Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Sep 08 2017 04:38 pm RADIO-GRAMS TO THE RESCUE PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, back in the U.S., hams continued to help Harvey victims get what they needed. Sometimes, it was just a comforting note from home, as we hear from Christian Cudnik, K0STH. CHRISTIAN'S REPORT: Even though the emergency in Houston, Texas was far away from his home in western New York, Luke Calianno, N2GDU, of Lancaster, was able to assist people struggling in the hurricane's aftermath. As the emergency coordinator for the Lancaster ARES Emergency Alert System, Luke was connecting worried relatives with family members affected, perhaps even stranded, in the Gulf region after Harvey. Luke told WIVB television that he has been able to send messages through Radio-Grams. These are not unlike the ones deployed locally right there in the Buffalo, New York area, when a major snowstorm takes down the communications infrastructure, affecting even the cell towers. He said the Radio-Grams, which provide written versions of the messages phoned in to the ham operators, have successfully made it to shelters in Louisiana and Mississippi, too. The Radio-Grams not only got the word through, but in most cases also delivered a whole lot of reassurance. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH. (WIVB-TV) ** SPEAK UP: FCC REVIEWING ITS REGULATIONS PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC is looking to change some of its technical regulations, and wants to hear from you. Jim Damron, N8TMW, has more on that. JIM'S REPORT: If you have suggestions, or an opinion on technical regulation reform for radio, you have until October 30th to let the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology know about it. The FCC's Technical Advisory Council has opened a public inquiry, looking to either update existing regulations, or adopt new ones. The FCC wants the council to single out any rules that are obsolete, or in need of being brought up-to-date. The Council also wants comments on how the agency's regulatory process on specific technical rules could become more efficient. The agency stresses that the issues being considered are those of a technical nature. If you have an opinion on this, or want to share thoughts, file your comments in ET Docket 17-215, using the agency's Electronic Comment Filing System. You can get additional information from Walter Johnston, the TAC working group's FCC liaison, or Greg Lapin, N9GL, who chairs the ARRL RF Safety Committee, and represents the ARRL on the Council. Again, keep in mind that deadline of October 30th. Meanwhile, the FCC has updated its regulations as they affect wireless devices, radio-controlled models, medical implant devices, and personal locator beacons. At the same time, the agency moved to allow new digital applications for the General Mobile Radio Service, setting up intervening channels, and extending licenses from 5-year terms to 10 years. The agency also gave additional channels to the FRS, allowing greater power on certain channels, up to 2 watts, as well as CB radio operators being given permission to use hands-free headsets. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW. (FCC, ARRL) ** BREAK HERE Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WI9HF repeater sponsored by the Capital City Repeater Association in Madison, Wisconsin, which airs our report at 7:30 on Tuesday nights. --- þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org .