The term of FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican from Tennessee, came to an end on January 3 as the 111th Congress convened for the first time. Originally selected by President Bush to fill the unexpired term of then-Chairman Michael Powell, Tate joined the Commission in 2005. In June 2007, Bush announced his intention to nominate Tate to a full five year term, but when the Senate failed to confirm her nomination by the close of the 110th Congress, Tate's tenure as a Commissioner came to a close.

The non-profit Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) is now accepting applications for 48 scholarships for the academic year 2009-2010 to assist radio amateurs pursuing higher education. FAR fully funds two of scholarships and administers 46 others without cost on behalf of various club and individual donors. Amateur Radio licensees pursuing a full-time course of study beyond high school and accepted by or enrolled in an accredited university, college or technical school are eligible to apply. Scholarship grants range from $500 to $5000, and preference in some cases goes to applicants living in particular geographical areas or pursuing certain studies. Non-US residents are eligible to apply for some of the scholarships. FAR encourages clubs -- especially those in California, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin -- to announce these scholarship opportunities at meetings, in newsletters, during training classes, on nets and on their Web sites. More information and an application form may be requested by letter via e-mail or by sending a QSL card postmarked prior to March 30, 2009, to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738. The application deadline is May 1, 2009. Headquartered in Washington, DC, FAR consists of more than 75 area Amateur Radio Clubs. FAR is devoted to promoting the interests of Amateur Radio and those scientific, literary and educational pursuits that advance the purposes of the Amateur Radio Service.

Robert Farley, of Lakeland Florida, has been charged with first degree murder in the death of his father Walter Farley, K4QE, also of Lakeland. The Ledger, a newspaper in Farley's hometown, reported that authorities allege Robert killed his father New Year's Eve during an argument over family matters. Walter Farley was 93. Authorities said that on Saturday, January 3, Robert Farley confessed to the killing and led detectives to a lake where he had discarded the murder weapon; the weapon was recovered by dive team members later that afternoon. Walter Farley served in the US Army during World War II as a telephone and radio repairman. He fixed tape recorders for the blind and was involved with the local historical society. A member of the Lakeland Amateur Radio Club, Walter was active on local Nets.

This feature -- including convenient Web links to useful information -- is a concise monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of December.

2008 was a year of very low solar activity. More than 40 percent of this year's propagation bulletins reported zero sunspots for their respective weeks. The average daily sunspot number for the year was 4.7; in 2007, it was 12.8. The yearly averages of daily sunspot numbers for 1999-2008 were 136.3, 173, 170.3, 176.6, 109.2, 68.6, 48.9, 26.1, 12.8 and 4.7. Sunspot numbers for December 25-31 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.3, 69.2, 69.4, 69.8, 69.8, 68.5 and 69.3 with a mean of 69.3. The estimated planetary A indices were 3, 1, 1, 2, 0, 1 and 10 with a mean of 2.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 and 8 with a mean of 2.3.

This week's Surfin' visits a Web site devoted to the Hellschreiber facsimile Amateur Radio mode.

A return to the vintage ham radio theme of December 2007 -- this time with an embedded sub-theme.

To baseball fans, a triple play is that rare event — one that occurs just a few times a year — when the defensive team manages to get three outs on a single play. Pulling off a triple play usually requires a combination of perfect execution and good luck. In the telecommunications world, “triple play” is a marketing term denoting a company's ability to offer television, high-speed Internet access, and telephone service in a single package — that is, to offer customers three solutions in one.

The next opportunity to encourage a youngster (or a group of 'em), licensed or not, to get on the air to chat with others is Sunday, January 4. Kids Day, sponsored by the Boring (OR) Amateur Radio Club, is the perfect way to introduce a young person to the magic of Amateur Radio.

While watching the lighted ball slowly drop down the pole high above Times Square, counting the last of 2008 away "Ten, nine, eight...!" do you ever ponder the nature of time? Why does that last second matter more than others? Why is a second as long as it is? Here's a quiz you'll want to complete instantly, so start without delay!

A soldier's story of trench combat and spark gap espionage during WWI.

Snow has fallen all week here in Seattle, and the Sun is still void of spots. We last saw sunspots on December 10, 11 and 12. The solar flux -- a measure of 2.8 GHz radio energy from our Sun -- has been running between 68-69 for weeks, except for December 10-12, when it was 70-71, coincident with the appearance of sunspots. Now, NOAA and the US Air Force are predicting solar flux for today, December 26, at 70; for December 27-January 5, the prediction is 71. Perhaps this indicates sunspot activity rotating into view.

This week’s Surfin’ opens the new year by returning to the old year.

David Kidd, KA7OZO, District Emergency Coordinator for Oregon's District One, reports that several counties in his district continue to be impacted by a series of severe winter storms.

With snow and ice impacting all parts of the Pacific Northwest, local ARES® groups are on the job assisting served agencies, including local Emergency Operations Centers. According to District Emergency Coordinator for Oregon's District One David Kidd, KA7OZO, amateurs in Clatsop County, Oregon providing direct emergency communications support for the 911 system.

With winter upon us, and inclement weather coming almost daily in one form or another, the wind and its treatment of mountaintop equipment is a major concern. According to ARRL Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator Don Carlson, KQ6FM, the mountains of Northern Nevada take their share of beatings, but he said that in this case, "winter has certainly come in like a lion. On December 19, a major winter storm hit the area, bringing with it hurricane-force winds to high elevations." Gusts of more than 140 miles per hour battered the mountain, damaging sensitive electronic weather gear, including the NEXRAD radar system used by the National Weather Service office in Reno.

The January/February issue of QEX is out, and it is full of theoretical and practical technical articles that you don't want to miss.

Registration remains open through Sunday, January 4, 2009, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, January 16, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2; Antenna Modeling, and Radio Frequency Propagation.

ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, is looking for amateurs who are involved with Girl Scouting to help support Amateur Radio activities within that organization. Mileshosky is chairman of ARRL's ad hoc Committee on Scouting. "The committee has just completed a myriad of things dealing with the Boy Scouts of America, and now we need to shift our attention toward the Girl Scouts of America," Mileshosky said. "I am seeking hams, preferably ARRL members, who are involved in the Girl Scout program as an adult leader -- or at the council or national level -- to assist with this next element of the committee. The ARRL Board of Directors is very supportive of this committee as it dealt with involvement and leadership within the Boy Scouts of America, but we do not know anyone involved in the Girl Scout program. I would also like to have a couple of young people involved with the committee in an adjunct manner." Those interested can contact Mileshosky via e-mail with information on their current involvement within the Girl Scout program; Mileshosky is also available to answer any questions concerning the League's involvement with Scouting. The ARRL's ad hoc Committee on Scouting was formed "to study the interface between ARRL and scouting organizations, make recommendations for improvement and survey ARRL and scouting literature for effectiveness and adequacy."

ARRL Headquarters will close at 3 PM on December 24 and will be closed Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1 in observance of Christmas and New Year's Day. There will be no W1AW bulletins or code practice transmissions those days. There will be no ARRL Letter or ARRL Audio News on Friday, December 26 or January 2. Headquarters will be open during regular business hours on Friday, December 26 and Friday, January 2. We wish everyone a safe and joyful holiday season and a prosperous 2009.