New Tech Question Pool Released

The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) has released its updated question pool for Technician Class license exams to be used from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2026. The ARRL reports that the new Element 2 exam pool has 11 fewer questions than the one currently in use, based on the addition of 51 new questions and the deletion of 62 current ones. Over 250 current questions were modified "to improve wording or to replace distractors" (wrong answer choices). 

The new question pool may be downloaded from the NCVEC website (ncvec.org) in either PDF or Word format.

2022 Youth on the Air Camp Scheduled

Up to 30 young hams will once again be gathering this year for a week of ham radio fun and learning at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester, Ohio. The second running of the Youth on the Air, or YOTA, Camp has been scheduled for the week of June 12-17, according to Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. 

He says future plans call for alternating the camps between June and July every other year, with locations rotating to different locations in North, Central and South America beginning in 2023. 

Rapp notes that participants will be notified as far ahead as possible if any changes in scheduling are made necessary by new Covid outbreaks. For more information, visit <youthontheair.org> or contact Rapp at <director@youthontheair.org>.

Young Hams Wax Eloquent on Keeping the Hobby Relevant

The Intrepid DX Group, working with ARDC (Amateur Radio Digital Communications), recently announced the winners of its annual "Dream Rig" essay contest for young hams. The topic was keeping ham radio relevant in the age of the internet and the winner was 10-year-old Silas Davis, W3SED. Silas wrote that ham radio will always be relevant because it "inspires and creates community," can help save lives and … it's fun! 

Second and third place recognition went to Olivia Lee, KD2UYX, and Isaac Schmidt, K6IAS, respectively. Each of the three won radios donated by ICOM and Yaesu. The essays are posted on the ARDC website (ampr.org).

U.S. Forest Service Seeks Fees for Wireless Facilities on its Lands

The U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments through February 22 on a proposal to charge fees to owners of permanent wireless installations on the lands it administers. These fees would apply mostly to commercial wireless service providers but could also impact owners of amateur radio repeaters located on Forest Service land. 

According to Newsline, the fees would cover the Forest Services costs in maintaining and managing the sites and are required y the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. They would not apply to temporary operations by visiting hams.

Comments are being accepted through February 22 via the Federal Rulemaking Portal. They should reference "RIN 0596-AD44." We recommend, as always, that you read the actual proposed rules before filing comments.

Hams Help in Wildfire and Bombing Response

Ham radio operators were part of the response to the late December wildfire that consumed more than 1000 homes in Boulder County, Colorado, and separately, helped police in Washington State following a bombing at a local bank.

According to the ARRL Letter, members of Boulder County ARES provided communications support between evacuation centers and the Emergency Operating Center. 

In Centralia, Washington, ARES members helped police search for evidence after two men allegedly blew up the automated teller machine at a local bank branch. According to the report, Centralia ARES members had received training in how to search for evidence and worked in teams of 3-5 hams, each led by a detective, to search an estimated 10,000 square feet around the crime scene.

 

The Shrinking 9-Centimeter Band - No Ham Activity on 3.45-3.5 GHz After April 14

The other shoe has dropped on the first part of the FCC's decision last year to reallocate the 9-centimeter band (3.3-3.5 GHz) for use by commercial 5G networks. Amateur radio currently has a secondary allocation on the band, but will not be permitted to operate on the 3.45-3.5-GHz segment after this coming April 14, according to the ARRL. 

The original FCC decision permitted continued operation there until 90 days after the publication date in the Federal Register of the auction results for this band segment. Those results were published on January 14.

The FCC has not yet finalized the transition of the 3.3-3.45-GHz band segment, and amateur operations may continue there on a secondary basis indefinitely. The ARRL is urging Congress to preserve amateur radio's secondary status on the band even after reallocation.