Unfortunately, the Marine Corps Marathon for 2021 has been canceled. The official press release can be found here: https://www.marinemarathon.com/blog/2021-mcm-weekend-officially-canceled-due-to-safety-precautions
For those that were looking to volunteer as a ham radio operator, we appreciate your interest and hope we can participate in next year’s event!
From John Peterson, CISA/ECD:
IARU Region 2 Emergency Coordinator Carlos Alberto Santamaria Gonzalez, CO2JC, has requested that radio amateurs in Central America avoid 7098 and 7198 kHz in the wake of an earthquake at 0957UTC the morning of September 22 in Nicaragua.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the offshore magnitude 6.5 earthquake has also affected Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The earthquake was followed by another 4.0 temblor and other aftershocks of less intensity, as confirmed by Juan de la Cruz Rodriguez Perez, YN1J, President and National Emergency Coordinator of the Club de Radio Experimentadores de Nicaragua (CREN).
CREN is the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member-society for Nicaragua.
The earthquake occurred offshore in the North Pacific some 60 miles from Chinandega and approximately 52 miles southwest of the resort town of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua. The USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of approximately 20 miles.
According to the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies, the event was related to the tectonic processes of the collision between the Cocos and Caribe tectonic plates.
Emergency communicator Juan de la Cruz, YN1J, requested the frequency protection.
No tsunami warning has been issued and there have been no immediate reports of damage.
According to the USGS, “Little or no landsliding is expected, but some landslides could have occurred in highly susceptible areas.” And, “The number of people living near areas that could have produced landslides in this earthquake is low, but landslide damage or fatalities are still possible in highly susceptible areas. This is not a direct estimate of landslide fatalities or losses.”
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/EX
The FCC has just issued a reminder that radio equipment, including Amateur and Personal Radio services, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes. The notice is titled “Warning: Amateur and Personal Radio Services Licensees and Operators May Not Use Radio Equipment to Commit or Facilitate Criminal Acts” and can be accessed here: https://www.fcc.gov/document/amateur-personal-radio-users-reminded-not-use-radios-crimes
Similarly, the ARRL® has also issued a statement via e-mail to its members:
ARRL on the Purpose of Amateur Radio
For over 100 years amateur radio and ARRL — the National Association for Amateur Radio® — have stood for the development of the science and art of communications, public service, and the enhancement of international goodwill. Amateur Radio’s long history and service to the public has solidified the well-earned reputation that “Amateur Radio saves lives.”
Amateur Radio Operators, due to their history of public service, their training, and the requirement that they be licensed by the FCC have earned their status as a component of critical communications infrastructure and as a reliable resource “when all else fails.”
Amateur Radio is about development of communications and responsible public service. Its misuse is inconsistent with its history of service and its statutory charter. ARRL does not support its misuse for purposes inconsistent with these values and purposes.”
The FCC has recently published their “Amendment of the Schedule of Application Fees” in their most recent Report and Order and the new fees are $35 for Amateur Radio license transactions . This amendment was adopted on 23 DEC 2020 and released on 29 DEC 2020.
For more information, you can read the detailed discussion behind this decision in the published document DA/FCC # FCC-20-184 (MD Docket No. 20-270). Section III.B, item 1.b discusses personal licenses with the bulk of the discussion surrounding Amateur Radio license fees.
Link to the full FCC Amendment: https://www.fcc.gov/document/amendment-schedule-application-fees-2
Welcome to the new Fairfax County ARES website!