunk fest and the flea market were busy." Knott also said that
reservations filled 200 RV spaces.

The East-West Hall included a row of booths organized by ARRL.

In addition to supporting renewing members and those who joined ARRL
for the first time, attendees also had the opportunity to meet ARRL
President Rick Roderick, K5UR; CEO David Minster, NA2AA, and
Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB. Baker also moderated
the ARRL membership forum on Saturday afternoon. Together, Baker,
Roderick, and Minster covered several key areas of membership interest.
Roderick, who asked attendees to consider what they've done for amateur
radio lately urged members to find opportunities to support new
licensees and strengthen radio clubs.

Minster spoke about a new, free ARRL membership offering for students
21 and younger that will be introduced soon. He also described ways
that ARRL is increasing amateur radio's role in education through
teachers, students, and schools. "ARRL knows that amateur radio is an
effective tool in developing student experiences in the STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and math) disciplines," said Minster. "Our
efforts to increase our outreach in education and other areas is
playing a prominent role with the development of the new ARRL strategic
plan."