XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

********************************************
The ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League ********************************************

June 15, 2023

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

- Legislation to Remove Private Land Use Restrictions on Amateur Radio Introduced in Congress
- 2023 Field Day: T-Minus 1 Week!
- FCC ULS down, Amateurs Unable to Submit Applications, Filing
Deadlines Extended
- Amateur Radio Helps Air Show Fly High
- Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club achieves 2,000th License Milestone
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

LEGISLATION TO REMOVE PRIVATE LAND USE RESTRICTIONS ON AMATEUR

RADIO INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

Congressmen Bill Johnson (OH-06) and Joe Courtney (CT-02) reintroduced
a bill in the US House of Representatives on June 12 -- H.R.4006 <https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4006> (see
full text of bill in this PDF <https://billjohnson.house.gov/uploadedfiles/amateur_radio_emergency_preparedness_act_signed_bill_text.pdf>)

-- to remove private land use restrictions that prohibit, restrict, or
impair the ability of Amateur Radio operators from operating and
installing reasonable antennas on property that they own or control.
Similar legislation, H.R. 9670, was introduced <https://www.arrl.org/news/rep-bill-johnson-introduces-bill-to-eliminate-private-land-use-restrictions-on-amateur-radio>

by Congressman Johnson in 2022.

"I reintroduced the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act to remove
barriers to disaster and emergency communications and training, and to
promote education in STEM subjects related to critically needed
wireless technology,"

Congressman Johnson said in a release. "Passage of this bill will
promote developing and sustaining our nation's wireless future and
facilitate and encourage amateur radio operations as a public benefit."

"As their actions during recent natural disasters such as Hurricane
Sandy proved, amateur radio operators in Connecticut can be a critical component of disaster response and emergency management. It is in our communities' best interest that we give them the capabilities to
operate at the highest level, and with the re-introduction of this
bill, we've taken a strong step in that direction," said Congressman
Courtney.

The exponential growth of communities bound by private land use
restrictions that prohibit both the operation of Amateur Radio and the installation of amateur station antennas has significantly restricted
the growth of the Amateur Radio Service.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® <http://www.arrl.org/> continues its multi-year efforts to eliminate private land use
restrictions that prevent Amateur Radio operations and has pledged to
strongly support Congressman Johnson and Congressman Courtney in their
efforts on behalf of Amateur Radio.

Rick Roderick, K5UR, President of ARRL, on behalf its Members and
America's Amateur Radio community extended his thanks and appreciation
for the leadership of Congressman Johnson and Congressman Courtney in
their tireless efforts to support and protect the rights of all Amateur
Radio Operators and to further STEM education and the advancement of
American expertise in wireless technology.

2023 FIELD DAY: T-MINUS 1 WEEK!

2023 ARRL Field Day is just a week away and social media is bristling
with posts and stories about amateur radio operators getting ready for
the big operating event. ARRL will be live streaming on YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/@ARRLHQ> from W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim
Memorial Station <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw> at ARRL Headquarters in
Newington, Connecticut. Hams from around the world will get the chance
to have their local event featured in the live cast by tagging ARRL in
their photos and videos on social media <https://www.arrl.org/arrl-social-media>. Include the hashtag #ARRLFD
with your posts, and your content might wind up featured!

On the pre-check list are antennas, transceivers and different types of
power supplies, site locations, all -weather gear, and make-shift
operating tables. Also remember to have sunscreen, snacks, and plenty
of water. Be sure to do a quick check of the rules <http://www.arrl.org/field-day#rules> (there are a few minor changes
since last year), coordinate with friends and other operators, and
synchronize timekeeping devices.

But getting ready is just part of the fun of Field Day, as gathering
with your local amateur radio community and making contacts is a reward
in itself! Whether you make one or 100 contacts, hearing a return to
your CQ is what makes Field Day special. In 2022 nearly 30,000
operators made over 1.2 million contacts -- now that's exciting!

ARRL has several web pages that can help make help you make sure are
ready. Check out ARRL's Field Day website
<https://www.arrl.org/field-day> for the information you'll need from
start to finish including the event dates and times. Field Day is
always the fourth full weekend in June. This year's event will begin at
1800 UTC on Saturday, June 24 and run until 2059 UTC on Sunday, June
25.

The web page also includes a link to the ARRL Field Day Facebook Group <https://www.facebook.com/groups/arrlfd/> where you can share
information, ask questions, and use the use hashtag #ARRLFD on to
receive 100 bonus points!

FCC ULS DOWN, AMATEURS UNABLE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS, FILING

DEADLINES EXTENDED

The FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) has been experiencing an
outage since Friday, June 9, 2023. Amateur licensees are unable to
submit applications or process renewals. Filing deadlines have been
extended. The FCC has been communicating updates with VECs, including
ARRL VEC about the situation, which remains fluid. As of late afternoon
on Thursday, June 15, 2023 the FCC had no timeline for when the ULS
would be back online.

For the latest information, watch the ARRL News feed <http://arrl.org/news-features>. The story about the issue posted there
will remain updated with the latest information.

AMATEUR RADIO HELPS AIR SHOW FLY HIGH

More than 40 members of the Nashville Amateur Radio Club <https://nashvilleamateurradio.club/index.php/photos/>, Williamson
County ARES®, and Stones River Amateur Radio Club
<https://srarctn.org/> partnered to provide operations support leading
up to and throughout the 2023 Great Tennessee Air Show.

On June 10 - 11, 2023, the show was headlined by the US Navy Blue
Angels demonstration team. Tom Delker, K1KY, Air Show Communications Coordinator, said that amateur radio operators from the Middle
Tennessee Emergency Amateur Radio System have been supporting the air
show since the mid-1980s.

Operators were able to employ multiple technologies during the event,
including simplex radio operations, RF mesh networking, mobile VoIP
phones, IP surveillance cameras, APRS tracking, and weather monitoring
and measurement.

Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority Director John Black and
Deputy Director Salil Rai expressed their sincere appreciation for the
team and all those whose worked the event. This volunteer amateur
support translates to operations money that can go directly towards
community projects.

In addition to the US Navy Blue Angels demonstration team, historic
aircraft, including the Spirit of Detroit DC-3 and the Blue Angles'
"Fat Albert" C-130 Hercules, also highlighted the show.

Event organizers said they expected more than 50,000 people to attend
the event. The next Great Tennessee Air Show is scheduled for 2025.

CAL POLY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ACHIEVES 2,000TH LICENSE MILESTONE

Student-run Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club (CPARC)
<https://www.w6bhz.org/> at California Polytechnic State University in
San Luis Obispo County just hit a licensing milestone. On May 23, 2023,
Kyle Wiens became the 2,000th person to pass the amateur radio exam
given by CPARC since they started in 2009.

Wiens, now KO6ABA, is a Cal Poly alumnus and CEO of iFixit, a company
that produces electronics repair guides for consumers. After learning
about the approaching landmark, Wiens expressed immediate interest in
being that 2,000th licensee.

Weins and several interested members of the iFixit staff took a course
from CPARC officers Mathew Shaham, KM6WIU, and Hunter Herring-Alderete,
KN6RJA. Then they took an exam.

The session had 28 applicants and was the largest group of the year
held by CPARC's Volunteer Examiners. Alumnus Marcel Stieber, AI6MS,
served as session liaison and worked closely with student lead Andrew
Fahey, KN6FIJ, to coordinate the exam.

CPARC uses an accelerated course licensing technique that became
popular through Dr. Dennis Derickson's, AC0P, Freshman Licensing
Initiative which started in 2011. Up until 2022, when the FCC began
issuing a fee for new licenses, the initiative provided class credit in
the introductory course, Electrical Engineering E-111, for obtaining an
amateur radio license.

The effort gave new electrical engineering students a preview of topics
covered in further classes. It also afforded students a practical
outlet for skills like radio contesting and volunteering as
communications support for events. At the peak of the initiative, CPARC
was licensing more than 100 operators in one 50-minute class period.

"It's a big milestone. Most exam teams don't make it to license number
2,000. I'm really proud to support the students running these exam
sessions," Stieber said after the exam session. As the last papers were
graded, the majority of student applicants passed in addition to every
member of the iFixit crew.

AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news <http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

"STEM Outreach: Embry-Riddle to Connect Students, Astronauts <https://news.erau.edu/headlines/stem-outreach-embry-riddle-to-connect-students-astronauts>"

/ ERAU News, Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida), June 8,
2023 -- The Daytona Beach CERT Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL
Affiliated Club.

"Rochester Amateur Radio Club to participate in national field day <https://www.wctrib.com/news/rochester-amateur-radio-club-to-participate-in-national-field-day>"

/ West Central Tribune (Minnesota), June 7, 2023 -- The Rochester
Amateur Radio Club is a ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Local amateur radio club invites public to try radios at field day
event <https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2023/06/local-amateur-radio-club-invites-public-to-try-radios-at-field-day-event/>"

/ The Review (Ohio) June 9, 2023 - The Lisbon Area Amateur Radio
Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Preps underway for ham radio field day <https://www.highlandernews.com/news/preps-underway-ham-radio-field-day>"
/ The Highlander (Texas) June 9, 2023 -- The Highland Lakes Amateur
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

Share <newsmedia@arrl.org> any amateur radio media hits you spot with
us.

ARRL PODCASTS

On the Air
Sponsored by Icom <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>

For the June 2023 episode of the On the Air podcast, ARRL Radiosport & Regulatory Information Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, and ARRL Contest
Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, join us to talk about a popular
Field Day fixture known as the GOTA (Get On the Air) Station. If you're
a newer ham, or new to Field Day operating, you can find a local Field
Day setup that's running one of these beginner-friendly stations. Tune
in to find out how, so you can make plans to operate from a Field Day
GOTA Station during Field Day weekend, June 24 and 25.

ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>,
available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week's top
news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with
interviews and other features.

The On the Air podcast is available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher
(Android). The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are also on
blubrry -- On the Air <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio
News <https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Annual 13 Colonies Special Event <http://13colonies.us/> will take
place July 1 - 7, 2023. The 13 Colonies Special Event is an on-air
amateur radio event honoring the original 13 colonies, US independence,
active military personnel, and veterans. All amateur radio operators
are welcome to participate, including shortwave listeners. Certificates
will be available for all participants. Each US state that was one of
the original 13 colonies has a special call sign. All HF bands will be
open, including the WARC bands, with the exception of 60 meters.
Simplex on 2 and 6 meters is encouraged and the use of 40 - 160 meters
is encouraged for stations in the southern east coast. All modes of
operation may be used, including SSB, CW, RTTY, and digital. The mode
of operation is up to the individual colony/state station. Please refer
to each special event station's QRZ page for more details and
information.

IN BRIEF...

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has received a generous
donation of His late Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan's UK amateur radio equipment. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan chose to donate the UK
amateur radio equipment to the Society. King Hussein, JY1 (SK), who
died in 1999, was a prolific radio amateur who made contacts with many
hams from around the world. He was known for operating modestly, never announcing himself as King Hussein, but opting to go by 'Hussein from
Jordan' instead. A permanent display is being organized at the RSGB
National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP024:

Solar activity declined this week, with average daily sunspot
numbers dropping from 139 to 122, and the average daily solar flux
decreasing from 166.8 to 154.8. This contrasts the current reporting
week of June 8 - 14with the previous 7 days.

The average daily planetary A index decreased from 7.3 to 5.7, and
average daily middle latitude A index from 8.6 to 6.7.

On June 14, spaceweather.com <https://spaceweather.com/> reported two
new sunspot groups emerging across the sun's southeastern horizon.

Forecasters Gervase and Kiser of the U.S. Air Force predict that the
solar flux will be 150 on June 15 - 16; 155 on June 17 - 18; 150, 155,
155, and 165 on June 19 - 22; 170 on June 23 - 25; 168, 165, and 162 on
June 26 - 28; 160 on June 29 through July 4; 165 on July 5; 170 on July
6 - 8; 155, 157, 153, and 160 on July 9 - 12; 150 on July 13 - 14, and
155 on July 15 - 17.

Predicted planetary A index is 8, 14, 10, and 8 on June 15 - 18; 5, 5,
and 8 on June 19 - 21; 5 on June 22 - 26; 12 on June 27 - 28; 5 on June
29 - 30; 12 and 8 on July 1 - 2; 5 on July 3 - 7; 12 on July 8 - 10; 5,
5, and 12 on July 11 - 13, and 10 on July 14 - 15.

These predictions look great for ARRL Field Day (June 24 - 25) because
solar flux peaks at 170 on June 23 - 25, and the predicted planetary A
index is a nice, quiet 5 on June 22 - 26. Next week, we will present an
updated forecast just prior to Field Day weekend.

Follow the link below for an image of the ISS over a sunspot:

https://bit.ly/3NgsByW

This link shows the same, but in video format:

https://bit.ly/43Em3B1

Check out this link for a study of the sun's coldest region:

https://bit.ly/3X6ErQu

More sunspots can be seen at the following link:

https://bit.ly/3Nt5Ys6

Sunspot numbers for June 8 - 14, 2023, were 149, 152, 116, 116, 116,
98, and 107, with a mean of 122. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 168.5,
164.3, 161.2, 153.8, 146.1, 146.3, and 143.5, with a mean of 154.8.
Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 4, 5, 9, 6, 6, and 5, with a mean
of 5.7. Middle latitude A index was 6, 6, 4, 10, 8, 8, and 5, with a
mean of 6.7.

Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@arrl.net.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit <http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals> the ARRL Technical
Information Service, read
<http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere> "What the Numbers
Mean...," and check out <http://k9la.us/> the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio <https://www.voacap.com/hf/> website.

Share <k7ra@arrl.net> your reports and observations.

A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News
<http://www.arrl.org/news>.

JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

Yearlong -- ARRL Volunteers On the Air <https://vota.arrl.org/> (VOTA).
See the State Activations Schedule for weekly W1AW Portable Operations <https://vota.arrl.org/w1awPortable.php>, including:

- June 28 - July 4 -- Maryland W1AW/3

- June 28 - July 4 -- Illinois W1AW/9

- July 5 - July 13 -- Hawaii W1AW/KH6

- July 12 - July 18 -- Wisconsin/W1AW/9

UPCOMING CONTESTS:

- June 16 -- SARL Youth QSO Party (phone)
- June 17 -- Pajajaran Bogor DX Contest (phone)

- June 17 - 18 -- All Asian DX Contest (CW)

- June 17 - 18 -- SMIRK Contest (CW, phone)

- June 17 - 18 -- IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest (CW, phone)

- June 17 - 18 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)

- June 17 - 18 -- West Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

- June 17 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)

- June 17 -- ARRL Kids Day (phone)

- June 18 -- WAB 50 MHz (phone)

- June 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

- June 21 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest FT8 (FT8)

- June 22 -- RSGB 80m Club Champ, SSB (phone)

Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar>
for more events and information.

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- June 17 | Knoxville Hamfest and Electronics Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/knoxville-hamfest-and-electronics-convention-arrl-tennessee-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee

- June 23 - 25 | HAM RADIO <http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.com/>, Friedrichshafen, Germany

- July 8 | SVARC Summer Hamfest Minot <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/svarc-summer-hamfest-minot-arrl-north-dakota-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL North Dakota Section Convention, Minot, North Dakota

- July 15 | SEARC Tailgate Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/searc-tailgate-hamfest-arrl-south-dakota-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL South Dakota Section Convention, Sioux Falls, South
Dakota

- July 29 | CVARC 2023 Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/cvarc-2023-hamfest-arrl-pennsylvania-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Pennsylvania State Convention, Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania

- July 29 | ARRL West Virginia State Convention and Ham Fest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-west-virginia-state-convention-and-ham-fest-1>,

Sutton, West Virginia

- August 12 - 13 | 2023 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/2023-arrl-rocky-mountain-division-convention>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

- August 19 - 20 | Huntsville Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/huntsville-hamfest-arrl-alabama-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Alabama State Convention, Huntsville, Alabama

- August 25 - 27 | Northeast HamXposition <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northeast-hamxposition-arrl-new-england-division-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL New England Division Convention, Marlborough,
Massachusetts

- September 1 - 3 | Shelby Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/shelby-hamfest-arrl-north-carolina-section-convention-2>,

hosting the ARRL North Carolina Section Convention, Shelby, North
Carolina

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests> to find events in your area.

HAVE NEWS FOR ARRL?

Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
<news@arrl.org>

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