Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1808 - April 6 2012   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1808 with a release date of April 6th,   
   2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. The FCC issues a Notice of Inquiry on ham radios   
   role in emergency communications and the way land use restrictions may be   
   impeding this vital public service while the ARRL asks you to assist it in   
   responding to the FCC on this matter. Also, Canada issues its first 60   
   meter developmental license; a Kansas ham survives a lightning strike and   
   friends pay homage to the ham who loved Morse but is credited with bringing   
   code free licensing to the United States. All this and more on Amateur   
   Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1808 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: FCC ISSUES INQUIRY ON THE FUTURE OF HAM RADIO EMERGENCY   
   COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   The FCC is taking a look at amateur radios role in emergency communications.   
   It also wants to know about obstacles to ham radio operations such as   
   Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions better known as C C and R's that keep   
   radio amateurs from being able to fulfill their public service duties. It's   
   done this in a Public Notice given the identifier of G N Docket 12-91 also   
   known as DA 12-523. Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, is here   
   with the details.   
      
   --   
      
   Just how important is amateur radio during emergencies? What is ham radio's   
   value to the community when disasters strike? The FCC wants to hear from you   
   about these questions, because the Commission has a lot of homework to do   
   for Congress. Most hams know that helping serve the community is one of the   
   primary reasons the amateur radio service was founded.   
      
   Hams have a long history of helping during emergencies. They maintain close   
   relationships with the National Weather Service and other public safety   
   groups. When tornadoes raked Arkansas and Alabama in January, radio amateurs   
   provided important communications support. They were active, as well, when a   
   severe winter storm knocked out power and communications to villages along   
   the Bering Sea in November, 2011.   
      
   The Commission is required to study amateur radio as part of a Public Law   
   known as the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The FCC   
   is to analyze ham radio's uses and capabilities during emergencies, and to   
   submit its findings to House and Senate Committees.   
      
   The law also requires the Commission to analyze ham radio's importance as it   
   relates to protecting lives and property. The Commission is to provide   
   recommendations on how to enhance voluntary deployment of ham radio   
   operators when needed. The law compels FCC to evaluate how best to integrate   
   amateur radio into furthering various federal government initiatives that   
   might require communications support.   
      
   If there are impediments along the way, the law requires that the Commission   
   find ways to remove them. For example, the law questions whether antenna   
   restrictions or unnecessary private land use restrictions wind up causing   
   more problems than they solve.   
      
   In doing its study, FCC is directed to reach out to various entities   
   including amateur radio, as well as various disaster and emergency response   
   organizations.   
      
   The Commission has been given a list of specific questions to ask. If you   
   want to comment, you can answer those questions, but you can also submit   
   other comments, too, as long as they relate to the study.   
      
   The questions seek examples on various scenarios where amateur radio played a   
   key role relating to emergency response and disaster relief.   
      
   Specific benefits ham radio provided are to be named.   
      
   Another question asks for examples of when ham radio is an advantage over   
   other forms of communications during emergencies, and when does it   
   complement those other systems.   
      
   Other questions cover a wide range of subjects, all involving amateur radio's   
   role, how it can best be utilized, communications training, activities,   
   planning and much more. One topic raised is whether existing rules governing   
   the amateur radio service might need modifying to better facilitate   
   emergency communications. The changes could be of an operational nature...or   
   perhaps some technical limitations need to be addressed. The study asks   
   whether rules changes would be a good idea to encourage development of   
   innovative new technologies, whether voice, data or perhaps video.   
      
   In the past, some amateur radio emergency groups have expressed the desire to   
   be able to interconnect directly with public safety and health care   
   communications systems during emergencies. The Commission is to look into   
   whether this should be considered, and if doing so, would enable hams to   
   better serve the public, or whether would pose problems.   
      
   The possibility of national certification standards is mentioned as another   
   subject to investigate.   
      
   If there are any current Commission rules that serve as impediments to what   
   hams try to accomplish during emergencies, the FCC is told to name them and   
   assess whether they should be changed or lifted to make it easier on hams   
   trying to help during disasters.   
      
   If you want to submit comments, you have until May 17th to do so. You can   
   file your comments electronically or by mail. To submit comments   
   electronically, go to apps.fcc.gov/ecfs. Paper filings must include an   
   original and one copy for each filing. Those must be mailed to the   
   Commission's Secretary. The address is: Office of the Secretary, Federal   
   Communications Commission, 445 12th St SW, Washington, DC, 20554.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm David Black, KB4KCH, from Birmingham, AL.   
      
   --   
      
   The FCC says that stakeholder entities and organizations, including the   
   amateur radio, emergency response, and disaster communications communities,   
   are particularly encouraged to submit comments. However the FCC says that   
   those who do provide filings should not view this Public Notice as an   
   opportunity to seek Commission rulings regarding specific situations. This   
   is an overview inquiry only. And be certain to mention Docket 12-91 when   
   you do submit your comments. The complete text of this FCC release can be   
   downloaded in .PDF format at tinyurl.com/fcc-emcomm-study (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: ARRL SAYS IT NEEDS CCR RESTRICTION INFORMATION ASAP   
      
   In a related story, if you live in a CC&R restricted community, have deed   
   restrictions or homeowners association covenants that have prevented you   
   from erecting amateur radio antennas then the ARRL wants to hear from you.   
      
   The League says that it is looking for input in two specific areas. These   
   are recent amateur radio involvement in actual emergency communications and   
   disaster relief and specific details about how CC&R's and other private land   
   use restrictions have impaired licensed amateurs to participate fully in   
   these disaster relief communications.   
      
   If your ability to participate in ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, CERT, or other   
   emergency and disaster relief communications has been limited because the   
   inability to have adequate antennas due to such land use or owners   
   association restrictions, you are asked to provide that information to the   
   ARRL. Also to provide it as a narrative of your exact situation, giving as   
   much detail as practical. Some areas for you to consider in writing your   
   story might be:   
      
   Were there alternative properties without CC&Rs in the area you wished to   
   reside?   
      
   The exact wording of what exactly does your CC&R's prohibit or allow.   
      
   Have you applied for a waiver of the CC&R with the Home Owner's Association   
   Architectural Review Committee but were denied? If so, what was the reason?   
      
   Whether you are an ARRL member or not, your information and situation are   
   important to helping the League make the case for all amateurs. Please   
   provide your documentation to the ARRL as soon as possible but definitely   
   before Wednesday April 25th. It can either be uploaded to the ARRL website   
   at www.arrl.org/ccr-study-information or they can be sent as an e-mail   
   attachment to an email sent to CCRinfo (at) arrl (dot) org. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RULES: CANADA BEGINS ISSUING 60 METER EXPERIMENTAL LICENSES   
      
   Canada has begun issuing experimental licenses for the 60 meter band.   
   Regulator Industry Canada issued the first such developmental license on   
   April 2nd to Russ Hemphill, VE3FI, to use the call sign VX9GHD at 5 MHz.   
      
   Canadian radio amateurs have been waiting three years for an opportunity to   
   join the USA, Britain and other nations in making use of the 60 meter   
   spectrum. When a true Canadian amateur radio allocation on 5 MHz meters   
   might be approved is at this time unknown. (VE3FI)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the K-J=97Zero-A repeater   
   serving Maryland Heights Missouri.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTER SURVIVES NEARBY LIGHTNING STRIKE   
      
   A ham radio severe weather spotter has survived a near-by lightning strike.   
   According to news reports Bill Isles, KD0IIF, of Wichita, Kansas, is   
   recovering after he survived a lightning strike and used his ham radio gear   
   to call for help.   
      
   At 9:30pm Thursday, March 29, KD0IIF, who is a volunteer storm spotter was   
   standing in his backyard. According to Isles, he could hear thunder and see   
   lightning off in the distance, but did not think anything was quite that   
   close to him. Suddenly he felt a shock from a nearby strike and was knocked   
   to the ground. The only thing close was his amateur transceiver.   
      
   In a statement to a local Wichita station, Isles said that his whole body was   
   twitching. Also that his radio had flown a little further ahead of him. He   
   managed to grab it and put out a call for assistance.   
      
   Isles call was answered by Mike Mathia KD0IJO. Mathia and two other amateur   
   radio operators called 911. Sedgwick County EMS soon arrived on the scene.   
   The checked Isles condition and then transported him to a local hospital for   
   further observation.   
      
   According to several reports, the odds of being hit by lightning are one in   
   835,000.   
      
   **   
      
   CRYPTIC NEWS RELEASE: RSGB SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO DEFEND MORSE   
      
   Is there some group somewhere wanting to rid ham radio of Morse Code? This,   
   at a time when its popularity is growing at a rate almost as fast as it did   
   when wireless was first introduced?   
      
   One might get that impression from a rather cryptic two paragraph news   
   release issued by the Radio Society of Great Britain. The statement,   
   published in the latest RSGB news is presented here by news reader Jeremy   
   Boot, G4NJH:   
      
   --   
      
   "Some say that CW has been made obsolete by modern digitmodes, which work   
   well in conditions far too poor for the older mode.   
      
   "Now that Morse is no longer used in commercial radio traffic, the RSGB   
   confirms that it would fight any moves to prohibit CW on amateur bands. The   
   Society recognizes that Morse gives much pleasure to thousands of operators,   
   and will continue to support its use."   
      
   --   
      
   Very interesting and also begs this question back to the Radio Society of   
   Great Britain: If there is some honest to goodness organized threat to the   
   use of Morse by radio amateurs, how about directly identifying those   
   involved? After all, if you are doing news and have that specific   
   information, it is your duty to the worlds ham radio public to tell all of   
   us what's going on and who is behind any such anti-Morse movement.   
   (RSGB/GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   INTRUDER WATCH: FM ON 50.079 NEAR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS   
      
   Intruders have come to the 6 meter band in the mid-West. Jay Morehouse,   
   W9RM, near Rockford, Illinois, reports via the VHF Reflector that he has   
   been monitoring stations running FM on 50.079.   
      
   According to W9RM, he first noticed them on Thursday, March 29th. All were   
   running FM Push to Talk and speaking Spanish. Signal strength was S3 to 5   
   with some QSB monitoring with 7 element yagi at 80 feet.   
      
   Jay notes that there was no sign of any skywave propagation at the time he   
   heard them.   
      
   W9RM asks anyone within a hundred or so miles of Rockford who has the time to   
   keep an ear on 50.079 and if you hear the signal, try to get a bearing on   
   it. He hopes that with enough stations on board that an exact fix on the   
   location can be had fairly quickly.   
      
   You can contact Jay in care of RF Specialists Inc., PO Box 849, Hampshire   
   Illinois, 60140 or by e-mail to w9rm (at) ARRL (dot) net.   
      
   (VHF Reflector)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: TENNESSEE UNLICENSED BROADCASTER HIT WITH $10000 NAL   
      
   The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $22,000 to   
   Arthur Lee Young of Cosby, Tennessee. This for his alleged operation of an   
   unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency 87.9 MHz and refusing to allow   
   an inspection of that radio station. Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasik,   
   K9BIK, has more:   
      
   --   
      
   In a March 27th release, The FCC's said that back on April 14, 2011, agents   
   from the Enforcement Bureau's Atlanta Office used direction-finding   
   techniques to locate the source of radio frequency transmissions on 87.9 MHz   
   to Arthur Lee Young's residence. During that first visit, Young permitted an   
   inspection of the radio station. He also admitted that he owned the radio   
   equipment and voluntarily relinquished it to the agents. Case closed you   
   would think? Well not so fast.   
      
   Only a few weeks ago on February 29th an agent from the Atlanta Office again   
   used direction-finding techniques to locate the source of radio frequency   
   transmissions on the frequency 87.9 MHz. Once again he T-hunted it to   
   Young's residence. This time Young and his wife met with the agent outside   
   of the residence, but Young refused to speak to with him. Young's wife,   
   however, acknowledged that her husband was operating an unlicensed radio   
   station from their home. The agent asked to inspect the station, but Mr.   
   Young refused the request and walked away. That's when the agent informed   
   Young that refusing to allow an inspection is a separate violation of the   
   applicable law.   
      
   Now its' all come home to roost. In issuing the Notice of Apparent Liability   
   the FCC says that Arthur Lee Young apparently willfully and repeatedly   
   violated Section 301 of the Communications Act by operating an unlicensed   
   radio transmitter. Also, that he violated Section 303 N of the Act by   
   refusing the Commissions' agent access to inspect the station. Added the   
   two violations together, and noting that the violation of Section 301 was   
   repeated more than once, the FCC says that Young is apparently liable for   
   forfeiture in the amount of $22,000.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   As is always the case, Young was given the customary 30 days from the date of   
   publication of the finding to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
      
      
   HAMVENTION 2012 NEWS: AFFILIATED EVENT PLANNERS NEED TO NOTIFY HAMVENTION   
   WEBMASTER ASAP   
      
   The Dayton Hamvention website administrator is asking planners of affiliated   
   events to advise him as to when and where these events will be taking place   
   and to do so as soon as possible.   
      
   Hamvention Webmaster Richard Rieben, KE4WLE, says in a post to the Hamvention   
   blog that as of now, listings are sparse. This is mainly because planners   
   of these events have thus far not notified either himself or the Dayton   
   Amateur Radio Association as to who is sponsoring this years ancillary   
   events and where they are being held.   
      
   Reiben says that if your group is hosting or organizing an event and would   
   like that event publicized in the Hamvention program and on the web site to   
   please send the required information in a word document. This must include   
   what it is, where and when its being held. Also you must include whom to   
   contact, a daytime phone number, your e-mail and any website URL if you have   
   one.   
      
   Please send this information by e-mail to program (at) Hamvention (dot) org.   
   KE4WLE adds that the cut-off date for submissions is May 1st, but the soon   
   you can get this material to him the better. Again the e-mail address where   
   to send this information is program (at) Hamvention (dot) org. (KE4WLE,   
   Hamvention remailer))   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: LEO LAPORTE, W6TWT, LIVE FROM NAB   
      
   Leo Laporte, W6TWT, will be bringing his popular netcast network, TWiT, This   
   Week in Tech, to the upcoming National Association of Broadcasters   
   Convention in Las Vegas the third week in April. This according to TWIT Live   
   Events Producer Lynn Fu who says that for the second year in a row that TWIT   
   will be the official streaming partner at giant NAB gathering.   
      
   Leo along with his team of high tech guru's will broadcast live from the TWiT   
   stage inside the South Lower Hall from April 16th to the 19th. According to   
   Fu, the plan is to take a look at the latest broadcasting products, content   
   creation and distribution technologies, professional audio and video   
   equipment and much more. Fu says the TWIT video crew will tour exhibition   
   booths and interview vendors, using a variety of hosts to keep people   
   entertained as they tune in. Unfortunately the workshops will not be   
   streamed.   
      
   TWiT first aired in 2005, originally under the title "The Revenge of The   
   Screen Savers." These days the TWiT Network gets around 5 million downloads   
   a month. TWiT also produces such netcasts as Home Theater Geeks and of   
   course Ham Nation which is hosted by Bob Heil, K9EID, and Gordon West,   
   WB6NOA. You can tune in the live coverage of NAB at live.twit.tv or access   
   the coverage later via the TWIT TV website's on-demand feature. To get more   
   information on TWiT, go to twit.tv. (Source: TWIT-TV; RW)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: HEIL SOUND TO AGAIN HOST HAB HAM RADIO RECEPTION   
      
   And speaking about Bob Heil, K9EID, he and his wife Sarah will again be   
   co-hosting this years National Association of Broadcasters Convention Ham   
   Radio Reception. This 2012 gathering takes place in Ballroom B at the Las   
   Vegas Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, April 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pacific   
   time.   
      
   According to K9EID, this event is open to all Amateur Radio operators   
   attending the NAB convention. He notes that last year over 800 attendees   
   enjoyed the free drinks, food and $16,000.00 worth of prizes that were given   
   away.   
      
   Bob also tells Newsline Leo Laporte, W6TWT will live stream the entire two   
   hours of the reception on his TWIT Internet television network at   
   live.twit.tv. Also in attendance will be Bob's Ham Nation co-hosts Gordon   
   West, WB6NOA and George Thomas, W5JDX. (K9EID)   
   .   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States of   
   America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our   
   only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the   
   volunteer services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: FRED MAIA, W5YI, - S.K.   
      
   The ham radio operator whose work in eliminating mandatory Morse testing and   
   in turn appears to have escalated that mode to new heights of popularity has   
   become a Silent Key. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V,   
   reports on the life and passing of Fred Maia, W5YI:   
      
   --   
      
   We could probably safely say tens of thousands in the amateur radio community   
   had some kind of contact with Fred Maia, W5YI, over the last 35 years.   
      
   Some may have been early readers of his W5YI Report.   
      
   Others may have been regular consumers of his "Ticket Talk" and, later, the   
   monthly column, "Washington Readout," published in CQ magazine.   
      
   Still others may have had an even more intimate relationship with Fred and   
   his work thanks to using his license study guides to get their ham tickets.   
      
   Maybe they even went to a W5YI-sponsored VE testing session and took their   
   license exams under supervision of people who were trained by Fred Maia.   
      
   Still others who had a closer relationship with him and numbered among his   
   friends say he was probably one of the most passionate promoters of the   
   amateur radio service and ham radio licensing of his time.   
      
   His good friend and partner, Gordon West, WB6NOA, recalls the controversy   
   W5YI generated when he led the campaign some years ago to eliminate the   
   Morse Code from amateur radio license requirements. And, West says, this   
   from a guy who loved CW and was really good at it.   
      
   "In the military, he was great at copying CW at 30, 40 and 50 wpm," West   
   recalls Maia telling him.   
      
   "So, it was a bit by surprise that he would author rulemaking legislation   
   that would ultimately lead to a code-free - he called it, Communicator Class   
   license.   
      
   "That's right, he wanted to do away with what he felt was a barrier for new   
   hams - the CW - knowing all too well that once the new ham got on the air   
   they would begin to learn and love CW."   
      
   Rich Moseson, W2VU, editor of CQ magazine, says few may remember that it was   
   Fred Maia who pressed the FCC on the volunteer examination program for ham   
   radio licensing.   
      
   "One of the leading people behind the implementation of the volunteer   
   examining program and when that came to fruitition, he was one of the first   
   people who applied to be a volunteer examiner coordinator and, in fact, was   
   the first person or organization named as a VEC," Moseson recalls.   
      
   Moseson says he had lots of interaction with W5YI about his popular   
   "Washington Readout," column for CQ. Moseson says it was one of the most   
   popular and well read parts of CQ every month.   
      
   Moseson says it's difficult to quantify the impact Maia had on so many who   
   are hams today.   
      
   "His devotion to the amateur radio service was unparalleled and he was   
   responsible for helping untold thousands of people become hams or get their   
   licenses upgraded or get the call signs that they wanted both through his   
   column in CQ and through his W5YI-VEC organization," Moseson says.   
      
   Moseson says Maia actually retired from the W5YI-VEC group back in 2000 and   
   turned the management of it over to Larry Pollock, NB5X, but still had an   
   extensive hand in its operations. Moseson says it will continue as it has   
   for the past 12 years.   
      
   As far as the column in CQ goes, Moseson says he is looking for a successor,   
   perhaps not someone who writes in the same style as W5YI, but someone who   
   can offer readers similar material.   
      
   Fred Maia, W5YI, died on March 28 after a bout with cancer. He was 76.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.   
      
   --   
      
   Fred Maia, W5YI, is survived by his wife, Doris, and two daughters. A   
   memorial service was held on Saturday March 31st in Arlington, Texas.   
   (ARNewsline(tm), CQ, WB6NOA, W2VU)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ARISS MENTOR INTRODUCTION AT DAYTON 2012   
      
   AMSAT and ARRL are teaming up during the 2012 Dayton Hamvention to recruit   
   new Amateur Radio on the International Space Station or ARISS mentors. At 4   
   p.m. Eastern Daylight Time On May 18th and 19th the ARRL stage area will be   
   used by AMSAT to explain the need for additional ARISS mentors. It will   
   also outline the requirements and responsibilities needed to help provide a   
   reliable conversation between astronauts and selected schools or groups.   
   All amateurs attending Hamvention 2012 are invited to attend. (ARISS)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: RADIO NETHERLANDS TO DROP DUTCH SHORTWAVE LANGUAGE BROADCASTS IN   
   MAY   
      
   Radio Netherlands is in the news again with word that the international   
   broadcaster will terminate Dutch language transmissions world-wide on May   
   11th. And to say farewell to Dutch speaking listeners around the world the   
   station plans to hold a 24-hour marathon broadcast from 2000 UTC on May 10th   
   until 2000 UTC on May 11th. Frequencies and a listing of program content   
   should be posted soon to the Radio Netherlands Dutch language website.   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: DX UNIVERSITY APRIL 20 - LAST CALL TO REGISTER   
      
   The annual 'DX University' will take place in Visalia, California, on Friday,   
   April 20th. On the program are several of the world's most renowned DXers   
   who will share their knowledge. You will also hear some vital tips on   
   making DXCC and on achieving Honor Roll status.   
      
   So far over 120 hams have already reserved their place at this session.   
   There are still a few seats left. Go to www.dxuniversity.com to register.   
   (DX University)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, PA7JWC and PD7DB operating stroke PJ2 will be on the air from Curacao   
   through the 9th April. They will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK on 80   
   through 10 meters. QSLs via Logbook of The World is preferred otherwise   
   send paper QSL's to their home callsigns, either direct and via the bureau.   
      
   JA1XGI will be active as A35XG from Tonga through the 9th of April on 30, 17   
   and 12 metes using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL him also via his home   
   callsign, direct or via the bureau.   
      
   ON4AEO and several other operators will be active as 3DA0FC from Swaziland   
   from April 6th to the 10th. They plan to operate SSB, RTTY and PSK on 80   
   through 10 meters. QSL via ON4CJK, direct or via the bureau.   
      
   Lastly, GM6TW will be operating from the Inner Hebrides from April 7th to   
   13th. His main operating location will be the Isle of Jura, but he also-   
   hopes to activate from Islay and Colonsay as well. No frequencies or modes   
   were given. QSL via M0UTD.   
      
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: ELECTRONIC HERITAGE - SCHNECTADY MUSEUM GETS ALL GE VIDEO   
      
   And finally this week a story about the work of a museum doing all it can to   
   preserve some of electronics past. Here's Jeff Clark, K8JAC:   
      
   --   
      
   The Schenectady Museum is using the YouTube dot com website to rebroadcast   
   more than 1,000 of its General Electric films, which date back to 1915.   
   According to the museum curator Chris Hunter, the archive was previously   
   available only on 16 millimeter film and was viewed infrequently because of   
   its physical condition and the cumbersome process to watch the films using   
   an optical projector.   
      
   Hunter said that the museum had long wanted to digitize the collection in   
   order to preserve it but until recently it had been cost prohibitive to do   
   so. Now, thanks to grants from the Institute for Museum and Library   
   Services and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Life   
   Members' Foundation, the museum was able to purchase a high-definition film   
   transfer unit and hire and operator for it.   
      
   Among the film artifacts now existing in the digital domain are   
   advertisements, raw footage of equipment tests, company picnics and   
   promotional clips. Also transferred is the famed early television series   
   titled the General Electric Theater. It was hosted by former President   
   Ronald Reagan.   
      
   The museum hopes to finish uploading all of its film transferred videos to   
   YouTube in the next year. It will then begin digitizing its 1,200 video   
   tape based archives. A direct link to what has already been uploaded and   
   available for viewing is at tinyurl.com/ge-on-youtube   
      
   --   
      
   Again that U-R-L to screen all of those historic General Electric films is   
   tinyurl.com/ge-on-youtube (Schnetady Daily Gazette, ARNewsline(tm))   
      
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