GB2RS News Sunday the 14th of January 2024 The news headlines: RSGB releases new video about changes to amateur radio licensing WRTC 2026 team to appear in an RSGB Tonight@8 webinar Paul Athersmith, M0PLA achieves Mountain Goat award   Following Ofcom’s consultation on the amateur radio licence last year, it released a statement in December 2023. The statement outlined its decision to update the amateur radio licensing framework to ensure the policies and licences meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s radio amateurs while streamlining the licensing process. It also published a General Notice, giving notice of its proposal to vary all amateur radio licences. The RSGB has just released a video in which RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB chats to RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB. Murray recaps some of the headline results of the Ofcom consultation, including where changes have occurred to Ofcom’s proposals. They also talk about what this could mean for radio amateurs in the future. This is a great example of how the RSGB is working not only to defend the spectrum but also to support all radio amateurs to understand and make use of the privileges they enjoy through their amateur radio licence. You can watch this video on the RSGB’s YouTube channel or via the Society’s licence review updates page at rsgb.org/licencereview On Monday the 15th of January, join the RSGB’s first Tonight@8 live webinar of 2024. Led by Chairman and Project Manager Mark Haynes, M0DXR, the WRTC 2026 team will be presenting and answering questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel and BATC channel. The presentation will explain what WRTC is about and provide an overview of what the UK’s Organising Committee is planning for the 2026 event. Find out how you can be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event, either as a spectator, volunteer, competitor or referee. Following Mark’s presentation at the RSGB 2023 Convention, this Tonight@8 webinar will bring you up to date with everything that has been happening since. To find out more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars Paul Athersmith, M0PLA of Telford, Shropshire, has achieved the coveted Mountain Goat award for gaining 1,000 activator points in the Summits on the Air scheme. Paul completed his mission on the summit of Pole Bank, on the Long Mynd in Shropshire. The feat took Paul just over seven years, following his debut activation in December 2016. For more information about SOTA, visit sota.org.uk  The deadline for nominations in the RSGB elections is Wednesday the 31st of January. You still have time to stand for the one Elected Board Director vacancy or for one of the eight Regional Representative vacancies. Do you want to support your local radio amateurs? Are you passionate about seeing the amateur radio community grow and attract new people of all ages? Do you understand the RSGB’s importance in helping to protect the spectrum and the licence privileges all radio amateurs enjoy? If so, this is the time to step forward! If you don’t feel you can volunteer at this time, do you know someone who would be great in one of these roles? Go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election to find out how to get involved before the nomination period closes. RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB is a name many will know from visits to the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. Others will know him from contacts they may have made with him on the radio over the many years that Martyn has been an amateur radio licensee. You can learn more about Martyn, and his love for the hobby, in "The Face Behind the Call" in January's Practical Wireless magazine. Journalist Roger Dowling, G3NKH discovers how Martyn came into the hobby and takes a look at his extensive shack. They also talk about volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre and the impressive equipment that makes up the GB3RS station. Read more at rsgb.org/nrc The deadline for submissions to the