American Radio Relay League

American Radio Relay League
AbbreviationARRL
FormationApril 6, 1914; 110 years ago (1914-04-06)[1]
TypeNon-profit organization
PurposeAdvocacy, Education
HeadquartersNewington, Connecticut
​FN31pr
Region served
USA
Membership
120,000[1]
President
Rick Roderick, K5UR[2]
Main organ
Board of Directors[3]
AffiliationsInternational Amateur Radio Union
Budget
US$14,000,000[4]
Staff120[5]
Websitewww.arrl.org

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the United States. ARRL is a non-profit organization and was co-founded on April 6, 1914, by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence D. Tuska of Hartford, Connecticut. The ARRL represents the interests of amateur radio operators before federal regulatory bodies, provides technical advice and assistance to amateur radio enthusiasts, supports a number of educational programs and sponsors emergency communications service throughout the country. The ARRL has approximately 161,000 members. In addition to members in the US, the organization claims over 7,000 members in other countries. The ARRL publishes many books and a monthly membership journal called QST.

The ARRL is the primary representative organization of amateur radio operators to the US government. It performs this function by lobbying the US Congress and the Federal Communications Commission. The ARRL is also the international secretariat of the International Amateur Radio Union, which performs a similar role internationally, advocating for amateur radio interests before the International Telecommunication Union and the World Administrative Radio Conferences.

The organization is governed by a member-elected, volunteer Board of Directors. Each director serves a three-year term and represents the members within their particular region of the country. The national headquarters facilities are located in Newington, Connecticut. Along with the administrative headquarters, the 7-acre (2.8 ha) site is home to amateur radio station W1AW. The ARRL Field Organization carries out local and regional activities across the United States.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference about was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference officers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference directors was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ARRL 2008 Report was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ American Radio Relay League (2010). About the ARRL. Feb. 23, 2010.