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 Previous: The K7RA Solar Update |  Next: The 2007 ARRL National Convention Is Here! |
Representatives of 11 of the nation's 14 Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) met July 27 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the 22nd annual National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) conference. NCVEC Chairman Tom Fuszard, KB9PU, presided over the gathering. This yearly gathering offers an opportunity for VECs to discuss issues facing the volunteer examination program and to meet face-to-face with FCC staff members. The ARRL's delegation to the conference included ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM; Assistant Manager Perry Green, WY1O, and Regulatory Information Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. The FCC's Senior System Analyst Bill Cross, W3TN, and Riley Hollingsworth, Special Counsel in the Enforcement Bureau, were also on hand and addressed the conference.
Jim Wiley, KL7CC, chairman of the NCVEC Question Pool Committee, led a discussion on what the QPC's plans are for the upcoming year. The QPC is working on the new Amateur Extra class pool and syllabus that is scheduled to be released December 2007; it will become effective July 1, 2008. Wiley mentioned that the QPC does not expect any new pool releases in 2009.
Fred Maia, W5YI, spoke about a problem he found with information between the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and the Commission Registration System (CORES) computer systems not being exchanged. Amateurs, he said, are complying with Part 97 rules by keeping the ULS license database up to date, but this information does not find its way into the CORES database. Part 1 of the Rules, Section 1.8002(b)(2), which Maia said most amateurs are unfamiliar with, states that applicants must keep their CORES records current. Amateurs can supply CORES with up-to-date information via the CORES Web page or by filling out and submitting FCC Form 161.
Maia proposed that the FCC update CORES automatically when the ULS is updated. ULS is maintained by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and CORES is handled by the Office of Managing Director (OMD). The FCC said these systems are two separate systems and that they are discussing a solution.
The FCC Speaks
The FCC's Bill Cross moderated the FCC portion of the meeting and took the opportunity to introduce the FCC personnel attending the conference. He reviewed recent Commission rule decisions that have affected VECs, including WTB 04-140 and 05-235 and remarked that the FCC is watching the data streams and upgrades. Cross noted that the ARRL Web site showed ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, buried in piles of work.
Hollingsworth spoke next and opened his comments with a bit of lightheartedness. He said that when he spoke at the Dayton Hamvention® earlier this year, he told people to "lighten up on the bands." Since Dayton, he's only had three complaints. "I didn't mean for everyone to take that so seriously!" he said.
He continued by saying that he is "very happy" there is a "slowdown" in Amateur Radio enforcement needs. The Commission's enforcement has gotten stronger over the years, and it will not be neglected, he said. He went on to point out that the Enforcement Bureau now has its own Web page that lists all Amateur Radio enforcement activities.
When it comes to VE sessions, Hollingsworth said, he's only had "two new complaints in two years" about exam sessions, "and those were fairly small involving only two or three applicants." He did, however, warn the VECs "to remain vigilant about detecting fraud now that the licensing structure is simpler."
Spanish Language License Exams
There was a discussion at this year's conference concerning whether or not the NCVEC should have a standard Spanish language exam. Currently, multiple Spanish pool translations are being used in Puerto Rico. The ARRL VEC who brought up the idea of "only one standard pool version that could be used by the Spanish community," and asked that the NCVEC "seek to establish and maintain one standard Spanish language question pool that conforms to be an exact translation of the current English language question pool for the purposes of being made available to the Spanish speaking public prior to its use for public study."
Due to the fact that there are differing Spanish pool translations currently in use, and none of them an "official" translation of the question pools, the ARRL VEC wanted one standard pool to be created. Somma pointed out that before the VEC program came into being, the FCC administered Spanish language license exams. "We believe in Puerto Rico, where Spanish is an official language, there should be only one standard translation," Somma said.
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, concurred in an e-mail: "FCC Amateur Radio exams have been available in Spanish since before the creation of the VEC program, back when the FCC administered all the exams. Remember that the FCC regulates Amateur Radio (and other radio services as well) in Puerto Rico where Spanish is an official language and only a minority of the citizens are fluent in English.
"The only current issue, and the purpose of ARRL's NCVEC motion, is whether there should be a single, standard version of the Spanish question pool (there currently isn't), or whether the longstanding practice of allowing any translation done by any VE team or VECs should be continued. We believe there should be one standard and only one translation."
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, via e-mail, agreed: "This effort [for a standardized Spanish translation] is nothing other than a mechanism to insure the high degree of exam integrity that ARRL VEC has been the standard-bearer of for years. Any other position would be contrary to the best interests of the VEC program."
After much discussion, the majority of VECs present did not think they would be able to utilize the Spanish version, and felt with the current resources available, people can be tested in Spanish if need be. Furthermore, the opposition said, the NCVEC has neither the staff nor the resources to undertake and monitor these additional pools.
A vote followed the discussion on the ARRL VEC proposal and the motion did not carry. The NCVEC did not endorse one standard Spanish question pool translation and chose not to develop a unified statement about foreign language exams.
NCVEC Leadership
The NCVEC re-elected the current representatives to new terms. Tom Fuszard, KB9PU (MRAC VEC), was selected for a fifth term as chairman; Larry Pollock, NB5X (W5YI VEC), will continue as Vice Chairman. Michele Cimbala, WK3X (LARC VEC), will continue as secretary; Ray Adams, W4CPA (WCARS VEC), will remain as treasurer, and Fred Maia, W5YI (W5YI VEC), will remain as rules reporter. The four current Question Pool Committee members -- Perry Green, WY1O (ARRL VEC), Roland Anders, K3RA (LARC VEC), Larry Pollock, NB5X (W5YI VEC) and Chairman Jim Wiley, KL7CC (Anchorage VEC), were reappointed as well.
The NCVEC set July 25, 2008 as a tentative date for the 2008 conference.
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