1. Approval of minutes of January 14, 1999, Executive Committee meeting
2. FCC matters
3. Legislative matters
4. Antenna/RFI matters
5. Other legal matters
6. International matters
7. Organizational matters
8. Recognition of new Life Members
9. Affiliation of clubs
10. Approval of conventions
11. Other business
Pursuant to due notice, the Executive Committee of the American Radio Relay League, Inc., met at 8:30 AM Saturday, May 1, 1999, at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott Hotel, Irving, Texas. Present were the following committee members: President Rodney Stafford, W6ROD, in the Chair; First Vice President Stephen A. Mendelsohn, W2ML; Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ; and Directors Kay Craigie, WT3P, Frank Fallon, N2FF, Fried Heyn, WA6WZO, and Tod Olson, K0TO. Also present were International Affairs Vice President Larry E. Price, W4RA, Directors Tom Frenaye, K1KI, Lew Gordon, K4VX, Jim Haynie, W5JBP, John C. Kanode, N4MM, and Edmond A. Metzger, W9PRN, and General Counsel Christopher D. Imlay, W3KD.
1. On motion of Mr. Heyn, the minutes of the January 14, 1999, Executive Committee meeting were approved in the form in which they had been distributed.
2. FCC matters were considered as follows:
2.2. Mr. Imlay reported that the FCC was extremely unlikely to complete work before July, if then, on WT Docket 98-143, the biennial review proceeding in which a simplification of the Amateur Radio licensing structure has been proposed. Various means of encouraging the FCC to act quickly and to adopt the League's recommendations were discussed. On motion of Mr. Heyn, it was voted that the President and staff are instructed to communicate with each Commissioner, reiterating the League's positions and encouraging the Commission to go forward without delay.
2.3. Issues relating to the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS) were discussed as follows:
2.3.2. The Report and Order in WT Docket 98-20 leaves open the possibility that the FCC may stop issuing licenses on paper, and may rely entirely on a "license grant" having been made at the time the license is entered into its on-line database. In a Petition for Partial Reconsideration filed January 13, 1999, the ARRL gave several reasons why it was essential that the FCC continue to issue a paper license document to its amateur licensees. On motion of Mr. Mendelsohn, it was voted to reaffirm this position.
2.3.3. Through an oversight, when the Report and Order in WT Docket 98-20 was adopted by the FCC, Section 97.15(e) was deleted. Mr. Imlay has raised the matter with FCC staff and has been assured that the oversight will be corrected at the earliest opportunity. He will seek written confirmation.
2.4. FCC action is pending on ET Docket 98-153, a Notice of Inquiry on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Transmission Systems. Comments by the ARRL and others expressed concerns about possible interference to existing systems and urged compatibility testing of the UWB devices.
2.5. The FCC received late comments from power utilities on our petition, RM-9404, seeking a low-frequency amateur allocation. The ARRL has objected to the late-filed comments on procedural grounds but also has responded to the substance of the comments in case the FCC sees fit to accept them despite their procedural flaws.
2.6. FCC action is pending on ET Docket 98-156, which proposes the use of 24.05-24.25 GHz for relatively high-power, point-to-point operation under Part 15 of the FCC Rules. We continue our efforts to oppose an increase in the interference potential of Part 15 devices in the 24-GHz band.
2.7. ARRL comments were filed on RM-9498, a Wireless Information Networks Forum (WINForum) proposal to modify the rules governing Unlicensed Personal Communications Services (U-PCS) in the 2390-2400 MHz band, where the Amateur Service is primary. WINForum's proposals are generally consistent with maintaining our interests in the band.
2.8. The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) has submitted a supplemental filing on its petition for FCC rule making, RM-9267, in which it had sought access to, among other bands, 420-430 and 440-450 MHz for new Private Wireless facilities. Having encountered intense opposition to this proposal, LMCC is now turning its attention to other alternatives.
2.9. Increasing problems with interference to HF amateur operation from devices operating in residential areas under Part 15 of the FCC Rules were discussed. This subject was discussed in the February 1999 QST editorial. Mr. Imlay has been preparing a draft petition for rule making that would seek the addition of the amateur HF bands to the list of frequency bands in which the operation of Part 15 devices is subject to tight restrictions. Committee members were supportive of this initiative but noted Mr. Imlay's concerns that a similar request had been denied by the FCC in 1990. Committee members expressed the view that the petition must be thoroughly documented and must make a new and persuasive argument based on there being a high probability of interference between Part 15 devices and amateur stations because of their being co-located in residential areas. The Committee strongly encouraged staff to continue to gather evidence that there is a growing problem, to serve as the basis for action to alleviate the interference.
2.10. The Commission's Report and Order in ET Docket 98-76, concerning cellular intercept equipment regulations, was discussed. The FCC incorporated some, but not all, of the League's suggestions in its final rules. It was the consensus of the Committee that petitioning for partial reconsideration would not be fruitful.
2.11. The status of other FCC rule making and docket matters was discussed as follows:
2.11.2. RM-8763, an ARRL petition seeking favorable clarification of the Commission's limited preemption policy referred to as PRB-1: Concerns about the proliferation of cellular and PCS towers and new digital television broadcasting towers have created a negative climate toward federal preemption.
2.11.3. RM-9106, an ARRL petition seeking expansion of the 40-meter band in American Samoa: Favorable FCC action, unfortunately, is not expected.
2.11.4. ARRL petition seeking expansion of the special events call sign program: This petition, filed in May 1998, was never placed on public notice by the FCC as required by its own rules and the Administrative Procedure Act. Nonetheless, on April 21 it was dismissed by letter from the Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division. The letter invites the ARRL to revisit the issue at some future time. After discussion, it was agreed that Mr. Imlay is to write to the FCC pointing out its procedural error. However, because the petition was dismissed without prejudice and because of the high priority of other items now pending before the Commission, reconsideration will not be sought at this time.
2.11.5. The FCC has granted a waiver request from Rockwell Collins to extend the upper frequency limit on two VHF aviation transceivers to 152 MHz. The ARRL and others had expressed concerns that the equipment might be used to transmit outside the allocated aeronautical mobile band, but the FCC concluded that there was minimal risk because the equipment is for use in commercial aviation, not general aviation.
2.11.6. There has been no FCC action on its Notice of Inquiry, ET Docket 98-80, with regard to conducted emission limits below 30 MHz for Part 15 and Part 18 equipment. The ARRL argued that there should be no relaxation of the limits.
2.12. The Enforcement Task Force met the previous weekend in Baltimore and had the opportunity to tour the Commission's nearby HF monitoring facility.
3. On behalf of Legislative and Public Affairs Manager Steve Mansfield, N1MZA, Mr. Sumner presented a report on legislative activities. There are 41 cosponsors for HR 783, The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act introduced by Representative Bilirakis of Florida. The Congressional Budget Office reportedly is "scoring" the legislation for potential budgetary impact. A recent story in Roll Call, a newspaper widely read on Capitol Hill, reported the closing of club station W3USS on the retirement of Senate aide George Stephens, WB3DAC, whose diligent efforts did not identify someone to assume responsibility for the station; Mr. Mansfield has written to Roll Call to clarify some aspects of the article.
4. Mr. Imlay reported the status of several legal proceedings concerning amateur antennas.
5. Mr. Imlay reported briefly on the status of legal proceedings to which the ARRL is a party.
6.1. Mr. Price reported on international matters as follows:
6.1.2. Progress is being made toward the goal of exempting amateur satellites from fees related to ITU notification of satellite networks.
6.1.3. Voting by IARU member-societies to ratify the election of a new IARU President and Vice President is concluded, and the new officers (Larry Price, W4RA, and David Wardlaw, VK3ADW, respectively) will assume their posts on May 9.
6.1.4. Also discussed briefly were possible ITU co-sponsorship of Amateur Radio Administration courses in Africa, support within NASA for synthetic aperture radars in the 430-440 MHz band contrary to our interests, international efforts to encourage technological development within Amateur Radio, and staffing of the League's Technical Relations Office in Washington.
6.2. Mr. Stafford observed that with the election of Mr. Price to serve as President of the International Amateur Radio Union, the ARRL is responsible for designating a new IARU Secretary.
6.2.2. Mr. Stafford then proposed that Mr. Sumner be designated IARU Secretary. Following a discussion of the time and travel commitments that would be required, on motion of Mr. Heyn, it was voted that the Executive Committee recommends the designation of Mr. Sumner as IARU Secretary, effective May 9, 1999, and that this recommendation be submitted to the full Board for ratification by mail vote.
6.3. The recent controversy concerning the commercial sponsorship of a satellite designed to operate in an amateur band was reviewed briefly. Mr. Stafford commented that ARRL's response had been appropriate and proportional to the threat, and had resulted in a satisfactory outcome.
7. Organizational matters were considered as follows:
7.1.2. On motion of Mrs. Craigie, it was agreed to recommend to the Board the deletion of the phrase, "and a holder of at least a Technician Class Amateur License," from Bylaw 13. The bylaw would still require that an office holder be a Full member of the League, which requires the holding of an amateur license.
7.1.3. On motion of Mrs. Craigie, it was agreed to recommend to the Board the deletion of the third sentence of Bylaw 17, which reads as follows: "At least sixty days prior to each annual meeting of the Board of Directors each director shall file with the Secretary a written report on the status of the affairs of the League in his division, together with a statement of his recommendations as to any actions required for the effective administration of the objectives and affairs of the League."
The review of Bylaws 21 to 46 is continuing.
7.2. In January, the Board had tasked the Committee with developing a name change proposal for consideration by the Board at its July 1999 Meeting. Mr. Fallon was invited to begin discussion of the item. He stressed that an organization's name should make its purposes and objectives clear to those outside the organization. Following a discussion of various alternatives, on motion of Mr. Olson the following was recommended to the Board: (1) without changing the name of the organization, the abbreviation "ARRL" should be emphasized in conjunction with the tag line, "The National Association for Amateur Radio"; and (2) further discussion of a name change should be deferred until the Board receives Mr. Sumner's report on planning for Amateur Radio in 2010 and beyond.
7.3. On motion of Mr. Olson, it was voted that Michael Petruccelli is authorized as signatory on ARRL checking accounts at Fleet Bank.
7.4. Mr. Sumner reported that a petition had been received from members in Florida seeking the creation of a new West Central Florida Section made up of 10 counties that are presently a part of the Southern Florida Section. The petition is being processed in accordance with established policy.
7.5. Also discussed without formal action were the League's legislative relations program and the fundraising efforts of the ARRL and the ARRL Foundation.
8. On motion of Mr. Olson, 70 newly elected life members were recognized and the Secretary was instructed to list their names in QST.
9. On motion of Mrs. Craigie, the following clubs were declared affiliated or their earlier affiliation by mail vote was ratified:
Category 3
Comet Amateur Radio Club - K5UTD, Richardson, TX
Dunbar International Magnet Amateur Radio Club, Little Rock, AR
Rosen Elementary Amateur Radio Society, Fort Worth, TX
The ARRL now has the following numbers of active affiliated clubs: Category 1, 1837; Category 2, 18; Category 3, 141; Category 4, 16; Total, 2012.
10. On motion of Mr. Heyn, the holding of the following ARRL conventions was approved or their earlier approval by mail vote was ratified:
11. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Executive Committee would be scheduled later. There being no further business, on motion of Mrs. Craigie, the meeting was adjourned at 6:22 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Secretary