ARRL NEWS - Continued Timely ARRL news items for all members -  from sources as noted at end of each article,
Page 7 Previous     Return Pg 4                                       ARRL to Discontinue Web Classifieds

As of April 30, ARRL will cease listing classified ads in Radios On-Line, the classified ad section on the ARRL Web site < http://www.arrl.org/RadiosOnline/ >. According to ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, the ARRL has experienced an increased number of complaints by members and users regarding postings and practices that do not conform to the Radios On-Line Web site's original intent: "Despite our efforts to monitor the site regularly, these problems persist. These have included postings for guns and 'personal' ads. Our staff that administers this service has deleted items and notified the 'poster,' only to find the ad back two days later, placed in every category. We are spending a disproportionate amount of staff time dealing with this matter; it is no longer worth the cost of maintaining the service when other online services have been established to handle the specific need for online person-to-person sales."    (Excerpt from the ARRL Letter, Vol 27, No 16, dated April 25, 2008)
                                                 No NC Cell Phone Bill Yet!

There's an email making the rounds in our section (NC)  that refers to a new law in California that prohibits the use of cell phones by drivers unless they are using a hands-free device.  The law goes into effect on July 1 and it's not clear that 2-way radios are exempted.  There are bills that prohibit the use of cell phones in North Carolina by teenage drivers and school bus drivers. But there is NO law and no active bills in the North Carolina State Legislature that would ban cell phone usage in automobiles by adults or have any impact on the use of 2-way radios in vehicles. Last year, two bills were developed in committees that would ban the use of cell phones in automobiles. In the Senate, Senator Dannelly of Mecklenburg County introduced SB 1399. In the House, Representatives McAllister of Cumberland County and Luebke of Durham County introduced H527. The Bills have almost identical language, and did not directly prohibit the use of two way mobile radios. I expect that these Bills will become active in this Legislative session, which begins May 13th. We need to monitor these, as do commercial two way radio services.  However, any Bill that comes out of committee needs to be voted on by both the House and Senate; then, have a congruence between the two Legislative bodies; then, be signed by the Governor before it becomes law.  We are actively monitoring these upcoming bills and will work with the legislature to make sure the needs of our critical service are protected.  -Bob Conder, K4RLC,  ARRL State Government Liaison, North Carolina.   (Excerpt from ARRL NC Section E-Mail, dated April 24, 2008)                                              Field Day Station Locator Up and Running

This year, for the first time, the ARRL has put together a Station Locator < http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php > to help amateurs or those interested in Amateur Radio find a Field Day < http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ > site near them. According to ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, many amateurs have been asking for something like this for many years: "So far, 287 groups in 45 states and 3 Canadian provinces had registered their Field Day site with the Station Locator." If your group would like to be a part of the Station Locator Service, it's easy to get started. Just go to the Field Day Station Locator Web site < http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php > and follow the instructions.
(Excerpt from The ARRL Letter, Vol 27,  No 13, dated April 4, 2008)     
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