Nov 8, 2019 | ARRL
5 November 2019
To: All Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinators throughout the United States
From: Radio Relay International
Ref: The Future of the Winlink System and PACTOR
Does your ARES, RACES or similar local emergency communications unit use Winlink, DTN or similar digital infrastructure as a component in its preparedness and response operations? Do you have plans to do so in the future? If so, you must act now to protect this valuable asset!
Winlink and the PACTOR modes on which it is based have been around for decades and have become an extremely important tool in Amateur Radio public service communications. Two important worldwide emergency communications networks built by volunteers who donated their time and energy are predicated on its continued use. These networks, one of which is the familiar Winlink system, have been good neighbors to their fellow radio amateurs for many years.
Recently, a small cadre of individuals have sought to diminish or eliminate the Winlink program as it currently exists. Their motives are unclear. However, in doing so, they have made the PACTOR mode of communications their target. In their efforts, they have made inferences and accusations that have proven quite controversial. Most recently, they have asked the Federal Communications Commission to issue a declaratory ruling that would essentially prohibit the use of PACTOR, thereby rendering many long-standing emergency communications networks inoperative.
Our goal is to communicate the importance of PACTOR and the networks built on its capabilities to the Federal Communications Commission. In particular; it is essential that we leverage the support of the local and state emergency management and public safety community to protect these networks from the agenda of a very small but well-funded minority of individuals.
Attached you will find a preformatted radiogram message. We respectfully ask that every Amateur Radio emergency coordinator contact his local, district or state emergency management directors, sheriffs, fire service officials, hospital agencies and other public safety officials in his jurisdiction and ask that they authorize its transmission on their behalf. It’s a simple matter to pick up the telephone. Our goal is to collect a minimum of 500 to 1000 of these radiograms signed by emergency services officials throughout the United States supporting the continued use of PACTOR as an essential tool in the emergency communications field. These radiograms will be collected at a central location and included as an exhibit in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.
YOU MUST ACT NOW TO SAVE PACTOR AND THE NETWORKS THAT RELY ON IT, INCLUDING THE WINLINK SYSTEM!! There is no time to waste.
A request for declaratory ruling to eliminate PACTOR calls for a comment deadline on December 2. This gives us only a few weeks to act and prepare a response filing. Therefore, please complete the attached radiogram form and return it by no later than November 22.
Two documents are attached. One is an example form with a standard text and simulated signature provided for guidance. The second is a fillable PDF on which you can enter the name, title and agency of the official originating the message is attached. This process only requires a few phone calls on everyone’s part.
Please do NOT change the text. Simply add the required information for the signature and send the message either via a traffic net or it may be emailed directly as a completed PDF to the address shown on the form.
PLEASE ACT TODAY! THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE!
Thank you, and 73!
Radiogram to FCC Preformatted 2019-11.pdf
Article from George Miller, W3GWM, EPA Section Mgr. – https://epa-arrl.org/the-future-of-the-winlink-system-and-pactor/
Nov 3, 2019 | ARRL, News
Attention ARRL members: You are invited to meet Howard Michel, WB2ITX, ARRL CEO, Tom Abernathy, W3TOM, Atlantic Division Director, Bob Famiglio, K3RF, Atlantic Division Vice-Director, George Miller, W3GWM, EPA Section Manager and Tom Mills, AF4NC, EPA Assistant Section Manager at WARC’s ARRL Night on Thursday, November 7th at 7:30 pm. This event of the Warminster Amateur Radio Club is at the Benjamin Wilson Senior Center, 580 Delmont Ave., Warminster, PA. Come out and hear about everything all things ARRL related.
Aug 5, 2019 | ARRL, Club event, License Exams
Amateur Radio License Tests resume on 9/6 at 5:00 pm – PAARC’s VE team led by Tom, K3TWL will resume testing on Friday, 9/6, at 5:00 pm at St. James Lutheran Church, Kugler Rd. and Swamp Pike, Limerick, PA. See the
PAARC License Exams page to sign up and for more information.
Jan 8, 2018 | ARRL, Contesting, Special Event
ARRL International Grid Chase – New Year’s Eve to Dec. 31
An event for all radio amateurs. Taking part is as simple as just getting on the air and making contacts: The objective of the year-long event is to work stations on any band (except 60 meters) in as many different Maidenhead grid squares as possible, and then upload your logs to ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW). All contacts on all permitted Amateur Radio bands, except 60 meters, are eligible for award credit. This includes contest contacts. ARRL Grid Chase site.
Jan 20, 2018 | ARRL
www.arrl.org/
01/18/2018
ARRL’s chief executive officer for the past 2 years, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, announced his retirement as CEO, as the ARRL Board of Directors prepares to meet January 19-20. He will step down on March 2. Gallagher, who had earlier advised ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, of his intention to resign, expressed his gratitude to Roderick and the ARRL Board for giving him the opportunity to help guide the organization.
“It has been my great privilege to serve in this capacity for 2 years, and I am deeply grateful to the Board and President Rick Roderick, K5UR, for their support and encouragement,” Gallagher said.
President Roderick expressed appreciation for Gallagher’s contributions to ARRL. “The ARRL is in a transition to a new generation for Amateur Radio. Change doesn’t come easy,” Roderick said. “Tom helped us in taking that step forward, and for that we are very grateful for his service to the League and to Amateur Radio,” he said.
Gallagher, 69, cited recent changes included in the new federal tax law that made it unattractive for him to continue working in Connecticut, where ARRL is headquartered. The Board will evaluate and determine the next steps to take in a search for his replacement when it meets this week.
Among Gallagher’s chief accomplishments during his tenure as CEO were creating an enhanced level of professionalism and efficiency in the organization that represents more than 150,000 US Amateur Radio operators. Gallagher also oversaw a significant turnaround in the organization’s financial performance.
Licensed in Pennsylvania in 1966 as WA3GRF (later N4GRF in North Carolina), Gallagher is a member of the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group. He has described himself as “an incurable HF DXer and inveterate tinkerer” and credits his first visit to the Franklin Institute’s Amateur Radio station W3TKQ in 1963 for inspiring his interest in ham radio.
Amateur Radio led to an early career in broadcasting. He was a cameraman and technician with WGBH-TV in Boston, the CBS Television Network, and Metromedia’s WIP Radio in Philadelphia.
Gallagher joined ARRL following 3 decades as an international investment banker and financial services executive. His career has included senior leadership positions with JP Morgan Chase & Co and CIBC Oppenheimer & Co in New York, and with Wachovia Capital Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and as CEO of the Secondary School Admission Test Board in Princeton, New Jersey. He has served on boards, both public and non-profit, including two NYSE companies; the NPR affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina; the Executive Board of The PENN Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, and The International Center of Photography.
