The Quad-County Amateur Radio Club

From:
David Isgur, N1RSN
Communications Manager
ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio®

“Put Howard to Work” by Working ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, on Maxim Memorial Station W1AW

Hello all,

The “Put Howard to Work” event, which was to be presented on Monday, May 13, by the ICQ Amateur Radio Podcast and feature ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, has been cancelled. Here is the official statement:

Earlier this week an announcement was made that ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, was going to be on air at Maxim Memorial Station W1AW on Monday afternoon, May 13, with the intent of giving ARRL members a chance to chat with the CEO and get to know him better as a ham. However, an issue was raised about this being a potential violation of FCC rules, in particular, Section 97.113 which states that “A station is also not allowed to transmit communication in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer.”  

Given that the ARRL is Michel’s employer, and that there was an effort to publicize an event at which members of the organization could chat with the CEO, such an event could be perceived as a benefit to the organization.

So out of an abundance of caution and to avoid any potential violation of FCC rules, or even an appearance of a violation, Michel has decided to suspend plans for the “Put Howard to Work” event that was scheduled for Monday, May 13.

Michel stated “I’ve operated W1AW before and will continue to do so in the future.   I hope to meet many of you on the air, but only as part of my regular ham radio activities and not as part of an ARRL-promoted event.”

K4FMH

Amateur/Ham Radio Podcast, on which Michel was a guest on March 31. “We are disappointed, of course, at this turn of events but fully understand and endorse ARRL’s decision,” said ICQ Podcast Presenter Frank Howell K4FMH.

David Isgur, N1RSN

Communications Manager

ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio

The American Radio Relay League (www.arrl.org), represents the interests of Amateur (or “ham”) Radio operators across the country. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio®, has a proud history of achievement as the standard-bearer in amateur affairs. Now in its second century, ARRL remains focused on “advancing the art, science, and enjoyment of Amateur Radio.”