Kim wrote:
What IS up with any moves to change things up in amateur radio?

There have been about 18 proposals to FCC since July 2003, ranging from
"just drop Element 1 and leave everything else alone" to much more
involved stuff involving new license classes, etc. At least one group
(NCVEC) has submitted *two* proposals.

FCC hasn't done a thing other than assign numbers to the proposals and
collect comments.

It seems that the next step will be for FCC to put out an NPRM (Notice
of Proposed Rule Making), combining what they think are the best
features of the proposals, collect commentary on the NPRM, and then
make a decision.

At first I thought FCC would just dump Element 1 when the treaty
changed. Now I think we're at least a year, maybe two, from any
changes.

Your original 2008 pool prediction may turn out to be the winner!

What about BPL?

FCC put out a bunch of rules that are not as good as we'd like but not
as bad as what the BPL folks wanted. ARRL keeps bugging FCC to
reconsider, and both ARRL and other amateur groups raise cain whenever
there's documented evidence of harmful interference.

There are a few BPL sites in operation. At least one test site shut
down, and at least one locale that was considering BPL decided against
it. Meanwhile, DSL-, Wi-Fi-, and cable-served areas continue to grow.

Here in Philly the mayor is pushing for the whole city to be Wi-Fi'ed,
so everybody can be online boradband-style. Not a bad idea, really, if
he can pull it off.

OK, I am behind the times...also still don't have any radios
reconnected...been, uh, maybe three years now. But my hubby and I
are both
"getting the mike hand feeling back" so maybe soon.

Good to see you back, Kim.

73 de Jim, N2EY