Amateur Radio Hams Support RNLI

Barrow RNLI have received a large donation from members of the Furness Amateur Radio Society

The Furness Amateur Radio Society members hold an annual fundraising event on behalf of Barrow RNLI lifeboat station. They attend the lifeboat station for two weekends in the spring of the year and are allowed to set up their equipment and transmit to other enthusiasts.

This year they had contacts not only in the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland but also across Europe. Each contact they make pledges to donate a certain amount of cash towards their fundraising venture.

Earlier this year members of FARS attended the lifeboat station and on their behalf, Dick Smith and Les Bell made a presentation of a cheque for £550 to members of the crew aboard Barrow’s ‘ RNLB Grace Dixon’.

Media Story - http://www.cumbriacrack.com/2017/06/22/barrow-rnli-receives-donation-furness-amateur-radio-society/

Furness Amateur Radio Society - http://www.fars.org.uk/

FCC Announces Head of Enforcement Bureau

FCC Chairperson Ajit Pai has announced that he intends to appoint Rosemary C. Harold to serve as chief of the Enforcement Bureau

Ms. Harold is an attorney with considerable experience both within the agency and in private practice, as well as a former journalist.

“This agency has a critical role to play in enforcing the law to protect consumers and support competition in the communications marketplace. Our Enforcement Bureau has been getting back on track in recent months, and I am confident in Rosemary’s ability to continue this progress. Our enforcement efforts must be governed by the facts and the law, and Rosemary’s experience and expertise will help us conduct sound investigations and craft legally sustainable enforcement actions. This is especially important when it comes to FCC priorities like protecting consumers against illegal robocalls and confronting unlawful interference with broadcast licensees. I greatly appreciate Rosemary’s willingness to serve.”

— FCC Chairman Ajit Pai

Ms. Harold will be working closely with Michael Carowitz who, having served as acting bureau chief, will continue to help lead the Bureau as deputy bureau chief. Chairman Pai praised Mr. Carowitz’s work as acting chief: “Michael’s steady hand at the helm of this important Bureau has helped us stay on task in protecting consumers and enforcing the law. I thank Michael for his superb and tireless work—including his focus on reaching out to our field office staff who play such an important role in fulfilling our mission.”
 
The Enforcement Bureau manages Commission work enforcing the Communications Act, FCC rules, and various licensing terms and conditions. The Bureau investigates and responds quickly to potential unlawful conduct to ensure consumer protection, robust competition, efficient and responsible use of the public airwaves, and strict compliance with public safety-related rules.
 
Ms. Harold rejoins the agency from Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, where she was a partner. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, Ms. Harold was a legal advisor to then-FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell for media and broadband issues and deputy chief of the FCC’s Media Bureau.
 
She began her career as a journalist, working as a reporter and bureau chief for the Miami Herald and an editor at C-SPAN. She earned her law degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, her master’s degree from the University of Missouri, and her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.
 
FCC Press Release - http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0621/DOC-345446A1.pdf

US Ham Possible Oldest Active Radio Amateur

ARRL member 105-year-old Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP, of White Rock, South Carolina, is claiming the title of “World’s Oldest Operating Ham.” 
 
No official record of such milestones exists, but ARRL is not aware of any radio amateurs senior to Kayhart, and he is now quite likely the oldest active ham at least in the US.
Early this year, Charlie Hellman, W2RP, died at 106; he also may have been the longest licensed. Hellman outlived the former “oldest US ham,” Harry Wolf, W6NKT, by 8 days. Wolf was a couple of weeks shy of turning 108. Kayhart now lives at The Heritage at Lowman Home.
 
“I have had to get help getting set up after moving here from Tennessee,” he said in his QRZ.com profile. “Two local clubs, Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Group and Columbia Amateur Radio Club, have been there to help. It has been slow going. They tell me I may be the oldest operating ham.” Kayhart is active on 80 meters.
 
Born in 1911, Kayhart was first licensed in 1937 as W2LFE in New Jersey. He then was W9GNQ before becoming W4KKP.
 
ARRL Story - http://www.arrl.org/news/centenarian-arrl-member-claiming-oldest-active-radio-amateur-crown