The ARRL is replacing its decades-old Official
Observer (OO) program with a new, headquarters-administered, Volunteer Monitor
(VM) program to help with rules enforcement on the amateur bands. According to
the ARRL Letter, the League board
approved the new program at its July meeting. It would make evidence-gathering
and coordination of cases the responsibility of ARRL staff, while decisions
regarding final actions in individual cases would remain with the FCC.
ARRL Section Managers, who until now had
administered the OO programs in their sections and appointed members to serve
as OOs, would "continue to be part of the vetting process" for
volunteer monitors, but appointment and dismissal authority would rest with a
new Volunteer Monitoring Program administrator at League headquarters. Current
OOs would not be automatically accredited as VMs, but would have to apply for
appointment. In addition, any VM notices mailed to amateurs would be sent by
ARRL Headquarters, not by the individual monitors.
Details of the program's organization, training
requirements and materials were still being worked out as of press time in
early August.
