Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Mar 15 2019 09:36 am ARRL HELPS FCC TARGET RULE VIOLATORS NEIL/ANCHOR: The ARRL is teaming up with the FCC in a new program targeting rule violators. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, has that story. PAUL/ANCHOR: Under a new American Radio Relay League Volunteer Monitor program, hams are helping the FCC monitor for rule violations. Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, former FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement, heads the new program. HOLLINGSWORTH: These Volunteer Monitors will be placed around the country with emphasis on geographic areas where there are no field offices, or where the field offices are exceptionally burdened with their workload. On the ARRL website, you should soon see application forms for volunteer monitoring, and we encourage all of the previous O.O.'s to apply. PAUL/ANCHOR: Hollingsworth said that he, of all people, understands the value of these volunteer efforts. HOLLINGSWORTH: The O.O. Program has been a hallmark of the League, and I know that in my term in Amateur Enforcement [at the FCC], I relied significantly on the reports of O.O.'s. The first dozen or so cases, we initiated in 1999 and 2000, when we re-instituted Amateur Radio Enforcement, were all based on O.O. findings, supplemented with independent FCC investigation. The new arrangement actually underlines the value of the long-standing O.O. Program, as it morphs into the Volunteer Program, because if it weren't for the hard work of the O.O.'s, the FCC would never have proposed this offer. PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams will hear more details at the ARRL Forum at Hamvention. Hollingsworth is hopeful of success. HOLLINGSWORTH: This new agreement and procedure should be a major force-multiplier, in making up for the fewer number of FCC field engineers working in enforcement. Personally, I think it was a tremendous offer from the FCC, and the League is very grateful. PAUL/ANCHOR: For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO. NEIL/ANCHOR: To hear more from Riley Hollingsworth about this new program, listen to an expanded version of this interview as an Amateur Radio Newsline "EXTRA" report. It's posted on our website arnewsline dot org - simply click on the "EXTRA" tab. ** RADIO SCOUTS ON AIR FOR ADVENTURE WEEKEND NEIL/ANCHOR: What better way to earn a scouting merit badge, than with amateur radio? Bill Stearns, NE4RD, has the details. BILL: This week in Radio Scouting, we have one activation of the K2BSA callsign, one scout camp on the air, another glass ceiling is shattered, and JOTA updates. Ralph Roloson, KB3IPT, will be activiating K2BSA/3 at Towanda VOTEC in Towanda, PA, on Saturday, March 30th. This will be part of an Adventure Weekend for the scouts there, and this activation will go along with a Radio Merit Badge class that Ralph will be teaching. Justin Lentz, KF5IVJ, let us know on the scota.us site that their crew will be on the air as KB5WAX, from Camp Wisdom, on Saturday, March 23rd. Catch this active venture crew on the air. With the closing of the month of February, we receive notice that Scott Hagner (KC9UTC), and Brian McDaniel (N4AE), awarded the first Radio Merit Badge ever earned by a young woman in Scouts BSA. Congratulations to Lilly Miller of BSA Troop 1175 in Joliet, Illinois. Expect many new voices on the radio at future scouting events. Finally, Jamboree on the Air is quickly approaching. Time to start promoting your event at district round tables, merit badge universities, and get the word out to additional amateurs and scouters, to improve your support network for your event. For more information on this and radio scouting, please visit our website at k2bsa.net. For Amateur Radio Newsline, and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this is Bill Stearns, NE4RD. ** WEST VIRGINIA SECTION CONVENTION IS BIG HAMFEST NEIL/ANCHOR: In West Virginia, the first hamfest of the year is also the ARRL's West Virginia section convention, and it promises to be a busy one, according to Jim Damron, N8TMW. JIM: The 35th annual Charleston, West Virginia area hamfest, is slated for Saturday, March 23rd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place in the newly remodeled and renamed Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, with easy access off the interstates. The Charleston, West Virginia hamfest is also designated an ARRL West Virginia Section Convention, and will feature keynote speaker Bob Allison, WB1GCM, in the ARRL Forum. Bob is ARRL assistant lab manager from Newington, Connecticut. Other forums include ARES, satellites and SKYWARN, along with VE Testing, and of course, there will be a variety of vendors and flea marketers. Prizes for lucky winners include $500 cash first prize. This is the first hamfest of the year in West Virginia, and attendees come from all over the state, as well as the bordering states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. For more information on the Charleston, West Virginia Hamfest on Saturday, March 23rd, go to w8gk.org, and click on the link. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW. --- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32 * Origin: RadioWxNet: The Thunderbolt BBS tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .