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Irving, Texas -- May 5, 2001
1. Approval of minutes of November 11, 2000, Executive Committee meeting
2. Report on management reorganization and Development Department
3. Virginia Section matters
4. FCC matters
5. General legal matters
6. Antenna matters
7. Legislative matters
8. International matters
9. Organizational matters not previously considered
10. Recognition of new Life Members
11. Affiliation of clubs
12. Approval of conventions
13. Date and place of next EC meeting
Pursuant to due notice, the Executive Committee of the American Radio Relay League, Inc., met at 8:30 AM Saturday, May 5, 2001, at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott Hotel, Irving, Texas. Present were the following committee members: President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, in the Chair; First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ; and Directors Frank Butler, W4RH, Frank Fallon, N2FF, Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Fried Heyn, WA6WZO. Also present were International Affairs Vice President Rodney J. Stafford, W6ROD, and General Counsel Christopher D. Imlay, W3KD.
1. On motion of Mr. Butler, the minutes of the November 11, 2000, Executive Committee meeting were approved in the form in which they had been distributed.
2. Mr. Sumner reported that the search for a Chief Development Officer is underway as authorized by the Board at Minute 57 of its January meeting. The executive recruiting firm AST/BRYANT has been retained to assist in the search. The management reorganization authorized at the same time has been implemented, with the key positions of Marketing and Sales Manager and Book Team Supervisor still to be filled.
3. Mr. Harrison reported on the status of affairs in the ARRL Virginia Section. Mr. Harrison met with Section Manager Lynn Gahagan, AF4CD, on February 1 to review concerns that had been brought to the attention of the Executive Committee. Mr. Sumner subsequently was instructed by the Executive Committee to write to Mr. Gahagan to set out five points that had to be addressed and resolved with regard to the administration of the ARRL emergency communications program in the Section. This letter was sent on February 20 and a response to a request for clarifications was sent on March 7. Mr. Gahagan replied on March 23, and his reply was shared with the members of the Executive Committee. After discussion, it was agreed that the Committee would meet by telephone conference on Monday, May 14, to determine the final disposition of the matter.
4. Mr. Imlay reviewed FCC matters as follows:
4.1. ET Docket 98-153, Ultra Wideband (UWB) Transmission Systems. Recent developments in this proceeding include a FCC Public Notice released March 26 that invited comments on several tests of UWB interference potential. ARRL comments were filed on April 25 and reply comments are planned by the deadline of May 10. Unfortunately, the UWB Lab at the University of Southern California has not completed a test of compatibility with 1.2-GHz amateur equipment supplied by the ARRL. The ARRL is participating in an informal coalition of spectrum users in an effort to make sure that the FCC gives appropriate weight to interference concerns in defining and developing rules for UWB.
4.2. ET Docket 00-47, Software Defined Radios. The ARRL participated in the Notice of Inquiry portion of this proceeding, last year. On December 8, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). The NPRM was reviewed and no need for additional ARRL comments was identified. Comments filed by others are being reviewed and a determination as to whether reply comments are required will be made prior to the deadline of May 18. 4.3. Noise Environment Assessments. The FCC Technological Advisory Council has not initiated its proposed study of aggregate RF spectrum noise levels. The ARRL Ad Hoc Spectrum Strategy Committee is preparing a plan for the ARRL to engage in such a study in accordance with Minute 43, 2001 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board.
4.4. New Petition for Rule Making, 2300-2305 MHz Amateur Primary Allocation. In 1996 the ARRL petitioned the FCC to upgrade the status of the Amateur Service in the band 2300-2305 MHz from secondary to primary. Because of other proposals concerning this band that have been submitted to the FCC it is timely to renew this request. Mr. Imlay had prepared such a petition. On motion of Mr. Butler, the General Counsel was authorized to file the petition as drafted.
Among the other proposals for the use of the 2300-2305 MHz band are a petition by Microtrax for a new Personal Location System (RM-9797) and a petition by AeroAstro for a short data message service called SENS (no FCC File Number yet assigned). When the FCC issued a NPRM in ET Docket 00-221 to reallocate certain government bands to non-government services, it did not include 2300-2305 MHz. However, it did include 216-220 MHz. New non-government services in the 219-220 MHz band would impact the limited amateur allocation there. Accordingly, the ARRL filed comments seeking to preserve the utility of the band, possibly by expanding the amateur secondary allocation to 216-220 MHz to permit greater flexibility.
4.5. The FCC's Advisory Committee for the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference has proposed preliminary views on a number of WRC-03 issues including the realignment of allocations at 7 MHz and has invited public comment by May 9. Because the preliminary views on the items of interest to us already have been influenced by ARRL participation, there appears to be no need to file further comments.
4.6. There is no known opposition to the ARRL petition, RM-9949, seeking an upgrade in amateur status at 2400-2402 MHz from secondary to primary. Favorable FCC action is still anticipated.
4.7. Experimental license applications for 2402-2450 MHz on behalf of the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, California, have been disposed of, with the application of the County denied and a license grant to the City rescinded effective later this year. Southwestern Division Vice Director Art Goddard, W6XD, was recognized for contributing significantly to the favorable outcome.
4.8. A FCC NPRM is still expected soon in response to the ARRL petition, RM-9404, filed October 22, 1998, seeking amateur access to low-frequency (LF) spectrum.
4.9. At the 2000 Second Meeting of the Board, Minute 62, a motion was adopted directing the filing "at the appropriate time" of a petition to permit spread spectrum emissions in the bands 219-220 and 222-225 MHz. The Committee had received a communication from Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, urging action with regard to the 222-225 MHz band. However, after discussion it was agreed that the petition is more likely to be considered favorably by the FCC if it is filed not as an isolated proposal, but in combination with others.
4.10. It appears to be unlikely that the FCC will propose a comprehensive "biennial review" of Part 97 this year. Informally, the ARRL has been urged by FCC staff to submit a single petition at one time containing any rules changes we may wish to seek from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
4.11. An ARRL Application for Review of the FCC staff's denial of our petition, RM-8763, seeking clarification of the FCC PRB-1 limited preemption policy with respect to amateur antennas, is pending before the full Commission. The Committee discussed various approaches to the problem of how to extend the effect of PRB-1 to properties subject to restrictive covenants. It was agreed that a request will be made to the Chairman's office for an en banc presentation to the full Commission on the issue, preferably in the autumn after the new Commissioners have been seated. During the discussion the committee was in recess for luncheon from 11:55 AM to 1:17 PM.
4.12. A preliminary draft Petition for Rule Making seeking a domestic secondary allocation for the Amateur Service in the vicinity of 5 MHz was reviewed. On motion of Mr. Heyn, it was agreed that the petition should seek a bandwidth of 150 kHz. A completed draft will be circulated to the Executive Committee for review prior to filing.
4.13. PR Docket 92-257, Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications. The ARRL filed comments in response to a NPRM in this proceeding. The NPRM proposes to change the service rules for the Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) operating in the 216-220 MHz band. The ARRL's comments urged changes in the rules so that AMTS licensees could no longer refuse to accommodate nearby amateur operations at 219-220 MHz without presenting a technical justification.
4.14. RM-10051, Petition of SAVI Technology, Inc., to Amend Part 15 to Permit Longer-Duration Periodic Radiators at 433.9 MHz. The petition was filed November 22, 2000 and placed on public notice January 30, 2001. The ARRL filed opposing comments, citing our legitimate concerns about interference.
4.15. Application of Terion, Inc. (formerly Flashcomm) for expansion of its HF commercial messaging system, which is now authorized on a temporary, secondary, fixed-term basis on frequencies outside the amateur bands. The proposed expansion was placed on public notice by the FCC on November 17, 2000. The proposal would not directly affect the amateur bands, but it raised other concerns that led to the filing of ARRL comments.
4.16. WT Docket 98-143, amateur license restructuring reconsideration and Novice band refarming. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order released April 6, the FCC disposed of numerous petitions for reconsideration and related petitions on amateur license privileges and qualifications. Particularly regrettable is the fact that the Commission decided not to keep track in its database of Technician licensees who in the future qualify for HF privileges by passing a Morse code examination. Mr. Stafford reported that the committee created at Minute 66 of the 2001 Annual Meeting of the Board has been named the Novice Spectrum Repurposing Committee and has begun its work by telephone conference and e-mail. Member input will be solicited via the ARRL Web site. A question had arisen in the committee as to whether consideration of the 7-MHz band should be postponed in view of the possibility that changes in the band allocation will be made at WRC-03. Mr. Sumner observed that changes, if any, that are agreed to at the conference are likely to involve a long transition period.
4.17. WT Docket 00-230, Efficient Uses of Spectrum Through Elimination of Barriers to the Development of Secondary Markets. The NPRM in this proceeding, released November 27, 2000, did not require ARRL comment and no comments that would affect amateur allocations were filed by others. The proceeding will continue to be monitored for possible impact.
4.18. FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth continues to be in regular contact with the ARRL regarding ongoing enforcement efforts. The incursion of unlicensed stations into the amateur bands, and particularly the 28-MHz band, is of primary concern.
5. Mr. Imlay reported that the ARRL is not a party to any legal actions at this time.
6. Antenna matters: Mr. Imlay reported on an action in Florida brought by Barry Gorodetzer, N4IFE, against his homeowners' association. The case went to trial on April 19 and a decision is expected shortly. The ARRL is not participating financially in the case at this time.
7. Legislative matters: Mr. Sumner reported that there are now 19 co-sponsors of HR.817 and 6 co-sponsors of S.549, the House and Senate versions, respectively, of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act.
8. International matters: Mr. Stafford reported on the ARRL's preparations for the IARU Region 2 Conference in Guatemala in early October. On motion of Mr. Butler, the Committee authorized the submission of two papers on WRC-03 agenda items 1.7 and 1.23 based on existing ARRL policy.
9. Organizational matters: There has been little recent progress in the ongoing review of the ARRL Articles of Association and Bylaws. Mr. Sumner was asked to distribute a document incorporating the comments and suggestions made by committee members to date, to serve as the basis for further review.
It was agreed that a review of Standing Orders of the Board would not be undertaken until next year, to permit attention to be given to more urgent matters. Mr. Heyn renewed a request for compliance with an existing Standing Order with regard to the reporting of IARU expenses.
10. On motion of Mr. Heyn, 122 newly elected life members were recognized and the Secretary was instructed to list their names in QST.
11. On motion of Mr. Fallon, the following clubs were declared affiliated or their earlier affiliation by mail vote was ratified:
Category 1
145.49 Repeater Club, Willard, MO
Bradenton Amateur Radio Club, Bradenton, FL
ENC Repeater, Inc., Kinston, NC
Kennebec Amateur Radio Society, Kents Hill, ME
Lake County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services, Inc., Libertyville, IL
Lake Erie Amateur Radio Association, Solon, OH
Mesa DX and Contest Club, Fresno, CA
Milton Amateur Radio Club, Danville, PA
Mount Ava Repeater Association, Inc., Marion, IL
Pottstown Area Amateur Radio Club, Spring City, PA
Smith Chart Amateur Radio Society, Raleigh, NC
South Jersey Mountain Toppers Amateur Radio Club, Pickens, SC
Palm Beach County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Inc., Boca Raton, FL
Rockaway Emergency Coastal Weather Alert, Yonkers, NY
Welaurel Reading Works Amateur Radio Club, Reading, PA
Category 2
Beaver Bunch, Bemidji, MN
Mid South 2m SSB Group, Collierville, TN
Technology Journalists' Amateur Radio Club, San Bruno, CA
Two-Meter Area Spectrum Management Association, Orange, CA
Category 3
Arcadia High School Amateur Radio Club, Phoenix, AZ
BARC, Jr., Boulder, CO
Brinnon Amateur Radio School Club, Brinnon, WA
The ARRL now has the following numbers of active affiliated clubs: Category 1, 1958; Category 2, 31; Category 3, 147; Category 4, 16; Total, 2152.
12. On motion of Mr. Frenaye, the holding of the following ARRL conventions was approved or their earlier approval by mail vote was ratified:
2001
Oklahoma Section, Feb. 16-17, Tulsa
Vermont State, Feb. 24, Milton
Maine State, Mar. 30-31, Lewiston
Delta Division, Apr. 20-21, Little Rock, AR
Southeastern VHF Conference, Apr. 20-21, Nashville, TN
International DX, Apr. 20-22, Visalia, CA
Washington State, Apr. 21-22, Yakima
Delaware State, Apr. 29, New Castle
Eastern New York Section, Apr. 29, Poughkeepsie
Louisiana State, May 4-5, Baton Rouge
South Carolina State, May 5, Greenville
Alabama State, May 5-6, Birmingham
Wyoming State, May 26-27, Casper
Georgia Section, June 2, Marietta
West Gulf Division, June 8-10, Arlington, TX
Midwest/Dakota Division, June 15-16, South Sioux City, NE
10-10 International. July 12-14, Worcester, MA
Rocky Mountain Division, July 13-15, Bryce Canyon, UT
Montana State, July 20-22, East Glacier
Pacific Northwest DX, July 20-22, Everett, WA
Central States VHF Conference, July 26-29, Fort Worth, TX
Oklahoma State, July 27-28, Oklahoma City
South Texas Section, Aug. 3-4, Austin
Eastern Washington Section, Aug. 4-5, Spokane
Colorado Section, Aug. 19, Golden
Kansas State, Aug. 19, Salina
Missouri State, Aug. 25, Columbia
West Virginia State, Aug. 25, Weston
Eastern VHF/UHF Conference, Sept. 1-2, Enfield, CT
Kentucky State, Sept. 8, Louisville
Western Pennsylvania Section, Sept. 9, Butler
W9DXCC, Sept. 14-15, Rolling Meadows, IL
Illinois State, Sept. 14-16, Peoria
Arkansas State, Sept. 15, Little Rock
Virginia State, Sept. 22-23, Virginia Beach
Connecticut State, Oct. 7, Wallingford
Hawaii State, Oct. 13, Honolulu
Southeastern Division, Dec. 1-2, Palmetto (Tampa), FL
2002
Maryland State, April 6-7, Timonium
Western New York Section, August 4, Williamsville
Southwestern Division, Aug. 16-18, Escondido, CA
13. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Executive Committee would be held at the call of the President.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:18 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Secretary
