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North Carolina ARRL Section Information ARRL HOME General NC ARRL Information Purpose of NC ARRL Web Printable NC Section Guide (Word) -- Photos Older Photos -- NC ARRL History NC Field Organization Section Officials ARES ® and AUXCOMM SKYWARN National Traffic System (NTS) Official Observers Public Information Office Affiliated Clubs & Club Info Other NC Section Information Tar Heel Emergency Net NC VE/VEC Exam Sessions (on ARRL site) Amateur Radio Information Get Started in Amateur Radio Search for Amateur Radio Exam Sessions (on ARRL site) Public Service Opportunities (external) FCC (external) FCC Amateur Radio License Search Show Menu Section News Latest NC Section News Bulletin The September 15, 2020 Newsletter from North Carolina Section Manager, Marv Hoffman, WA4NC. Posted Sep 16, 2020 Previous Newsletters FCC Proposes Application Fee For Amateur Radio Sep 12, 2020 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 . Marv Hoffman, WA4NC wa4nc@arrl.org August 2020 Section Traffic Report Sep 10, 2020 The August 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-08_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel) Marv Hoffman, WA4NC wa4nc@arrl.org Dave Roy, W4DNA July 2020 Section Traffic Report Aug 12, 2020 The July , 2020 Section Traffic report is available at: www.ncarrl.org/documents/TrafficReports/2020-07_NC_STM_Report.xlsx (opens in Microsoft Excel) Marv Hoffman, WA4NC wa4nc@arrl.org Dave Roy, W4DNA Hurricane Isaias Bulletin #1 Jul 31, 2020 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. Marv Hoffman, WA4NC wa4nc@arrl.org Tom Brown, N4TAB n4tab@earthlink.net June 2020 Section Traffic Report Jul 18, 2020 The June, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at www.ncarrl.org/documents/2020-05_NC_STM_Report.html Marv Hoffman, WA4NC wa4nc@arrl.org Section Traffic Report Jun 15, 2020 The May, 2020 Section Traffic report is available at ncarrl.org/documents/2020-05_NC_STM_Report.xlsx -- opens up in Microsoft Excel Marv Hoffman, WA4NC wa4nc@arrl.org Cancellation Updates Jun 12, 2020 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. ncarrl-webmaster A Message to the NC AUXCOMM Community Mar 16, 2020 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. Tom Brown, N4TAB More Event Cancellations Mar 15, 2020 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 Known Event Cancellations Mar 13, 2020 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 Dr. Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC, ARRL NC Section Manager, beginning April 1, 2020 Dec 12, 2019 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 leaders...