FCC INVESTIGATING 1999 EXAM SESSIONS

The FCC has ordered thirty-seven hams to sit for retests. This, as part of an ongoing investigation of ham radio examination sessions held in Yucaipa, California, back in 1999.

The tests under government scrutiny were administered by a W5YI exam team. The exact test dates involved are those held on February 27th, March 27th, April 24th, May 22nd, June 26th, and July 31st of 1999.

This is one of the largest retest orders issued since the all
volunteer testing program got underway in the early 1980's.

ALL N.A. ADOPTS U.S. HDTV STANDARD

Mexico has formally adopted the U.S. ATSC Digital Television Standard based on 8 VSB technology. This, for terrestrial broadcasting in that nation.

Canada adopted the same standard in 1997. The decision by Mexico to go along with the U-S and Canada means that ATSC is now the North American Digital Television standard.

ATSC was also adopted by South Korea in November of 1997 and Argentina in October of 1998.

More is on the web at:
http://www.atsc.org/news_information/press/2004/PR_Mexico_7-7-4.pdf

W-0-BB Edward Bock

W-0-BB Edward Bock a member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, passed away in St. Louis aged 87.

Bock had an outstanding record as a lineman, playing both offence and defence, for Iowa State and is considered the greatest guard in Iowa State history.

W-O-BB became an amateur radio operator in 1931 at the age of 15, and remained active with the call letters WOBB, a member of "the world famous Fort Dodge net," consisting of amateur radio operators he had known since high school.
The group still meet daily on 7158 kHz.

SOUTH AFRICA - RADIO AMATEUR DATABASE

The question is often asked:
How many amateurs are there in the South Africa?

To answer this question, the SARL persuaded ICASA to supply them with their database. The SARL had their own database, but upon comparing ICASA's to theirs, some 834 listings have conflicting information.

There are also some 663 entries on the SARL database that are not listed with ICASA. Contact Louis at zs1lvh@absamail.co.za

Is this the "Final Final"?

The "Celestrak" website has a notice informing all visitors that there are pending changes by the US Government to regulations which could result in some keps becoming unavailable.

This would have a serious impact on many members particularly those involved in amateur satellite tracking and use.

The http://celestrak.com website is asking those with an interest in this issue to fill out a form that will be forwarded to the US Government.

http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/notice.shtml
to read the System Notice.

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