HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope everyone had wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays. Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Festive Kwanzaa! And Happy Festivus (my personal favorite)! Winter is in full swing, on the Cape and throughout the area. We’ve been getting more than our usual share of snow here on the Cape, and, it seems, throughout the region. Oh well, I guess it’s payback for a few relatively light Winters. We’re New Englanders – we will survive! And the Patriots have made a remarkable comeback this year. Let’s hope we can defeat the Texans this weekend and keep moving on!
* YOU CAN STILL HELP US CHANGE THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF AMERICAN HAMS
Hey! This is important! The ARRL is focused on reducing legal restraints on the ability of American Amateur Radio Operators to engage in the active practice and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. One of the most insidious and increasing threats to the survival of Amateur Radio and our ability to serve our communities and Nation, as we are required to do by Federal regulation, is the proliferation of private land use restrictions that prohibit the installation of outdoor antennas and that sometimes actually deny Federally licensed Amateurs from operating any amateur radios, regardless of where their antennas are located — in their attics, hidden in trees, or mounted on their vehicles.
Please, PLEASE take 30 seconds and arrange for letters to be printed and delivered to your US Representative and Senators. You really can make a difference, and the effort is practically free! See https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation for details.
* 2026 ARRL Celebration of the USA 250 Semiquincentennial
Would you like to be part of the 2026 ARRL Celebration of the USA 250 Semiquincentennial Special Operating Event? This is part of the Year of the Club and the 100th Anniversary of the ARRL Field Organization, along with a yearlong Worked All States (WAS-250).
For two weeks in 2026, stations located in Massachusetts will operate as W1AW/1. ARRL membership is not required. The weeks are February 11-18 and August 12-21. Full story at https://ema.arrl.org/2025/12/30/2026-arrl-celebration-of-the-usa-250-semiquincentennial/
* 2026 Boston Marathon Still Needs Volunteers
Volunteer registration for the 2026 Boston Marathon is open and ongoing. If you’ve already registered to volunteer, thank you for your interest in joining the team!
For anyone who hasn’t yet, please don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday, February 6. Full story at https://ema.arrl.org/2026/01/05/2026-boston-marathon-amateur-radio-volunteer-registration-remains-open-volunteers-still-needed-deadline-friday-2-6-26/
* 2026 Northeast HamXposition Call for Speakers
HamX is the ARRL New England Division Convention, and the largest amateur radio convention in the Northeast! With close to 1,800 attendees each year, HamX draws radio amateurs from all over and is an ideal venue to present your ideas and experiences. The organizers are recruiting speakers on topics of general interest to the amateur radio community. Full story at https://ema.arrl.org/2026/01/01/2026-hamx-call-for-speakers/
* New 60-Meter Frequencies Available as of February 13
The new 60-meter frequencies approved by the FCC in December will become available to amateurs as of February 13, 2026, along with new power restrictions on those frequencies. It’s a bit confusing, as different rules apply to different segments of the band. The changes result from the FCC’s action to approve a worldwide 60-meter amateur allocation made by the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2015 (WRC-15). Full story at https://www.arrl.org/news/new-60-meter-frequencies-available-as-of-february-13
* Our Section Has a New Section Youth Coordinator (SYC)!
I’m thrilled to introduce Matt KC1UBH, our section’s new Section Youth Coordinator. Matt holds an Amateur Extra class license. He is a student at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and founded the school’s amateur radio club. He is very active in his club and with Amateur Radio in general. Matt is very much looking forward to working with his age-peer group to get them active with the hobby. If you hear Matt on the air, please welcome him!
* N1ILZ for a Final
I hope you’re all enjoying Winter. It’s been colder and snowier than average here on the Cape. But all that cold and snow is a Good Thing for folks who like to ski, snowboard, ice skate, etc. More power to ya!
Can you write a paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the Section Update? Did you activate a POTA or a Special Event Station? Have great fun at Winter Field Day? Some other events? Shoot me an email at n1ilz@arrl.org!
* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at http://ema.arrl.org
This Section News Update was brought to you by Section Manager Jon N1ILZ.