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 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  Due to winter band conditions, the evening TN Phone Net will meet one hour earlier (5:30 PM Central / 6:30 PM Eastern) during standard time. Regular net time for the evening session will resume when we go back to Daylight Savings Time. 

 

 

 2020 is fast drawing to a close, and I don't know about you, but

I'm ready for a better 2021. Let's keep our fingers crossed that things
will slowly start to return to normal in the coming months. While we
wait to ring in the new year later this evening, I wanted to send out a
short update to the TN Section.

The 2021 Morristown hamfest (usually on the first snowy Saturday in
January) has been cancelled because the venue is not taking reservations
due to covid restrictions. The Dalton, GA hamfest is still scheduled to
go on as planned on February 27. On March 27, the Sevier County Amateur
Radio Society will hold their hamfest in Sevierville
(www.seviercountyars.com).  The Andrew Johnson Amateur Radio Club in
Greeneville, TN has a hamfest scheduled for April 17
(www.greenevillehamfest.com).  We have several clubs who are working
hard to get a hamfest scheduled, but with the covid restrictions it's
not easy. We will be adding hamfest information to the section website
as they are confirmed.

The FCC released Report and Order 20-184 yesterday which sets the cost
of an amateur radio license at $35. The Ray Baum Act dictated the FCC
assess fees for licensing, and the commission originally proposed a $50
charge. The ARRL encouraged hams from across the country to make their
voices heard during the public comment period, and the membership came
through loud and clear with over 4000 comments filed online. The act
passed by Congress wouldn't allow the license fee to be eliminated,
but feedback from the amateur community resulted lowering it from $50 to
$35. The FCC just released their report yesterday, so look for more
information in the coming days as league officials comb over the 97 page
report.

I wish you all the best in 2021. Happy New Year!

David Thomas
KM4NYI
TN Section Manager