Meeting Notice
HOTARC will hold its monthly Meeting of Members at 7:00 PM on Thursday April 24, 2024 in
person at Slow Rise Pizza – Woodway 7608 Woodway Dr. and via the Video Conferencing.
Please check your email or the Members Only section of the website for login information.
The HOTLINE
Official Newsletter for the
Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club
Waco, Texas
APRIL 2025
VOLUME L, NUMBER 4
Greetings HOTARC members!
While Drew is unavailable, here's a summary of recent FCC discussions regarding amateur
radio, based on available information leading up to late April 2025:
The FCC held an Open Commission Meeting on April 28, 2025, where several topics were
under consideration. While the official agenda doesn't specifically highlight amateur radio, it's
worth noting the general areas of discussion, as they could indirectly impact amateur radio
operators:
Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband: The Commission considered a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to promote efficient spectrum sharing between different
types of satellite systems. This could be relevant as amateur radio shares certain frequencies
with satellite services.
Utilizing the Lower 37 GHz Band: This involved establishing a licensing framework for the
37–37.6 GHz band. While primarily for commercial use, spectrum management decisions
can sometimes have implications for adjacent amateur bands.
Caller ID Authentication on Non-IP Networks to Block Robocalls: This rulemaking aims to
develop a framework for evaluating non-IP caller ID authentication solutions. This is less
directly related to amateur radio but falls under the FCC's broader communications
regulatory role.
Clarifying Foreign Ownership Rules: The Commission considered a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking to clarify the review process for foreign investment in common carrier wireless,
aeronautical radio, and broadcast licensees. This is unlikely to directly affect amateur radio
licensing but pertains to the FCC's oversight of the radio spectrum.
Separately, the FCC issued a Public Notice in March 2025 seeking comment on identifying
rules and regulations that could be eliminated to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens
across all services, including amateur radio. Comments were due by April 11, 2025, and
reply comments are due by April 28, 2025. This "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative, as it's been
informally called, invites the public to suggest outdated or unnecessary rules for removal or
modification. The ARRL (American Radio Relay League) has stated its intention to file
comments in response to this initiative, encouraging amateur radio operators to participate.
Additionally, there was a scheduled Amateur Radio (Ham) FCC License exam on April 26,
2025, in Iron Mountain, Michigan, indicating the ongoing process of licensing and upgrading
amateur radio operators.
It's important to note that without the specific minutes or outcomes from the April 28th Open
Commission Meeting, the direct impact on amateur radio from those discussions remains to
be seen. However, the ongoing "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative presents a significant
opportunity for the amateur radio community to voice their opinions on potential deregulation.
Also, you may have heard that AT&T is discontinuing its email to text functionality. That has
RACES and other emcomm looking for other avenues.
Hope to see you at Slow Rise!
HOTARC Meeting of Members
March 27, 2025
President Drew Dickenson KE5UBO called the
meeting to order at 7:02PM 17 members and 6
guests were in person and in the ZOOM Meeting
Room. Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW gave the
invocation. President Drew Dickenson KE5UBO
led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW moved to accept the
minutes of the last meeting as published in the
HOTLINE, Aaron Gustafson KI5PCQ seconded.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report: The Treasurers Report for
February 2025 as published in the HOTLINE was
filed.
Repeater: Both are up and running on new pcs.
Winlink is working. Tabled discussion until next
meeting to reimburse Steve Bosshard NU5D for
his radio.
APRS Radios had an issue and will be returned.
Looking for new options.
New Business:
Jeb Leutwyler KG5WHS moved that we invest
$3000 in club funds into CD. Aaron Gustafson
KI5PCQ seconded. Motion carried.
Meeting Adjourned 7:15PM
After the meeting: Jim Jud KA5QKL and Baylor’s
Jacob Limerick discussed Bearathon.
Submitted by
Mike Davis NA5X
HOTARC Secretary
The Treasurer’s Report
March 31, 2025
Starting Balance February 28, 2025 14,265.69$
Income
PayPal Dues 120.00$
Cash Dues 30.
00$
Total received 150.00$
Total Income 150.00$
Expenses
PayPal Expense 4.36$
Total Expenses 4.36$
Ending Balance 14,411.33$
CD 8,000.00$
Ending Balance 6,411.33$
There is one outstanding check -54.38
Mike Ross New Ham Radio Fund 180.94$
Flower Fund Total
287.47$
Submitted by
Bill Feltenberger
KD5UEW
Heart o' Texas Amateur Radio Club
Treasurers Report:
3/31/2025
March 31, 2025
March 31, 2025
McLennan County
A.R.E.S.
by Paul Collins KG5DHS
McLennan County Emergency Coordinator
Hi HOTARC!
Spring is finally here and with it come stormy weather! We have missed most of the inclement
weather so far this Spring, but we must always be alert!
May 4
th
through May 10
th
is NOAA Hurricane Preparedness
Week. Although Hurricane Season doesn’t start until June 1
st
it’s never too early to prepare! Here’s a link to the NOAA
Hurricane Preparedness Week page. Lots of good information.
https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
As of today, NOAA hasn’t released the official forecast for 2025
but I found this from Colorado State University.
The CSU team is predicting 17 named storms during the
Atlantic hurricane season,
which runs from June 1 to
Nov. 30. Of those,
researchers forecast nine
to become hurricanes and
four to reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson Category
3, 4 or 5) with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater..
As always, the ARES team is ready to deploy if needed. Thanks
to everyone who is part of the team!
If you are interested in becoming a member of McLennan
County ARES, go to the HOTARC Web site under the
frequently asked questions and download the application.
E-mail or mail the completed application according to the
instructions listed at the bottom of the application. Your
application will be processed and you will receive an ARES ID
Card As always, the ARES team is ready to deploy if needed.
Thanks to everyone who is part of the team!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the meeting.
73, Paul
KG5DHS
The HOTLINE is the monthly newsletter of the Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club (HOTARC), Inc., a nonprofit corporation, chartered by the State of
Texas and principally located in Waco. It is permissible to use any of the original material contained herein provided proper credit is given to the source.
Edited and Published by Mike Davis NA5X, mike@na5x.com
HOTARC 2025 Board of Directors
President: Drew Dickenson, KE5UBO
President@hotarc.org
Vice Pres: Dave McClure, N3DMC
VicePres@hotarc.org
Secretary: Mike Davis, NA5X
Secretary@hotarc.org
Treasurer: Bill Feltenberger, KD5UEW
Treasurer@hotarc.org
Past-Pres.: Aaron Gustafson, KI5PCQ
PastPres@hotarc.org
Director (2025): Jason Fedlam, KQ5UX
Director1@hotarc.org
Director (2026): Jeb Leutwyler, KG5WHS
Director2@hotarc.org
Director (2027): Jim Jud, KA5QKL
Director3@hotarc.org
Club Repeaters
145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, D-Star)
442.875 MHz (input at +5.0 MHz, tone 123 Hz)
VE Testing
Contact HOTARC at hamradio@hotarc.org if you would like information on our next testing session.
