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February 2024
In this issue...
Upcoming Community Deadlines and Notices
- Next Grant Application Deadline: The next deadline for submitting a grant application is April 1. Applications received after this date will be reviewed after July 1, 2024, so get your applications in now.
2023 Annual Report is Live
 The 2023 ARDC Annual Report is now available. Check it out to learn more about our highlights from 2023 and what we’re looking to accomplish in 2024. As always, contact us at any time if you have any questions or comments. …more
Grantee Update: Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC) Preserves Radio Show
 ARDC grantee Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC) is an online, open-access resource that preserves amateur radio-related media and communications, effectively documenting its history. One of their recent inclusions into the archive is the Ham Radio & More show: broadcasted from 1991 - 1997, you will be able to find more than 300 episodes that are digitized, playable, and downloadable. You can learn more about Ham Radio & More by checking out the related blog post from DLARC.
TAC Update
The 2024 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), led by Technical Director Jon Kemper (KA6NVY), and run by community volunteers, has begun its work for the year! The TAC has formed three subcommittees, each focusing on different pieces of the 44Net community resource.
Roadmap Subcommittee
- Members:
- Rich Gopstein (KD2CQ)
- Dave Gingrich (K9DC)
- Jeff Hochberg (W4JEW)
- This group continues the work that started in 2023 developing the roadmap, policies, and procedures applicable to the 44Net ecosystem.
Outreach Subcommittee
- Members:
- Chip Eckardt (W9OQI)
- Saquib Ahmed (VU3HZW)
- Alvaro Prieto (KC2VVE)
- This is a new group for 2024 that actively engages with members of the amateur radio community to bring in the voice-of-the-user into the evolution of 44Net.
Technical Subcommittee
- Members:
- Zach Seguin (VA3ZTS)
- Ian Redden (VA3IAN)
- Dan Theisen (KK7OZY)
- Dennis Mojado (AD6DM)
- This is a hands-on developer group that is continuing with 2023 PoP and Portal development projects. There is also a new 44Net website project.
What ARDC Has Been Up To
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Conference
 On February 1, ARDC Board Member Phil Karn (KA9Q) spoke at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Spectrum Policy Symposium in Washington, DC. Check out the video of the Growth of the Spectrum Workforce, Increased Understanding of Spectrum, and Raised Awareness of Spectrum’s Importance to the Country panel discussion to see Phil talk about the significance of amateur radio’s role in education and workforce development while providing direct examples from what he has learned both as a hobbyist and throughout his career.
HamCation 2024
 John Hays (K7VE), Phil (KA9Q), and Rebecca (KO4KVG) attended HamCation from February 9 - 11 in Orlando FL. Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) member Katie Allen (WY7YL) also stopped by the booth to say hello. We connected with many of our grantees, such as M17, FreeDV, York County Amateur Radio Society (YCARS), Radio Scouting, and HamSCI, among others. In hearing from them, we learned how ARDC has helped them achieve their goals. We also encountered many folks that were excited about the upcoming 44Net VPN: you can learn more about this technology in a video interview conducted by YouTuber Kyle – AA0Z. As always, it was great connecting with folks in our community and those who are interested in our technology (while also enjoying the warm weather)!
ARISS 40th Anniversary Conference
 The ARISS 40th Anniversary Conference was held from February 22 - 24 at the Kennedy Space Center. As ARDC was one of the conference’s sponsors, Executive Director Rosy Schechter (KJ7RYV) provided some brief opening remarks to kick it off. “The event was incredibly heartwarming and inspiring,” says Rosy, “not only because we got to walk through rockets at Kennedy Space Center, but because the impact of what ARISS has been doing for decades – getting kids to talk to astronauts – is about as cool as it gets. They’ve already inspired a generation or two to pursue careers in STEAM, and it’s my hope that they inspire countless more.” Learn more about the grant ARDC gave to ARISS here.
ARDC February 2024 Community Meeting
On February 24, more than 75 folks attended our first Community Meeting of the year. During the meeting, we introduced new members of our Staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Committees. We also provided a Year in Review of both our Grants Program and 44Net, all of which are covered in the Annual Report. Finally, we introduced a few 44Net-related items that will roll out in 2024. A video of the meeting can be found here in case you missed it!
Come See Us at NTC, HamSCI, and Hamvention!
ARDC will be out and about from March through May: you will be able to find our team at the following event(s):
Contact Us!
We always want to hear from you:
Twitter / X: @ARDC_73
Facebook: Amateur Radio Digital Communications
LinkedIn: Amateur Radio Digital Communications
ARDC's Mission
The mission of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology.
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