#34

To the American Radio Relay League
Board of Directors

December 31, 2003

Submitted by
James C. O'Connell, W9WU
Chairman, DX Advisory Committee
Central Division Representative

Introduction

Some of the major DX news items during the second half of 2003:

1. LOTW continues to receive favorable comments throughout the DX community.
2. An operation from Europa Island (FR/J) was conducted by a French team during December.
3. Operations from rare entities Pratas Island, BQ9B, Johnson Island, KH3 and

St. Peter & Paul Rocks, ZW0 were conducted and approved for DXCC credit.

New Entity/Removal Issues

The DXAC again informally discussed the issue of (4W) Timor-Leste in light of the petition filed by JA1BK. The Committee agreed that HQ staff had appropriately considered the issues raised by the petition. ARRL HQ has denied the request to delete Timor-Leste (UNTAET) and add the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the DXCC list.

Other Issues

The Committee expressed condolences to the family of Great Lakes Division Representative Billy "Pick" Pickard, WA5PAE, who died in November after a long illness.

The DXAC will continue to solicit feedback from the DX community on important current DX issues and pass those opinions on to the MSC and ARRL staff. We are ready to discuss and make recommendations on any matter or issue referred to DXAC by the MSC or Board of Directors.

Respectfully submitted,

James C. O'Connell, W9WU
Chairman, DX Advisory Committee
Central Division Representative