Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Sep 10 2020 22:41:10

MIXED RESPONSE ON FCC'S PROPOSAL FOR HAM RADIO FEES

JIM/ANCHOR: While the FCC has not set a date to vote on imposing a 
$50 charge for a new amateur radio license or renewal, the agency has 
been accepting public comments about its Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, with a mixed response. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, has that story.

NEIL: Wil Wiquist, the FCC's associate director of media relations, 
told Newsline in an email that the FCC is mandated to charge a fee to 
hams, because of changes Congress enacted in 2018. The law is known 
as the RAY BAUM'S Act, an acronym for Repack Airwaves Yielding Better 
Access for Users of Modern Services. It directly impacts personal 
licenses such as amateur radio.

Opinions thus far in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System have 
included numerous arguments against the fee, saying it would deter 
young people, and keep ham radio out of the reach of retirees and 
low-income applicants. A Michigan amateur wrote, however, that he 
considered the proposal reasonable, suggesting a fee waiver for 
individuals younger than 18. The Valley Amateur Radio Association in 
Virginia suggested fees of no more than $15 for initial licenses and 
modifications, and a waiver for operators active in emergency 
communications and community events. One ham wrote, from North 
Carolina: [quote] "I am in favor of the fee, if the fees will be used 
to strengthen enforcement. If the fees are just going to go into the 
treasury, then what's the purpose?" [endquote]

The FCC calls the fees cost-based. Wiquist said that in addition to 
its automated system, the FCC also employs a Special Temporary 
Authority for Personal Licenses, using such non-automated agency 
resources as analyst review and processing and engineer technical 
review. He said the process' cost is about $135.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(FCC)

**

REGULATOR PROPOSES REMOVING LICENSE TEST IN BRAZIL

JIM/ANCHOR: Imagine getting your ham radio license without having to 
pass a test! Well in Brazil, that might just become a reality. Graham 
Kemp, VK4BB, has that story.

GRAHAM: Taking the Brazilian Amateur Radio League by surprise, the 
nation's regulator, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency, 
has proposed eliminating the amateur radio certificate exam for all 
classes. Regulator ANATEL's published proposal outlines a structure 
that would grant free access to the Class C licence, which would 
align the process with that used for citizens band radio. The 
regulator is proposing advancement to subsequent classes B and A 
after the applicant presents a certificate of completion for 
technical classes in communications - or a minimum of three years' 
instruction.

ANATEL has requested support from the Brazilian radio group, LABRE, 
which is a strong proponent of minimum requirements for a radio 
amateur licence. The regulator's move also contradicts most practices 
in the international regulation of licences. LABRE has asked for a 
meeting with the regulator to clarify the proposal.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE SENDS UP BALLOON FOR THESIS

JIM/ANCHOR: Want to help a university student work toward a 
doctorate? Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us all you have to do is....use 
your radio.

ED: A balloon experiment launched on Saturday September 12th by 
students at the Warsaw University of Technology is carrying important 
data for one student pursuing a doctoral degree. The ballon has an 
unusual VLF 210m-long fully-airborne antenna system which creates an 
electromagnetic field on 14.2 kHz. Listeners in Poland may recall 
this was once the frequency of the Babice Radio Station, which played 
an important wartime role relaying messages to the German submarines 
in the Atlantic. Radio enthusiasts have been asked to listen for the 
transmission and provide feedback on signal reception during the 
three-hour flight -- everything from location, SNR and bandwidth.

The operation will commence while the balloon is still on the ground,
and the antenna will rise as the balloon ascends to its maximum 
altitude of 30 km.

Hams will be able to track the balloon via APRS on 144.800 MHz. The 
balloon's call sign is SP5AXL -- the call sign assigned to the 
Heritage Park Society of the old Babice Radio Station.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE, THE ALEXANDERSON ASSOCIATION)

**

BREAK HERE: 

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the 
W2VL repeater on Long Island, New York at 8:30 p.m. local time on 
Mondays.
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