ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma,
AB1FM, reported that the ranks of amateur radio operators in the United States
have continued to grow at a "healthy" clip, ending the year 2012 with
a record-high 709,575 licensees.According to the ARRL Letter, Somma said the number of new licenses issued in 2012 was more than 3000 higher than in 2011, and that amateur radio in the U.S. has grown by 7% in the past four years. The fourth call district continues to be home to the greatest number of hams (140,000), followed by the sixth call area (100,000).