North Carolina
ARRL
Section Information

The March, 2021 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2021_03_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

Contrary to what you may have heard or read, the collection of application fees for the amateur radio service and certain other services will NOT begin on April 19, 2021.

Although April 19, 2021 is the date the rules in the FCC Report and Order adopted last December generally take effect – i.e., one month after the R&O was published in the March 19, 2021 Federal Register – certain parts of those rules, including collection of the application fees for the amateur radio service, will NOT begin on that date.

The effective date for new amateur radio fees has not yet been established. The FCC explicitly states in the published Notice that the fees will not take effect until:

• the requisite notice has been provided to Congress; AND
• the FCC’s information technology systems and internal procedures have been updated; AND
• the Commission publishes [FUTURE] notice(s) in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of such rules.

The League’s counsel for FCC matters estimates that the effective start date for collecting the fees will be some time this summer, but regardless of the exact timing we will have advance notice.

The February, 2021 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2021_02_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

Irv McWherter, K3IRV has started creating a series of officer biographies. These will be linked from the officer's names on the Section Officials page. The first is now available. It is about our Section Manager, Marv Hoffman, WA4NC.

The January, 2021 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2021-01_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The December, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020_12_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

See https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/AUXCOMMServiceAwardsfor2020.html for a listing of the 2020 AUXCOMM Service Award recepients. The North Carolina Section did well. These awards and recognitions were conferred by DHS-CISA-ECD and originally posted publicly at https://www.facebook.com/groups/466989700032535 on January 1, 2021.

The November, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020_11_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The October, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020_10_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The September, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: https://www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-09_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The FCC issued a notice on 8/28/2020 that it intends to update its fee structure in response to a directive from Congress to raise revenue and to capture the cost of processing various applications. One of the proposals in a very long document is to charge a $50 application fee for new, renewed or vanity call amateur radio licenses, all of which currently carry no fee. More information is available in the September 1, 2020 Newsletter and at http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-to-reinstate-amateur-radio-service-fees.

A list of NC Senators and Congressional Representatives is available at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NC.

The August 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-08_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

The July , 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-07_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel)

North Carolina Emergency Management has asked Auxcomm to be ready to provide backup communications should the need arise as a result of Hurricane Isaias.

Auxcomm leadership is currently engaged in adapting its Emergency Communications Plan to a unique situation which has never occurred before since a hurricane will be occurring within a nationwide Pandemic. The Pandemic will limit the amount and type of assistance that North Carolina will have available to respond to areas affected by the hurricane.

For details, see Hurricane Isaias AUXCOMM Bulletin #1.

If you are an AUXCOMM member, please fill out the attached questionnaire (word docx) and submit as instructed.

The June, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at www.ncarrl.org/documents/2020-05_NC_STM_Report.html

The May, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at ncarrl.org/documents/2020-05_NC_STM_Report.xlsx -- opens up in Microsoft Excel

• The Shelby Amateur Radio club announced on June 11 that the 2020 Shelby Hamfest will not be held. See shelbyhamfest.com for more information.
• The Cary Amateur Radio club announced on June 12 that the 2020 Cary Midsummer Swapfest is also canceled.
• Contact your local club for specific information about Field Day. Field day is happening this year. Many clubs are holding it using home stations under the special 2020 only rules. A few clubs are having modified on-site versions of their regular events.

Follow the ncarrl Facebook page for the latest announcements. Please inform the Section Manager, Marv Hoffman, WA4NC (wa4nc@arrl.org) and the Webmaster (ncarrl-webmaster@nc.rr.com) of future changes.

A Message to the NC AUXCOMM Community (word)

The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) outbreak is causing considerable social and economic disruption around the world, as well as in the United States. Each new day brings reports of areas affected and additional persons positively diagnosed. A State of Emergency in North Carolina directed that public schools close for two weeks and that universities and community colleges switch to remote course delivery. Questions have been raised as to what Auxcomm is doing in response to this situation.

• There is no communications emergency and we have not been assigned a mission. All primary communications systems are operating properly.
• Each Auxcomm operator is advised to check their equipment and resolve any issues with batteries and antennas during this standby period.
• Each of us should avoid situations which would expose us and our families to the COVID-19 virus. Follow CDC Guidelines to avoid crowds greater than 50 persons and rigorously practice hand washing.
• Check on neighbors, particularly the elderly and those persons with compromised immune systems and chronic diseases; do what you can to insure that they continue to have adequate food and water.
• If you become aware of a critical shortage of food or fuel or an extended communications or power outage affecting your community, you should advise your County Emergency Management Agency and the undersigned

If there is a change in the tasking situation for Auxcomm personnel, you will be contacted. Meanwhile, make sure that all of your contact information in the Auxcomm database is correct.

RARSfest 2020 that was scheduled for April 11. It will not be rescheduled. See https://www.rarsfest.org/ for information on refunds of pre-payments.

Not a NC event, but many people in NC attend: Dayton Hamvention 2020 has also been cancelled.

If you have any further cancellations of statewide interest to announce, send them to webmaster@nc.rr.com and to our Section Manager, Karl W4CHX, w4chx@arrl.org

The QCWA meeting scheduled for March 21 in Siler City NC has been cancelled. It will not be rescheduled.

Down East Hamfest in Kinston will not be held on April 4 as scheduled. The venue, Lenoir Community College has cancelled all events for at least 30 days. They hope to reschedule at a later date.

If you have any further cancellations of statewide interest to announce, send them to webmaster@nc.rr.com and to our Section Manager, Karl W4CHX, w4chx@arrl.org

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC of Boone will be the new ARRL NC Section Manager beginning April 1, 2020.

Marv WA4NC is a Life Member and former President of the Watauga Amateur Radio Club. His primary interest is emergency communications. Marv WA4NC is credentialed by the NC Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) as a COML Type III AHIMT; a credentialed COMT; and, he is a member of NCEM’s Western Branch Incident Management Team. Marv WA4NC is currently the Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (Area 12) for NC ARES-NC AUXCOMM. In addition, Marv WA4NC is an ECD-recognized Instructor of the AUXCOMM curriculum. In 2015, Marv WA4NC received the KB4C – Miriam Smith Memorial Award, which honors an amateur radio operator within the 16 western counties of North Carolina who is active in their commitment to emergency and public service communications through the ARES/RACES programs. Marv WA4NC is one of the most active amateurs in western NC and presently hosts three VHF/UHF repeaters (2 DMR, 1 FM analog) in the “high country” area. Dr. Hoffman is a retired faculty member from Appalachian State University. Marv WA4NC holds an Amateur Extra license.

I have known and worked with Marv WA4NC for an extended period and I am very confident he will provide outstanding leadership for the NC Section. Please take the time to meet Marv WA4NC and support him as the new ARRL NC Section Manager.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be your Section Manager. Your friendship and support made Section Manager tasks easier and fun. As always, thanks for all that you are doing for amateur radio and for your community. It is appreciated greatly!

Former NC Section Manager, Dr. John Malloy Clayton Covington III, W4CC (SK) of Charlotte, NC became a Silent Key on April 17, 2019. John was the NC Section Manager from 2000 – 2006. He was a great friend to all and he will be missed. For further information, see this obituary.