yum update error - error communicating with ULN

Twice today I received the following error while using yum update:

yum update bash

Loaded plugins: refresh-packagekit, rhnplugin, security, ulninfo

There was an error communicating with ULN.

ULN channel support will be disabled.

rhn-plugin: Error communicating with server. The message was:

Connection timed out on readline

Setting up Update Process

No Packages marked for Update

Is this a common/"normal" problem?

If I plan to update/patch OL am I stuck with maintaining local copies of the repos?

Thanks,

GlenG