A planned event to get ARRL CEO Howard Michel,
WB2ITX, chatting on the air with League members via W1AW was scrapped after
concerns were raised about its legality. The concerns related to the FCC rule
that prohibits communications "on behalf of an employer." According to the ARRL Letter, the fact that Michel is an employee of the League and that his on-air presence was publicized as an opportunity for members to talk with him raised concerns that the activity might be seen as crossing the line of permissible communications. "Out of an abundance of caution," the Letter reported, Michel decided to cancel the event. He noted that he has operated W1AW in the past and will do so in the future, but just as any other guest operator and "not as part of an ARRL-promoted event."
