Compiled by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
ARRL News Editor
news@arrl.org

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of April.

The ARRL responded to FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rule Making calling for new rules on vanity and club call signs.

The ARRL filed a reply with FCC concerning ReconRobotics’ opposition to the League’s Petition for Reconsideration.

The ARRL filed comments with the FCC in response to the American Hospital Association’s request to seek a blanket waiver for Amateur Radio drills.

After more than two years of planning and work -- and with much anticipation -- the ARRL launched its new Web site. Filled with many popular features, the new Web site puts the focus on how you use Amateur Radio (instead of by ARRL HQ departments).

The City of Manassas, Virginia has decided to drop all BPL services, ending a years-long battle with interference to licensed radio services -- and in particular the Amateur Radio Service -- inevitably caused by putting radio frequency energy on unshielded, unbalanced conductors.

ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, taught an Amateur Radio unit as part of an NTIA-sponsored USTTI course. He also participated in an FCC panel on its Consolidated Licensing System. He continues to prepare for meetings of WRC-12’s Working Party 5A and a potential secondary allocation near 500 kHz. Both Price and ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, contributed to comments filed in an International Bureau proceeding requesting input into positions for the World Telecommunication Development Conference in June and the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in October.

Rookies and non-Rookies were on-the-air for the first-ever ARRL Rookie Roundup, based on the ARRL Novice Roundups of yore. The ARRL Contest Branch also announced the addition of the 32 Mexican states to the ARRL 10 Meter Contest. The Contest Branch reported that it received more than 7000 logs from the two ARRL DX contests earlier this year, making this the highest number of logs received by more than 1000. Contest staff also sent out 2009 ARRL Sweepstakes mugs and pins.

The ARRL is getting ready to bring the ARRL EXPO -- including a plethora of DX activities -- to the 2010 Dayton Hamvention®.

In conjunction with the ARRL’s Atlantic Division, the ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, the ARRL Public Relations Committee and ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, hosted a webinar focusing on ARRL Field Day.

Mike Corey, W5MPC, joined the ARRL Headquarters staff as the new Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager.

Radio amateurs in Kansas, Montana, Eastern Pennsylvania and Iowa have completed their certification to become ARRL Official Observers (OO), bringing the total to 713 OOs. Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, at the ARRL OO Desk completed the ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch and forwarded it to the IARU Region 2 Coordinator. He also dealt with questions from amateurs regarding overseas operations and procedures for documenting infractions.

Two more Congressional representatives -- one of them an Amateur Radio operator -- pledged their support of HR 2160, bringing the total number of cosponsors to 39, including original sponsor Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee.

The ARRL announced it was accepting applications for the Knight Distinguished Service Award. This award, bestowed each year by the ARRL Board of Directors, recognizes exceptionally notable service by ARRL Section Managers.

The ARRL launched its biannual W1AW Endowment Fund donation drive.

W1AW began offering code practice and bulletins via EchoLink.

The ARRL Foundation awarded its prestigious Goldfarb Scholarship to Kyle Ebersold, KB1MNN, of Holland, Massachusetts.

The ARRL released new editions of the Ham Radio License Manual and ARRL’s Tech Q&A. These books are designed for Technician exams given after July 1, 2010.

The May issue of QST and the May/June issues of NCJ and QEX arrived in mailboxes. The June issue of QST was sent to the printer.

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for April is George Badger, W6TC (SK), for his article “Easy to Make 4:1 Coreless Baluns.”