The big news is the introduction of HR-1301. “The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015” — HR-1301 — has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. The measure would direct the FCC to extend its rules (PRB-1) relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land use restrictions.
US Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced the bill March 4 with 12 original co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle — seven Republicans and five Democrats. Kinzinger also sponsored “The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014, which died at the end of the 113th Congress. H.R. 1301 is an essentially identical piece of legislation. The ARRL BOD executive members and several ARRL officers went to Washington DC to familiarize House members about the critical need for this bill. Bob Vallio, W6RGG, (Pacific Division Director) was there and reports the three House Office building are huge and he did a “lot” of walking. He commented that ARRL members really got their money’s worth from this effort. The group went in mid-March. As of this moment there is no parallel bill in the Senate.
Be sure to go to the ARRL webpage on HR-1301and write letters to your representative. Send them to the ARRL for presentation to your representative. The problem with writing directly to Washington is that because of security, mail to congress sometimes takes as much a two months to get delivered.
Our Section Manager, which represents all ARRL members in the Pacific Ocean areas, wrote letters to the two representatives from Hawaii along with letters to the two Senate members and the three non-voting House members from Guam, American Samoa and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. (They may not be able to vote but they can co-sponsor bills.) We really need their help as last year’s effort ended with no action.
03/28/2015 – Cyclone Pam update
In an effort to coordinate relief efforts in Vanuatu in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has deployed emergency telecommunication equipment to the Pacific Ocean island nation. The category 5 storm devastated parts of Vanuatu on March 13. The ITU has dispatched 40 satellite phones, 10 broadband global area network terminals, and 35 solar panels.
“The frequency and intensity of disasters is increasing worldwide with a disproportionate impact on developing countries,” said ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao. “ITU is encouraging governments, especially those in developing countries, to invest in telecommunication infrastructure that is resilient to disasters.”
Brahima Sanou, the director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said the tropical storm had “paralyzed telecommunications and affected rescue and rehabilitation efforts.” He said the ITU was committed to assisting member states restore telecommunication links in the aftermath of natural disasters “to facilitate humanitarian response to support the affected populations.”
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Joe Natuman thanked the ITU for the support. He said that all 83 islands in the Vanuatu archipelago suffered substantial devastation as a result of Tropical Cyclone Pam. “As communications are down, the ITU emergency equipment, which we have received and distributed throughout the country, will help us coordinate the relief efforts as well as report the situation in outer islands,” he said. Vanuatu’s population of 267,000 is spread over 65 islands. Some 47,000 people live in the capital, Port Vila on Éfaté Island.
As you probably know, ARRL deployed two “Go Kits” to Hawaii Island to help support communications here in the aftermath of the threatened lava flow coming toward the town of Pahoa and the two near hits of hurricanes. The HF kit is presently deployed in lower Puna in the expectation that it will end up on the “other side” of the flow should it continue. The VHF kit is in reserve and will be deployed through CD should the need arise. We should all have a deployable “Go Kit” available for emergency use. In the meantime we have done several “show and tell” presentations to encourage people to build their own kits. While ARRL kits are available for emergencies, there is always a transportation problem getting them to their destination. That is why it is always better to have kits locally available.
Again we are now well into 2015, Most club dues are payable (overdue?). Check with your local club. If it is not affiliated with ARRL PLEASE try and convince the members to become an ARRL affiliated club. There are many benefits to being an ARRL affiliated club. Please Join ARRL if you are not a member. If we are united in our effort we have a chance in getting HR-1301 passed. The need is desperate.
The Pahoa Lava flow has not changed since last month. The lava flow warning has been downgraded to a “Watch”. This means there is no immediate threat for the foreseeable future.
As was mentioned earlier, we are still looking for someone to be the Section Youth Coordinator (SYC). It is a new, section-level ARRL Field Organization appointment that is available and ready to be filled as soon as we have someone for the position. Here are the appointment guidelines that describe the requirements and responsibilities: http://www.arrl.org/section-youth-coordinator
If you are interested or know of someone who would be just right for the job, let the SM know.
The Big Island International Hamfest is scheduled at Keaau Community Center for Saturday April 11th from 9AM to 2PM. Testing is expected to start around noon or a little after. The event is free however it is mandatory that everyone register. There is a box for donations to help with the rental cost.
SPARC – The South Point ARC or “SPARC” meets on the first Sunday at Noon at Manuka State park. It is potluck. They are not affiliated with ARRL. They don’t have a website (yet). Next is April 5th .
KARC – The Kauai ARC meets on the first Monday at 1900W. Website is: http://www.kauaiarc.org/ next is April 6th . There is a weekly Saturday breakfast at The Feral Pig located in Harbor Mall at Nawiliwili at 0730W. Next is April 4, 11, 18 & 25.
MARC – Marianas ARC of Guam meets on the 2nd Tue. At KSTO studio on Nimitz Hill at 1900 Guam time. Next is April 14th. Website is http://www.ah2g.net/ . If you would like to take an Amateur Radio exam or have questions, call Mike Wendt, WH2M at 671-477-6737. Testing is by appointment and normally takes place before the monthly meeting about 5PM. Hafa Adai from Guam where Americas Day begins.
There is another website for Guam and the Northern Marianas (CNMI) with emphasis on HF operations. It is the Mariana Islands DX Association, NH2DX. It has many pictures as well as history stories. The population for the islands is small so they are to be congratulated for putting together such a nice webpage. http://www.guam.net/pub/midxa/ . They are not an ARRL affiliated club and they don’t have regularly formal meetings.
KHRC– (Kohala-Hamakua) The Kohala-Hamakua Radio Club (KHRC) meets on two schedules. Odd months are 2nd Sunday in Kapa’au at 1400W. Even months are 2nd Wednesday in Waimea at Keck Bldg. at 1900W. Next meeting is April 8th (Waimea). Webpage is http://www.hamradioandmore.com/khrc.htm . In the past they have met at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab. KHRC helps sponsor the HPA school radio club. The school has a general webpage which is: http://www.hpa.edu/ . The HPA Energy lab is the only one of its kind in the world. Since HPA is a private school, it is not open to the public.
MARC – Maui ARC meets on the 2nd Wed. at CD Hq. at 1900W. Web = http://www.kh6rs.org/ . Next meeting is April 8th. For exams contact Mel, kh6h@arrrl.net or call 808-250-4591 Last month your SM was able to visit the meeting. Thank you for your hospitality.
KARC – The Koolau ARC website is: http://www.karc.net/ . They meet on the 2nd Sat. at 0930W at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden Park in Kaneohe, Oahu. Next meeting will be April 11th.
BIARC – The Big Island ARC website is: www.biarc.net . They meet on the 2nd Sat. At 1400W at the Keaau Community Center. The next meeting will be replaced with the Big Island International Hamfest on Saturday April 11th and will run from 9AM to 2PM.
EARC – The Emergency ARC (Oahu) website is: http://earchi.org/event_listing.html they meet on the 3rd Tue. At 1900W at the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 46. They next meet April 21st.
HARC – The Honolulu ARC website is: http://ham.aditl.com/harc . They meet on the 3rd Sat. at 0900W on odd months (Jan, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov) at the Monterey Bay Cannery restaurant. The next meeting will be May 16th.
The Waikiki ARC meets s every Tue at 0700W for breakfast at the Monterey Bay Cannery in Aiea. It has only the ARRL club website: http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/waikiki-amateur-radio-club/type:club .
KARS – Kona Amateur Radio Society webpage is: http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~veillet/hwars.html. They meet on the 4th Sun. at 1400W in Wawaloli Beach Park at NELHA. It is a picnic potluck. Next get together is April 20th. For questions please contact Van NH7IT at 808-345-5008 or e-mail NH7IT@arrl.net .
In addition to the regular KARS monthly meeting they now have a breakfast at 808 Grindz restaurant in Kopika Plaza on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 0830W. For additional information contact Stuart KH7DX at808-896-1290. Your SM was able to attend their meeting this month.
PERC – The Puna Emergency Radio Club website is: http://perchawaii.com/ their meeting is on the 4th Saturday of each month at 1000W at the Hilo Coffee Mill. Next is April 25th.
HARC – The Hilo ARC: They meet daily 6:30-8:30 AM at Jack in the Box Hilo. This club is the oldest on the Island of Hawaii however there was a break in existence of several years until former Section Manager Dean Manley, KH6B and several others reactivated it. They also sponsor the Council of Radio Club which meets once monthly. Please contact Dean for more information.
There has been no news from The American Samoa Radio club or Molokai Club in recent times.
The Civil Defense Amateur Radio Club (Honolulu) has not regular meetings. Their mission is to provide ARRL Volunteer Examiner testing services for amateur radio operators on the island of Oahu. The goal is to continually build up the pool of available emergency communicators available during times of emergency. Testing is on the third Wednesday of selected months; however, contact Ray Moody, AH6LT moody at:hawaii.edu or phone 941-9239. Advance registration is required to pass building security at the Red Cross building. Schedule for 2015 can be found in the VEC page of ARRL. It is: 06/17/2015, 08/19/2015and 11/18/2015 at 1830W at the American Red Cross building (in back of Diamond Head) AGAIN No walk-ins.
Cal-Pac RC upgraded the Mauna Loa site antennas and took the six meter beacon off the air. It will be back shortly however it has not been decided if it will be put back at Mauna Loa. The picture of the KH6HME memorial brick at ARRL HQ is in the photo files at the bottom of the Pacific Section website along with other pictures of the Mauna Loa site. The brick was donated by BIARC member Chuck McConnell, W6DPD of Fresno.
REPEAT OR REFERENCE INFORMATION:
The Pacific Section webpage is: http://www.arrl.org/Groups/view/pacific-section. It now contains this
SM report. Each affiliated club should fill in an activities report to ARRL at least once every year. For more information go to: http://www.arrl.org/club-update . Your SM is always looking for news
So be sure to update him too. Even if your group is not ARRL affiliated, send a report. If you have notable activities send along a jpeg picture and description (please). At the bottom of the Pacific
Section webpage is a picture gallery.
Hawaii’s Official Amateur Radio Repeater Coordination Site is: http://www.hawaiirepeaters.net/ .
Ron Hashiro’s webpage always has a good collection of news of local happenings. See:
http://www.qsl.net/a/ah6rh/am-radio/in-hawaii.html . There is a new feature telling about the history of the early repeaters in Hawaii especially Diamond Head 146.88. Go to Ron’s page and click on The EARC Diamond Head 146.28/146.88 MHz Repeater
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