Telephone Conference -- December 5, 2002

Pursuant to due notice, the Executive Committee of the American Radio Relay League, Inc., met by telephone conference at 2:03 PM Thursday, December 5, 2002. 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 Rick Roderick, K5UR. Also present was General Counsel Christopher D. Imlay, W3KD.

The following agenda was agreed:

1.   Minute 52, July 2002 Board Meeting; Committee study

2.   Minute 56, July 2002 Board Meeting; Evaluation of 902 MHz -- 24 GHz allocation and utilization policy

3.   AMSAT request for ARRL support for modification of FCC §97.207(g), pre-space notification of amateur satellite launches

4.   ET Docket 02-135, Spectrum Policy Task Force Report (comments due January 9, 2003)

5.   Review of status of other pending FCC items

6.   Any other business

1.   Mr. Haynie led a review of the suggestions offered to date on possible changes in standing committee structure and responsibilities. After discussion it was agreed to share these suggestions with the rest of the Board for comment.

2.   Mr. Imlay gave a status report on the comprehensive study ordered by the Board of allocation and utilization policy for the amateur bands between 902 MHz and 24 GHz. Mr. Imlay, the Technical Relations Office, and Mr. Harrison are collaborating on the study. However, the study has been delayed by other pressing obligations as well as by developments in the regulatory environment. It was agreed to target completion of the study for the July meeting of the Board.

3.   A request has been received from AMSAT for ARRL support of a modification of the FCC rules to eliminate a 27-month pre-launch information filing requirement in the amateur-satellite service. The requirement is routinely waived because launch commitments for amateur satellites are not available that far in advance. On motion of Mr. Fallon, the General Counsel was authorized to file supporting comments.

4.   The FCC has solicited comments on the Report of its Spectrum Policy Task Force in ET Docket 02-135 with a deadline of January 9, 2003. Mr. Imlay was asked to provide a White Paper on the SPTF Report at an early date, with draft comments to be prepared for committee review at least one week in advance of the comment deadline.

5.   Mr. Imlay briefly reviewed the status of other pending FCC items of interest to the ARRL. It was agreed that no further ARRL comments were required in ET Docket 02-146, a proceeding that among other things realigns the 76-GHz amateur allocation effective in 2006 to conform to WRC-2000 decisions.

6.   Any other business

6.1.   The committee discussed briefly the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and its implications for the Amateur Radio Service.

6.2.   A recent email vote approving 12 Pilot Schools and one Progress Grant in the ARRL Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program was affirmed.

6.3.   Mr. Sumner reported briefly on the recent Conference Preparatory Meeting for WRC-03 and the status of 7-MHz realignment efforts.

6.4.   The committee discussed briefly a recent FCC Media Bureau Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the implementation of digital broadcasting. A review of the proceeding reveals no implications for the Amateur Radio Service.

6.5.   On motion of Mr. Frenaye, the minutes of the March 2, 2002 Executive Committee meeting were approved in the form in which they were distributed.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:34 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

David Sumner, K1ZZ
Secretary