Document # 17

Committee Members:

Art Goddard, W6XD, Chairman
Dennis Bodson, W4PWF
Frank Fallon, N2FF
Bruce Frahm, K0BJ
Tom Frenaye, K1KI
Greg Milnes, W7OZ
Rod Stafford, W6ROD
Wayne Mills, N7NG/1, Staff Liaison

Highlights of Activity -- January 2002 to July 2002:

The MSC accomplished its work during this reporting period via the MSC List Server, e-mail and teleconferences. Working with President Haynie, the MSC confirmed Board liaisons to the DXAC (Vice Director Frahm) and CAC (Director Frenaye). The committee resolved issues associated with the assignment of a CAC Chairman. Next, the Committee worked with staff to resolve a challenge to our planned use of the GOTA acronym, GOTA operator criteria and rules changes for Field Day 2002.

As directed by Board motion at Minute 68 of the 2002 Annual meeting, the committee studied a 40-Meter digital bandplan change, in anticipation of a favorable FCC response to the ARRL spectrum refarming petition. Director Maxwell provided detailed background information indicating that Hawaiian phone operations at 7075-7100 KHz were experiencing interference from mainland digital operations. Hawaiian operators advocate changing the ARRL bandplan for digital operations from the 7080-7100 KHz segment to above 7100 KHz. Hawaiian amateurs remind us that one of the purposes of the offshore 7075-7100 band segment is to facilitate emergency communications with neighboring regions. After due consideration, the MSC unanimously recommends that:

1) The disadvantages of changing the ARRL bandplan outweigh the advantages -- including both operational and timing considerations, and

2) If the segment were required for emergency communications, the FCC could act timely to declare a communications emergency as provided in Part 97.

As directed by the Board at Minute 65 of the 2002 Annual meeting, the MSC reviewed existing VHF/UHF/Microwave contest and awards programs in order to recommend ways to increase interest and participation. Being reviewed are six ARRL VHF & above contests, and two awards categories. The committee concluded that outside expertise is needed to develop effective improvements to the VHF/UHF contesting. A subcommittee of Director Frenaye, VP Harrison, MSD Manager Mills and Ward Silver are working on a survey of the VHF & above community to gather input on awards and contest issues.
Basic research on existing awards and contest activity is completed - additional data is being sought. Draft cover letter is complete, now working on survey questions. We expect to send questionnaire out in July. We are considering an ARRL web-based survey as well.

The remaining carry-over task from 2001 is a study of incoming QSL bureau operations. A sub-committee was formed consisting of Directors Fallon, Milnes, Frenaye and MSD Manager Mills. They met in two teleconferences to discuss the costs (about $20,000 per year) and procedures used by the ARRL Incoming Bureaus. The committee concluded that:

1) We should continue to encourage DX clubs to take on the duties of the bureaus when vacancies occur, and

2) We should encourage all bureaus to employ a "credit system" as already developed and in use by some bureaus, and

3) We should make some edits to the SOG under which all the bureaus operate and that annual reporting and record keeping should be improved.

Towards these ends the SOG was edited and staff and the committee continue to work toward developing required reporting forms, that will be implemented early in 2003.

Respectfully submitted,
Art Goddard W6XD
MSC Chairman