Official Observer Summary, November Edition

This month’s statistics reveal a total of 706 Official Observers.  During the month of November we received 8 recommendations for hams to begin the process to become OO's.  Six amateurs including two from North Texas, one each from North Florida, South Florida, Mississippi, and Arizona passed the exam and became certified.

News on the Official Observer front for November.

No official FCC Amateur enforcement actions were noted in November.  There were a number of FCC letters sent regarding unlicensed operation in the commercial FM BC band and notices of unauthorized operation and interference to licensed radio stations.  http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/files/  I have found this site unavailable at times so be patient and try later.

A preliminary committee has reviewed the input from the recent Official Observer Survey and the committee chairman is preparing a report that will be presented at the Board of Directors meeting in January.  We thank everyone who took the time to participate in the survey.  The response rate was excellent.  

We have had several questions recently regarding the inexpensive Chinese talkies that are available on the interest in various places and after some checking we found this FCC action in 2008.  http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-513A1.pdf

We continue to get reports regarding 3910, 7241, and 14275, which are being investigated by the FCC.

Information regarding unlicensed hunters in North Carolina was received and forwarded to the FCC.

 

More documentation was forwarded to the FCC regarding 3910.

 

A report of an unidentified wavering signal on the low end of 40 meters was referred to the North Florida OOC.

 

A bad language report on 75 meters from an Ohio station was referred to the OOC there.

 

A separate report of interference to a net on 14244 is also being checked out.

 

A report of intentional interference to the daily “Grave Yard” net on 3967 was received from North Carolina.

 

Follow up continued regarding an individual banned from a New Hampshire repeater.

 

Tennessee OO's are checking on a report of NOAA weather broadcasts being carried on a local repeater.

 

A report of interference to a North Florida EOC net concerning Hurricane Ida was forwarded to the FCC.

 

Regional northeast OO were alerted to monitor the low end of 80 meters for fishing boats using USB.

 

A report of business use of a local Missouri repeater is being followed up on by the FCC after advisories produced no results.

 

Indiana OO's are investigating jamming and bad language being reported on a local repeater.

 

Several questions have been asked about the use of APRS in vehicles driven by unlicensed individuals, our rules man points out that the rules say, any time there is an RF transmission, an appropriate control operator must be present.

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-party information.  We also would like to recommend OO's focus on the clear cut type of violations.

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 in the past to dealers and distributors as the FCC follows up on these reports.

We have received several more reports of the call NL7R being boot-legged so we will continue this request to all OOs for possible assistance.  Denis Allen NL7R from Valdez, Alaska recently contacted us 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.  We have received a number of reports from stations in these states along with the frequencies; Texas 7055, Alabama 7045, Vermont 7032, Nevada 7120, and Florida 7050. In November an added report came in from Indiana on 7112.

Also N7RD was reported as being boot-legged so if you can provide information on that please let us know.

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.   We have received a number of reports of Technician class licensees and Generals as well operating beyond their privileges.

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.  We especially would like to invite OOCs to provide us with write ups concerning areas of amateur operation they feel would benefit other OOs across the nation.  Our training guide suggests that SM and/or OOCs hold a regular refresher course to ensure that their OOs’ skills and knowledge are up to date.  This would be one way to help fulfill that goal.

In the news:

On Wednesday, November 25, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) -- WT Docket No. 09-209 -- seeking to amend the Commission's Amateur Radio Service rules to clarify certain rules and codify existing procedures governing the vanity call sign system, as well as revise certain rules applicable to club stations.  For those desiring to request a waiver or answer questions regarding it, information was given in this earlier article.  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/10/20/11151/?nc=1

Section Manager news:  http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9309

NCVEC to Release New Technician Question Pool to Public in January 2010 http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/19/11203/?nc=1

See the January issue of QST, pages 77 & 78 for an article about the role of Official Observers in Public Service.

This from December but I wanted to include it before the end of the year.  FCC Dismisses Two Amateur Radio-Related Petitions  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/10/11241/?nc=1

Nominations are open for the 2009 ARRL International Humanitarian Award, but the deadline is fast approaching.  If you know of someone or some group that you feel qualifies for this award please follow up with a nomination and we will present it to the selection committee.  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/02/11227/?nc=1

I would like to take this time to thank everyone involved with the Official Observer program including the individual OO's, OOC's and SM's.  We appreciate everyone’s time and efforts; you are the ones that make the program work everyday by monitoring the bands and either pointing out a problem area with an advisory or complimenting someone with a Good Operator report. 

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2010!

 

73 till next month and next year!

 

 

Chuck Skolaut, KØBOG

Field & Regulatory Correspondent

ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio

860 594 0239

cskolaut@arrl.org

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