Official Observer Summary, August edition

This month’s statistics reveal a total of 700 Official Observers.  During the month of August we received 10 recommendations for hams to begin the process to become OO's.  Four amateurs including one each from Texas, New York City-Long Island, and Kentucky successfully passed the exam and joined our group. 

Officially, the start of Hurricane season began on June 1; thankfully the season has remained fairly quiet, let’s hope that continues. 

 

Here are some of the situations Official Observers assisted with in August.

 

We continue to receive comments about K1MAN’s operation, including one from the Intruder Monitoring Coordinator for IARU Region 1 in Germany.  As reported before, the FCC is closely monitoring the situation.  Accordingly, ARRL Official Observers should not send any more advisories.

 

FCC official actions in August were confined to call sign issues. http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html

 

Bad language observed on the air continues to be a problem in a number of areas of the US.  This is a complex issue and the FCC considers a number of variables in making decisions regarding this.

Our training guide has this to say about that in part: 

 

The rules say amateurs may not transmit obscene or indecent words, language or meaning [97.113(a)(4)]. But when is the line crossed? In April 1987, the FCC notified licensees of standards that would be applied in these cases:

 

Obscenity: (1) An average person, applying contempo­rary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to prurient interest; (2) The material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual con­duct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and (3) The material, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

 

Indecency: Language or material that depicts or de­scribes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contem­porary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory activities or organs.

Is the use of an expletive in itself indecent? According to the Commission, “deliberate and repetitive use of such exple­tives in a patently offensive manner would be a requisite to a finding of indecency. The context is also important.”

 

San Joaquin Valley and Santa Clara Valley OOC's addressed a local 2 meter problem and DF'ed a station without a license. 

 

The Oklahoma OOC handled a report of Spanish speaking stations heard on a simplex frequency. 

A report of an extremely wide AM station in Arkansas was reported and is being investigated. The OOC in South Texas handled reports of problems on 146.52 of a long standing nature. One thing to keep in mind regarding when to send an advisory is to remember that an Official Observer needs to hear first hand the infraction, and not from information based on third-part information.

 

We want to recognize two people from Georgia for their service; Susan Swiderski AF4FO is stepping down after nine years as Section Manager and her husband Mike is likewise stepping down from duties as OOC.  Susan was given the Joe Knight Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to Amateur Radio this year.  We will miss them both.

 

Also Mike McCrann, WDØGSY, the Missouri OOC has resigned due to health reasons. The new OOC will be Jim Harrell, NØOSV, who previously was the Missouri OOC. 

 

An incident in Pennsylvania was reported in which a ham was using his gear including an amplifier to operate on the CB band.  Since he sometimes was interfering with hams on 10 meters it was reported directly to the FCC by the hams.

 

Laura Smith responded however, that since there was no evidence to support the contention that he was operating with excessive power, other than reminding him of the rules there is little she can do.  BTW, she indicated she did remind him of the rules.

 

Several questions were received last month regarding felons holding licenses, the FCC has stated that these cases are handled on a case by case manner and if anyone has a complaint, they can contact them at FCCHAM@fcc.gov with specific information.  During August, follow up by the FCC resulted in the termination of two licenses.

 

After receiving information about an unlicensed person in Florida using a 2 meter simplex frequency it was forwarded to the FCC and Laura Smith followed up with a letter.

 

A report of jamming on 3852 was received by a Nevada station and the local OOC and surrounding section OOC's were alerted to pass on to their OO's to help in investigating.

 

We continue to receive a number of reports of uncertified “CB” type equipment being offered for sale on eBay and other sites on the internet and also at the major truck stops across the nation.  A number of letters have gone out to dealers and distributors as the FCC follows up on these reports. We do have one request that we would like to pass on to all OOs to assist with if possible.  Denis Allen NL7R from Valdez, Alaska recently contacted us again saying that someone in the US has been bootlegging his call on 40 meter CW for 3 years.  He states that he does not operate on 40 meter CW and has posted this information on QRZ.com. But he continues to receive QSL cards from hams who think they have worked him.  Denis says most of the cards indicate operation on or near 7040 in the evenings.  He has contacted the FCC but they would like assistance in pinpointing the source since it is intermittent.  Denis thinks possibly it is originating in Texas but we need help in confirming that.

It is important for all amateurs to abide by their band privileges, our DXCC department does consider OO reports regarding out of band privileges by operators and continual infractions are forwarded on to the FCC. Also we have been receiving a number of reports of Technician class licensees on the HF bands.

 

Update on this item reported last month:  A constant carrier was reported on 14030 for some time, went off and then returned for a time.  It ceased before the source could be located.  K6TD offered this advice regarding signals on 14030 and bears checking out, “this could well be a carrier emitted by an Ethernet switch.  It's not un-common for unshielded computer boxes around the home to emit this carrier, if they use Ethernet.  On local (NorCal) lists, every so often, someone will complain about a carrier on 14030, and ask if anyone else hears it.  Several go check, and sure enough they do as well.  This goes on for awhile, till someone points out it's a common carrier frequency emitted by Ethernet devices.  Of course, since so many Hams can hear it, it's assumed to NOT be local.   

 

We do appreciate each OO filling out the monthly report and sending it to their OOC and Section Manager who forwards a copy to us at headquarters.  We encourage the use of the online form that can be e-mailed.  http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-23

 

As always, we thank you all for your time and efforts involved with the Official Observer program and we invite you to let us know of problems you hear on the air and possible resolutions through your regular monthly reports and e-mails.  Let us know of activities in your section dealing with on the air operation that you would like to see mentioned and recognized in the next summary. 

 

73,

 

Chuck Skolaut, KØBOG

Field & Regulatory Correspondent

ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio

860 594 0239

cskolaut@arrl.org