Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu May 18 2023 19:01:53 BILL REINTRODUCED TO PROPOSE HF DIGITAL CHANGES DON/ANCHOR: In the United States, an Arizona lawmaker has renewed hope for changing what many consider outdated rules by the FCC for digital communications. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, has those details. SEL: A bandwidth limit would replace symbol rate limit for HF digital operations under a bill known as the Amateur Radio Communications Improvement Act. The bill was introduced on May 11 by Arizona congresswoman Debbie Lesko, a Republican, and is similar to a bill she had introduced last year, hoping to update rules by the FCC that focus on symbol rates. The bill, which is now in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, would set a bandwidth limit of 2.8 kHz instead. US advocates of the bill, including the ARRL, have long argued that a bandwidth limit was necessary because of crowded conditions on the HF bands. They have been concerned that protocols might be developed in the future that would possess wider bandwidth protocols than necessary. The lawmaker said in a statement that updating the rules to accommodate modern technology is especially important in times of natural disasters, such as forest fires, floods and hurricanes, when messages need to be sent and received efficiently. Faster protocols already accomplish this in other countries. This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD. (ARRL, REP. DEBBIE LESKO) ** FORMER FCC CHAIRMAN NEWTON MINOW DIES AT 97 DON/ANCHOR: Newton Minow, who had been appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission by President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s, has died. The attorney, who was a vocal critic of the emerging content of broadcast television in the US, died Saturday, May 6th, at the age of 97. He was also well-known as an advocate of the US space program. It was during his tenure in 1962 that the world saw NASA's launch of Telstar 1, the first communications satellite, developed by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, better known as AT&T. (NPR) ** POPULAR SATELLITE DECAYS FROM ORBIT DON/ANCHOR: A popular ham radio satellite launched a little less than eight years ago from China has left its orbit. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, brings us that report. STEPHEN: Satellite enthusiasts have one fewer satellite to rely on now. The orbit has decayed for the popular linear transponder satellite known as XW-2A. The satellite was sent into space in September of 2015 from China's Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The satellite does not leave space without sharing a little bit of glory: In August of 2022, two amateurs used XW-2A to achieve communication over a record distance for the 25 kg microsat. It was a transatlantic QSO between EA4NF in Spain and VE1CWJ in Nova Scotia, a memorable distance of 4,751 km. This is Stephen Kinford, N8WB. (AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, CAMSAT) ** HAMS, START YOUR ENGINES FOR THE BIG RACE DON/ANCHOR: Hams, start your engines. A big race - and a big special event station - is getting under way in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details. JACK: Now that the dust has settled from the Indy Grand Prix race, members of the W9IMS Special Event Station are gearing up for another week of logging contacts leading up to the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, beginning May 22nd. This is the 20th year for the W9IMS team to reach out and let ham radio operators be a part of the racing season in Indianapolis. For two decades, they have logged over fifteen thousand contacts a year for the three race series at Indy. That is a lot of QSL cards. Check the W9IMS page at QSL.com for more information. Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH. ** TRY NEWSLINE'S HAIKU CHALLENGE DON/ANCHOR: If a great QSO feels like poetry to you, you might enjoy this new challenge from Amateur Radio Newsline. We're inviting listeners to channel their most creative selves and share the joy of ham radio in the form of a haiku. On our website, arnewsline.org, you will find a submission form for sending your most inspired offering. All haikus must follow the traditional form to qualify: The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables and the finishing third line has another five syllables. Our team will pick from the best submissions that follow the 5/7/5 syllable rule and represent the love of amateur radio. Your prize? Glory, of course! We will share our favorite haiku of the week on the Amateur Radio Newsline website. ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the AH6LE repeater on Sundays at 6 p.m. in Beavercreek and Wilsonville Oregon. --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33) .