Tom, WA5OMD (SK), and Peggy Miller, KC5CDJ (SK), were active in the Bryan Amateur Radio Club for years and friendly voices over-the-air. They will be missed by their family, ham radio friends, neighbors, and the countless other lives they touched.

Thomas Miller

Peggy Miller

Earlier this month the FCC proposed to impose a $50 fee on amateur radio license and application fees. With the November 16, 2020 deadline to comment fast approaching, the ARRL is encouraging all HAMs to file a comment with the FCC opposing the proposed fee.
The FCC allows for electronically filing comments and the ARRL has created an online guide making it easy to create and submit your comments. The guide includes talking points and the ARRL is encouraging members to file comments that stress amateur radio’s contributions to the country and communities.
Please take a moment to make your voice heard!

ARRL Online Guide to Filing Comments:
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-guide-to-filing-comments-with-fcc

Link to the ARRL’s full article: http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-urges-members-to-join-in-strongly-opposing-fcc-s-application-fees-proposal

The 2020 ARRL OnLine Auction will be held October 15th -22nd, 2020 with a preview that began October 8th. Don’t miss this opportunity to get in on the fun and bid on a variety of items at the 15th annual ARRL OnLine Auction to benefit ARRL educational programs.

https://arrl.auctionanything.com/

Amateur Radio and Internet Scout Jamboree is 19-18 October. Read more here:

https://mailchi.mp/scout/experience-jota-joti-2020?e=218a8ca184

http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota

https://www.scouting.org/international/jota-joti/

“The 2020 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) will take place October 3 – 4. The annual, nationwide exercise provides ARES volunteers the chance to test personal emergency-operating skills and communication readiness in a simulated emergency deployment. ARRL is asking participants to adhere to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health department COVID-19 guidelines by staying home, maintaining safe distances when around people, and following recommended cleaning and disinfecting practices…”
Continue Reading: http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2020-08-19#toc07

For more information on participating locally in the SET exercise or the Brazos County ARES:

• Contact Ron Hambric N5SBN at N5SBN@arrl.net
• Visit the Brazos County ARES web site: https://brazosares.org

“A man walks into a bar and orders a Corona and 8 Hurricanes,
The bartender says, “Yeah.. That’ll be 20.20!“

All kidding aside, 2020 has been an eventful year and it’s not over! As of the time of this posting, Tropical Storm “Beta” is bearing down on the Texas coastline. Forecasts have it developing into a Hurricane quickly and some track models have it making it’s way into Bryan / College Station. Please be aware and take the time to prepare.

The ARRL has a webpage with resources dedicated to “information and news summarizing the preparations and response by Amateur Radio (ham radio) volunteers who are supporting emergency communications in areas that may be (or have been) impacted by 2020 hurricanes.”
ARRL 2020 Hurricanes: http://www.arrl.org/2020-Hurricanes

Stay safe, stay informed and be prepared!

“Amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for each amateur radio license application if the FCC adopts rules it proposed this week. Included in the FCC’s fee proposal are applications for new licenses, renewal and upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign requests. Excluded are applications for administrative updates, such as changes of address, and annual regulatory fees…”

Click Here to read more at ARRL.

• Here is the docket for that proposal:  https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-116A1.pdf (The fee schedule for personal wireless licenses is on page 70.)
• Here is where you can make comments about this NPRM:  https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express (Type in “20-270″ in the Proceeding(s) field to ensure you are commenting on the proper docket.)

If you would like to contribute to the BARC Field Day score, you can submit your home station results to the ARRL and specify “Bryan Amateur Radio Club” in the “Club or Group Name” field and the ARRL will add your score to the BARC score.  The online ARRL Field Day Entry is here:  https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php Just click on the blue “Go To Data Entry” button in the lower left corner.

Please participate in a short poll regarding possible future activities for the Bryan Amateur Radio Club. There are eight choices

https://doodle.com/poll/ti5enm6sz2wt8c3n

Note that the Doodle site runs ads and they sometimes ads right in the middle of the poll items so, make sure you scroll down and see all eight choices!

Looking for new things to do while you’re isolated from the COVID-19 virus? See how others are staying in-contact using Amateur Radio. https://www.kbtx.com/video?vid=569267432

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

How can you get your license? http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed

Now would be a great time to study the concepts and prepare for your own amateur radio license. Contact us: officers@bryanarc.org and we’ll put you in touch with one of our helpful mentors to answer questions about amateur radio.