Summary Agenda
1. Call to order and consideration of the agenda
2. Consideration of the ARRL's response to the FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WT Docket No. 98-143
3. Adjournment
1. Pursuant to due notice, the Board of Directors of the American
Radio Relay League, Inc., met in special session at the St. Louis
Airport Marriott Hotel, Edmundson, Missouri, on Saturday, October
24, 1998. The meeting was called to order at 8:40 A.M. CDT with
President Rodney J. Stafford, W6ROD, in the Chair and the following
Directors present:
Kay C. Craigie, WT3P, Atlantic Division
Edmond A. Metzger, W9PRN, Central Division
Tod Olson, K0TO, Dakota Division
Rick Roderick, K5UR, Delta Division
Dave Coons, WT8W, Great Lakes Division
Frank Fallon, N2FF, Hudson Division
Lew Gordon, K4VX, Midwest Division
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, New England Division
Mary Lou Brown, NM7N, Northwestern Division
Brad Wyatt, K6WR, Pacific Division
John C. Kanode, N4MM, Roanoke Division
Marshall Quiat, AG0X, Rocky Mountain Division
Frank M. Butler, W4RH, Southeastern Division
Fried Heyn, WA6WZO, Southwestern Division
Jim Haynie, W5JBP, West Gulf Division
Also present without vote were Stephen A. Mendelsohn, W2ML, First
Vice President; Joel M. Harrison, W5ZN, Vice President; Hugh A.
Turnbull, W3ABC, Vice President; Larry Price, W4RA, International
Affairs Vice President; and David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice
President and Secretary. Chief Financial Officer Barry J. Shelley,
N1VXY, was present in his capacity as an officer of the Corporation.
Also in attendance at the invitation of the Board as observers
were the following Vice Directors: Howard S. Huntington, K9KM,
Central Division; John B. Bellows, K0QB, Dakota Division; Mike
Raisbeck, K1TWF, New England Division; Greg Milnes, W7AGQ, Northwestern
Division; Jim Maxwell, W6CF, Pacific Division; Walt Stinson, W0CP,
Rocky Mountain Division; and Evelyn Gauzens, W4WYR, Southeastern
Division. Also present were General Counsel Christopher D. Imlay,
W3KD; Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI; and Volunteer
Examiner Department Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ.
The assembly observed a moment of silence in recollection of radio
amateurs who have passed away since the previous Board meeting,
especially Lee Aurick, W1SE, Bill Davies, W0YCR, George Freeland,
W8GSN, Ben Friedland, K2BF, Martha McCoy, and Jud Whatley, W4NZJ.
2. The Board conducted a lengthy informal discussion of issues
related to amateur license restructuring, discussing in turn the
goals for restructuring, the number of tiers that should be included
in a licensing structure, transition provisions, subband adjustments,
the names of license classes, Morse code examinations, written
examinations, private sector enforcement, Advanced Class volunteer
examiner administration of General Class examinations, and RACES
licensing. During the informal discussion, the Board was in recess
for luncheon from 12:00 noon to 1:15 P.M.
Following the informal discussion, on motion of Mr. Kanode, seconded
by Mr. Quiat, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Whereas, culminating a two and one-half year process, at its July
1998 meeting the ARRL Board of Directors adopted a proposal for
the simplification of the FCC amateur licensing structure prior
to the release of FCC proposals on the subject, and
whereas, the amateur licensing structure is now the subject of
an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making in WT Docket 98-143, with
a comment deadline of December 1, and
whereas, Board members have heard and considered the views of
thousands of ARRL members on the issues raised in the ARRL and
FCC proposals, be it
resolved, that the Board reaffirms its July 1998 proposal for
the simplification of the FCC amateur licensing structure with
the following modifications:
1. The proposed letter designations for the license classes are
replaced with the names Extra, Advanced, General, and Technician.
2. Privileges of the Technician licensee are proposed to include
CW emission using the international Morse code in the following
"General Class CW" HF band segments, with a transmitter
power not exceeding 200 W PEP: 3.525-3.700, 7.025-7.125, 10.100-10.150,
14.025-14.150, 18.068-18.110, 21.025-21.150, 24.890-24.930, and
28.000-28.300 MHz.
3. It is proposed that the FCC rules establish that a passing
grade for any Morse code examination shall be either 70% correct
answers to 10 fill-in-the-blank questions, or one minute of solid
copy out of five minutes sent. Multiple choice tests shall no
longer be used for Morse code examinations.
4. The Board affirms its proposals contained in RM-9196 for improvements
in the procedures for the granting of telegraphy examination credit
on the basis of a physician's certification of a disability.
5. The Board affirms its strong desire that the written examinations
be modified as necessary to demonstrate better the depth of the
applicant's current radio technical knowledge and operating skill.
6. The Board supports retention of the definition of the topics
to be included in amateur written examinations now contained in
Section 97.503(c) of the FCC Rules, with the table modified to
read as follows:
| Element: | ||||
| Topics | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| (1) FCC Rules for the amateur radio services | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| (2) Amateur station operating procedures | 5 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
| (3) Radio wave propagation characteristics of amateur service frequency bands | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| (4) Amateur radio practices | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| (5) Electrical principles as applied to amateur station equipment | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| (6) Amateur station equipment circuit components | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| (7) Practical circuits employed in amateur station equipment | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| (8) Signals and emissions transmitted by amateur stations | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| (9) Amateur station antennas and feed lines | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| (10) Radiofrequency environmental safety practices at an amateur station | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 35 | 35 | 40 | 50 |
7. The Board affirms its desire that Advanced Class volunteer
examiners be permitted to administer General Class examinations.
8. The Board renews its request in RM-9115 for several rules changes involving RACES stations.
3. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:51 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Secretary