AM Bill Is Not Part of Congressional Stopgap Funding

It appears that the bill to require AM radio in new cars will not pass this Congress. The legislation was absent from a stopgap measure unveiled Tuesday to keep the government funded until spring.

“While we are disappointed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act did not pass this Congress, the overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support underscores the vital role AM radio plays in keeping Americans safe during emergencies and connected to their local communities”

— Curtis LeGeyt, president/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters

The budget stopgap itself has not become law yet. According to CBS News, Congress has until Friday night to avoid a lapse in funding. “The new stopgap measure, with approval from the House, Senate and President Biden, would keep the government funded through March 14, giving lawmakers more time to reach agreement on new spending bills when the GOP controls both the House and the Senate,” CBS reported (read that story here).

But with the Christmas holiday rushing up fast, the AM bill appears out of options, for now.

LeGeyt thanked the AM bill’s sponsors and noted that it received bipartisan favor from “more than 125 supportive organizations, hundreds of thousands of listeners who contacted their lawmakers and more than 330 members of Congress who championed this effort.” He said NAB plans to work with the next Congress to pass the legislation.

Holiday SSTV Experiment from the International Space Station

ARISS will be conducting an SSTV experiment from the International Space Station (ISS) through to 5th January 2025.

Officially titled Expedition 72 - ARISS Series 23 SSTV Experiment, interested listeners can receive SSTV images in PD120 mode from the ISS on 145.800 MHz. There will be 12 different images in the series coming from the RS0ISS station.

Received images can be uploaded to the ARISS SSTV gallery - https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Brazilian loggers take over retired UHF MilSat

In the heart of the Amazon, amidst the dense foliage and the symphony of nature's whispers, a silent revolution unfolds one that transcends borders, defies regulations, and challenges the very essence of communication.

At the centre of this enigma lies the tale of the South American satellite pirates, a clandestine network of individuals who have ingeniously tapped into retired UHF MilSat bands to extend their radio range deep into the heart of the rainforest.

Brazilian loggers have employed 2m radios modified with frequency doublers and directional antennas, turning the once-secret communication channels of the U.S. Navy Satcom uplink frequencies (280-310MHz) into conduits for their own purposes.

Dubbed "Bolinha" or "little ball" by its users, the FLTSATCOM geo-sync satellites, once a pinnacle of military communication prowess, now find themselves unwitting accomplices in this subversive endeavour.

What began as a means for Brazilian loggers to enhance their radio range has evolved into a phenomenon that spans the breadth of Brazilian society. Truck drivers, seeking superior communication capabilities in remote regions beyond the reach of traditional infrastructure, flock to these satellites. Rogue loggers, wary of authorities encroaching on their illicit activities, deploy them as covert communication channels to evade detection. Drug dealers, organized crime factions, and ordinary citizens alike have found utility in this illicit network, transforming it into an integral part of the Brazilian communication landscape.