AMRAD part of the "Fifth Pillar"

[fgentges at mindspring.com]

I have always seen amateur radio as a way to pursue and explore 
technologies.  I became an engineer largely because of amateur radio. 
The radio amateurs have been a valuable pool of technical talent.

AMRAD seems to have a role in the "Fifth Pillar" and we ought to pursue 
our role here.

At AMRAD we need to help the FCC see hams as a national technological 
asset and as a resource to be nurtured through their policies.

Perhaps in future actions they would avoid actions against amateur radio 
such as BPL and maybe even see the value in opening the LF region for 
regular radio amateurs.  I, for one, would like to see the situation 
develop where we could get the 136 kHz international allocation.

Frank K0BRA

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ARRL Introduces "Fifth Pillar" at Dayton Hamvention®

On Saturday, May 17 at the Dayton Hamvention, ARRL President Joel 
Harrison, W5ZN, plans to announce that the League will expand its 
identity program to include greater emphasis on technology. Harrison 
explained that "Ham radio operators, and particularly ARRL members, 
closely identify with current and emerging radio technology. Today, we 
are naming 'technology' as ARRL's new fifth pillar." ARRL's other four 
pillars, the underpinnings of the organization, are Public Service, 
Advocacy, Education and Membership. "For hams, expanding the four 
pillars to include technology will reinforce one of the organization's 
guiding principles -- that ham radio is state-of-the-art, innovative and 
relevant," he said.

"Radio amateurs have entered a new era. More than a dozen Amateur Radio 
satellites are presently in orbit with more to come. Software is 
expanding the capabilities of their radio hardware and communication by 
digital voice and data is expanding rapidly among hams," Harrison said.

In addition to the new fifth pillar, the ARRL has launched a year-long 
ham radio recruitment campaign emphasizing the Amateur Radio Service as 
a scientific national resource. The campaign invites newcomers to 
discover ham radio in the 21st Century -- where hams are using science, 
technology and experimentation to explore the radio spectrum. "For more 
than 90 years, the ARRL has been at the forefront of technology, 
encouraging experimentation and education through its license training 
resources, publications and periodicals. ARRL provides its members with 
top-notch technical information services, trusted product reviews and 
radio spectrum advocacy," Harrison said. "The ARRL Laboratory is a 
centerpiece of ham radio technology, contributing to radio electronics 
experimentation, spectrum development and advocacy, and radio frequency 
engineering."

Harrison also noted that many hams attribute their affinity to "Amateur" 
Radio as launching their professional careers in radio engineering, 
satellite communications, computer science and wireless communications.

"This is less about defining a new course for Amateur Radio, but simply 
recognizing a course that has always been a precept of radio amateurs 
and the ARRL," he said. Referring to the federal rules and regulations 
for Amateur Radio, Harrison explained that one of the defining 
principles of the Service's very creation by the government is the 
amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio 
art. Harrison remarked, "Today's technology is nothing new to ham radio!"