Irving, Texas -- April 1, 2000
1. Approval of minutes of January 20, 2000, Executive Committee meeting
2. FCC matters
3. General legal matters
4. Antenna matters
5. Legislative matters
6. International matters
7. Organizational matters
8. Recognition of new Life Members
9. Affiliation of clubs
10. Approval of conventions
11. 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, April 1, 2000, 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 Directors Jay Bellows, K0QB, and Edmond A. Metzger, W9PRN, and General Counsel Christopher D. Imlay, W3KD.
1. On motion of Mr. Fallon, the minutes of the January 20, 2000, Executive Committee meeting were approved in the form in which they had been distributed.
2. FCC matters were reviewed as follows:
2.1. Mr. Imlay noted that the ARRL petition for partial reconsideration in the FCC's biennial review proceeding, WT Docket 98-143, was timely filed. Another petition for reconsideration was also filed. Neither petition has been placed on public notice by the Commission. The only procedural avenue available for other interested parties once public notice has been given is to file oppositions; supporting comments are not solicited and the Commission is under no obligation to consider them. Without dissent, it was agreed that no further ARRL filings appear to be necessary in this proceeding at this time.
2.2. Mr. Imlay reviewed the status of applications for experimental licenses in Los Angeles. Separate applications for airborne microwave downlink video in the band 2402-2448 MHz were filed on behalf of the County and the City of Los Angeles. The City's application was granted and the license WB2XEN was issued; the ARRL has filed a petition for reconsideration. On September 23, 1999, the ARRL filed an objection to the County's application. The County filed an opposition to our objection on March 9, 2000. An ARRL reply to the opposition is now due. Mr. Imlay is preparing the reply with assistance from Southwestern Division Vice Director Art Goddard, W6XD.
2.3. The ARRL filed comments on January 31, and reply comments on February 29, in ET Docket No. 98-80. The comments support the FCC's adoption of CISPR standards for conducted emission limits below 30 MHz and support improvements in testing procedures. An ex parte presentation to FCC staff may be desirable to explain our concerns about testing procedures. It was agreed that Mr. Imlay should continue to work with Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, to prepare such a presentation.
2.4. Mr. Imlay noted that the ARRL had filed comments and reply comments in response to RM-9797, the Microtrax petition seeking access to, inter alia, the band 2300-2305 MHz for a personal location system. The ARRL has had a request pending since 1996 to upgrade the amateur allocation in the band from secondary to primary. The 5-MHz bandwidth is insufficient in any event for the Microtrax system; a waiver of out-of-band emission limits would be required if the system were to use this band.
2.5. Mr. Imlay reviewed briefly the status of our efforts to protect the amateur allocations between 2300 and 2450 MHz. Incompatibilities in planned uses of 2305-2320 MHz in Mexico, Canada, and the US are exerting additional pressure on the 2300-2305 MHz band.
2.6. Clearwire Technologies has withdrawn its petition for reconsideration of some aspects of the Commission's decisions in WT Docket No. 97-12, which eased certain restrictions on amateur spread spectrum operation. Mr. Imlay noted the continuing interest of advocates of unlicensed emitters in gaining a measure of interference protection for their devices.
2.7. On December 20, 1999, the ARRL petitioned for reconsideration of the dismissal of our petition, RM-8763, that had sought clarification of the FCC's PRB-1 limited preemption of local and state antenna regulations. The reconsideration petition has a narrower focus than the original petition and was one of the subjects discussed during recent meetings between ARRL officials and FCC Commissioners and staff. The Committee discussed seeking additional state-level legislation similar to PRB-1; such laws are beneficial since local land-use authorities are more likely to be aware of state statutes than of federal regulations.
2.8. A petition by the California Six Meter Club, RM-9806, seeks expansion of the modes of emission allowed in the band segments 50.0-50.1 and 144.0-144.1 MHz. The ARRL has not filed comments but will consider doing so if the petition leads to a Notice of Proposed Rule Making.
2.9. The ARRL has commented in opposition to a petition, RM-9807, by Alan Dixon seeking the elimination of the CB rule prohibiting communication over distances greater than 250 km. The ARRL comments note that long-distance communication is contrary to the fundamental purpose of the CB Radio Service, and that legalizing it would encourage the use of illegal power amplifiers. Individuals who have a serious interest in long-distance propagation have ample opportunity to pursue this interest in the Amateur Radio Service. The FCC is expected to dismiss the petition.
2.10. The FCC has not yet acted on the ARRL petition, RM-9404, that seeks a low frequency (LF) allocation for the Amateur Radio Service. Mr. Imlay said he expected the petition would be dealt with in a few months.
2.11. The ARRL, the W4VEC VEC, and the W5YI VEC have filed applications to be appointed FCC Club and Military Recreation Call Sign Administrators. An FCC public notice announcing these appointments is expected shortly.
2.12. Mr. Imlay reported that the FCC staff is working on an Order with regard to Kenwood's request for a declaratory ruling or waiver to legalize the use of their Sky Command system in the two-meter band.
2.13. The FCC has initiated a Notice of Inquiry on the subject of software defined radios, ET Docket No. 00-47. The comment deadline will be 75 days after publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred. On motion of Mr. Heyn, it was voted that staff is requested to summarize and provide an analysis of the implications of software defined radios for the Amateur Radio Service for circulation to the Board.
2.14. The FCC intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket No. 98-153 concerning Ultra Wideband Systems. The ARRL commented in response to an earlier Notice of Inquiry, voicing concerns about the potential for harmful interference to existing radio services.
2.15. Mr. Imlay distributed a copy of FCC Chairman Kennard's recently released Report Card on Implementation -- Draft Strategic Plan for a New FCC for the 21st Century. The document provides insight into the Chairman's current priorities.
2.16. Two Texas amateurs have filed a petition seeking changes in the HF subband allocations for different modes of emission; no RM number has yet been assigned. After discussion it was agreed that there is no need to plan to file comments, because the FCC indicated in WT Docket No. 98-143 that it is not ready to address subband issues.
2.17. Mr. Imlay reported that the FCC is interested in learning whether the ARRL would be willing, in accordance with the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999, to play the role of a neutral entity to resolve questions of whether viewers are eligible to receive satellite service in the absence of an adequate local broadcast signal. He was asked to gather additional information to be shared with the Board.
2.18. Mr. Frenaye noted that the Land Mobile Communications Council petition seeking reallocation of parts of the 70-cm amateur band has not been withdrawn, although it is understood that LMCC is now looking for relief elsewhere. He related his recent experience with a manufacturer of Part 15 devices and expressed the view that it may be productive to bring our concerns directly to such manufacturers in order to encourage them to select frequencies outside the ham bands. He also requested an inquiry into whether any of the geographical restrictions on the use of the 420-450 MHz band can be lifted in light of possible changes in operations of the primary occupant.
3. Mr. Imlay reported briefly on the status of legal proceedings to which the ARRL is and has been a party. During this review the committee was in recess for luncheon from 11:57 AM to 1:44 PM. During the recess, Messrs. Haynie, Harrison, and Sumner went to Children's Medical Center in Dallas to meet Jacco and Jannie van Tuijl, KH2TD and KH2TE, who had been airlifted with their son Willem to Dallas the previous night for emergency medical attention following a tragic shooting incident off the coast of Honduras.
4. Legal and regulatory matters with regard to amateur antennas were reviewed as follows:
4.1. Mr. Imlay reported the status of several legal proceedings concerning amateur antennas. An excellent reply brief has been filed by attorneys representing Lenard J. Persin, WB4HZQ, in his appeal of an adverse decision in U.S. District Court. The appeal was funded by the ARRL at the direction of the Executive Committee.
4.2. Mr. Bellows provided a progress report on behalf of the ad hoc committee that was created to study how the ARRL provides support for antenna cases. The committee has reached consensus on most issues and expects to submit its final report for consideration in July.
5. Mr. Sumner reported that there are now 143 co-sponsors of HR 783, the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act. A companion bill, S 2183, has been introduced in the Senate with five initial co-sponsors; additional co-sponsors are being sought. Letters from constituents play an important role in encouraging co-sponsorship.
6. International matters were discussed as follows:
6.1. A written report was received from International Affairs Vice President Stafford. Mr. Stafford has been corresponding by e-mail with lapsed International Members to acquaint them with recent improvements in services. He will represent the ARRL at the Board Meeting of the Radio Amateurs of Canada later this month and at the international convention in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in late June. His report noted the issues facing Amateur Radio at the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-2000) in Istanbul.
6.2. Mr. Sumner noted that Mr. Haynie and he will represent the ARRL at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union, to be held in Paris April 18. A meeting of the IARU Administrative Council will be held in conjunction with this event. Mr. Sumner reported briefly on the work of an IARU committee that is reviewing the IARU organizational structure; comments were solicited and have been received from several member-societies, and are now being analyzed. He reminded Committee members that he will be in Istanbul for WRC-2000, returning for the ARRL National Convention in Dayton if conference developments permit. Finally, he noted that Mr. Stafford will head the ARRL delegation to the IARU Region 3 Conference in Darwin, Australia, at the end of August.
6.3. Mr. Harrison reported briefly on his recent trip to the Netherlands for a meeting of the principals involved in putting Amateur Radio on board the International Space Station. With regard to the anticipated launch of the AMSAT Phase 3D satellite in July, he noted that even if the launch takes place and is successful, it will be a couple of months before the satellite is available for general use.
7. Organizational matters were considered as follows:
7.1. Mr. Heyn noted that there is a Standing Order for a quarterly report of IARU-related expenses to be provided to the Board and requested that distribution of the report be resumed.
7.2. The committee discussed relations between the ARRL and other Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. The ARRL/VEC appears to be on track. Mr. Haynie announced that beginning April 15 for a trial period, applicants who pay the $6.65 application fee to ARRL/VEC will be entitled to a coupon in that amount that can be used toward ARRL membership.
7.3. Mr. Haynie reported on recent discussions with officers and members of REACT, the majority of whom appear to be licensed amateurs.
7.4. On motion of Mr. Frenaye, it was voted that the ARRL Fund for the Promotion of Amateur Radio Direction Finding is established. The initial purpose of the fund is to accept and distribute donations and grants in support of US representation at international ARDF events. On further motion of Mr. Fallon, it was voted to provide initial funding in the amount of $2,000 and to request that the ARRL Foundation match this amount.
7.5. Arrangements for the 2000 Second Meeting of the Board, to be held July 21-22 in Hartford, were discussed briefly.
7.6. Mr. Heyn requested that the resumption of the review of ARRL Articles of Association and Bylaws be included on a future Executive Committee agenda. He also observed that the Standing Orders are in need of review and that revisions to the Director's Workbook are required.
8. On motion of Mr. Frenaye, 55 newly elected life members were recognized and the Secretary was instructed to list their names in QST.
9. On motion of Mr. Fallon, the following clubs were declared affiliated or their earlier affiliation by mail vote was ratified:
Category 1
Hamilton Wireless Association, San Rafael, CA
Rains Amateur Radio Association, Point, TX
Westside Amateur Radio Club, Inc., Marrero, LA
Category 2
Harrison Radio Club, Judsonia, AR
Roadrunners Microwave Group, Dripping Springs, TX
Category 3
Blacksburg Middle School Amateur Radio Club, Blacksburg, VA
Georgia Youth Science Technology Center Amateur Radio Club, Atlanta, GA
Highlander Amateur Radio Club of University of California, Riverside, CA
NIU College of Engineering Radio Club, DeKalb, IL
University of Wisconsin Superior Amateur Radio Club, Superior, WI
The ARRL now has the following numbers of active affiliated clubs: Category 1, 1847; Category 2, 19; Category 3, 133; Category 4, 15; Total, 2014.
10. On motion of Mr. Butler, the holding of the following ARRL conventions was approved or their earlier approval by mail vote was ratified:
2000
Arkansas State, April 21-22, Little Rock, AR
Alabama Section, May 6-7, Birmingham, AL
Midwest/Dakota Division, June 2-3, South Sioux City, NE
Eastern Washington Section, August 5-6, Spokane, WA
Colorado Section, August 20, Golden, CO
West Virginia State, August 26, Weston, WV
Arkansas Section, September 16, North Little Rock, AR
West Central Florida Section, December 2-3, Palmetto, FL
Northwestern Division, June 1-3, 2001, Seaside, OR
11. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held at 4:00 PM Thursday, July 20, in Hartford. Unless compelling business arises in the meantime, the agenda will be limited to receiving the report of the ad hoc committee on ARRL support of antenna cases for the purpose of preparing a recommendation to the Board.
During the course of the meeting the Committee noted with regret the recent tornado that caused loss of life and severe damage in Fort Worth and nearby towns, and expressed gratitude to the radio amateurs who assisted with communications.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Secretary