DMR Radios Open Up The World To Students in India

Students in government residential schools in rural parts of the Indian state of Karnataka can now reach out and touch the world with the help of Digital Mobile Radio, or DMR.

Twenty new DMR radio base stations are opening up the world to students in rural schools run by the state of Karnataka’s Social Welfare Department. The installation was done by the Indian Institute of Hams at the request of the state. According to news reports in the Hindu and the Bangalore Mirror, science teachers and a pair of eighth-grade students from a number of the schools received online training for their amateur radio licenses and then successfully sat the exam from the Ministry of Communications.

The radios are designed to give the students access to scientists, researchers and others in the amateur radio community who would normally be inaccessible from within their remote rural communities. The radios are available to be operated around the clock. Just as significantly, the radios are available so the schools can serve as emergency communications centres when disaster strikes and the remote regions are likely to be cut off from many services.

The initiative is called Ham Yatra and spans the state, the ham institute’s director, S. Satyapal [pron: Sat-YUH-poll] told local media. He said he hoped the radios would open a window of curiosity for the students about opportunities in the world of science.

Ham Operator Must Pay in First-Responder Interference Case

A ham radio operator in Idaho must pay a record $34,000 penalty for causing interference with communications during a fire suppression effort.

That’s the ruling from the Federal Communications Commission in the case of Jason Frawley, licensee of amateur station WA7CQ.

When the commission issued its notice of liability 2-1/2 years ago, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote: “You can’t interfere with public safety communications. Full stop. So today we propose the largest fine of its type for this interference that put fire suppression and public safety itself at risk.”

Frawley acknowledged that he operated on a frequency without authorization but argued that he did not interfere with government communications and was trying to help. He asked for a cancellation or reduction but the commission has rejected his appeal.

It’s not clear why the FCC took so long to finalize the penalty.

When the forfeiture finally was adopted the day after Christmas, Commissioner Nathan Simington dissented but did not release a reason. Radio World has followed up with his office and will report any response.

More Information - https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/ham-operator-must-pay-in-first-responder-interference-case

Bob K0NR (blog) - https://www.amateurradio.com/erroneous-prepper-frequency-lists/

Georgia Club Donates Radio Books to Local Library

The Jackson-Butts County Public Library in Georgia is QRV. A collection of 11 amateur radio books donated a month ago by the Amateur Radio Club of Butts County has been entered into the library's system and was placed on the shelves recently for circulation.

“We are hoping they will be useful to many. They’re ready to go!”

— Cathy Kelly

This is the latest partnership in the US of amateur radio clubs and their local libraries. Library manager, Cathy Kelly, that the donation was made through the efforts of Buzz Kutcher, K3GWK and Nancy Phillips, K4NEP, from the club. The volumes include technical books, licensing guides and regulations from the Federal Communications Commission.

Original Story - ARNewline