January 2010 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:18442] Doc. #28
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

Report of the Microwave Band Planning Committee <<28 MBP Committee 2010 Jan.doc>> <<arrl_mbp.ppt>>

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[arrl-odv:18441] BPL Ex Parte Filing today; Exhibit B
by Chris Imlay 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

Greetings. Here is exhibit B to the filing we did in the BPL docket today. You will find this study very persuasive with respect to the extrapolation factor for signal decay with distance from the power line carrying BPL signals. Read the Ex Parte filing first though. 73, Chris W3KD Christopher D. Imlay Booth, Freret, Imlay & Tepper. P.C. 14356 Cape May Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6011 (301) 384-5525 telephone (301) 384-6384 facsimile W3KD(a)ARRL.ORG

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[arrl-odv:18440] Written ex parte filng in BPL Docket filed today.
by Chris Imlay 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

Greetings. Thanks to some good work by Ed Hare, edits from Kay Craigie and Tom Frenaye, and really fast review by the entire Executive Committee on virtually no advance notice, we were able to file today the attached ex parte submission in the BPL Docket. This had a short fuse because we are acting prudently here. Current Technologies, our most active antagonist in the BPL proceeding (and one of the few remaining BPL companies that is active) filed a rather aggressive ex parte filing recently. Dave Sumner and I were worried that this might signal some fast action by the FCC on the Further NPRM in the BPL proceeding. This is a real fear because the FCC has due in Congress in February a comprehensive broadband plan, and we couldn't risk letting Current's filing go unrebutted in case FCC had conspired with Current to get something into the record to try to salvage the present BPL rules. Fortunately, Ed has punched huge holes in Current's technical argument, and the rebuttal is pretty darn convincing, viewing the matter as objectively as possible. So, here it is. I sent copies to everyone that Current did. I will send the Exhibit B separately, because the server rejected the package when I sent it earlier with all exhbits. We still have more to do on BPL, but this will do for this week, anyway. 73, Chris W3KD P.S. Ed Hare, when you get this, call me immediately, please. Thanks. Christopher D. Imlay Booth, Freret, Imlay & Tepper. P.C. 14356 Cape May Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6011 (301) 384-5525 telephone (301) 384-6384 facsimile W3KD(a)ARRL.ORG -----Original Message----- From: Chris Imlay <w3kd(a)aol.com> To: Julius.Genachowski(a)fcc.gov; Michael.Copps(a)fcc.gov; Robert.Mcdowell(a)fcc.gov; Mignon.Clyburn(a)fcc.gov; Meredith.Baker(a)fcc.gov; Julius.Knapp(a)fcc.gov; Ira.Keltz(a)fcc.gov; Alan.Stillwell(a)fcc.gov; Bruce.Romano(a)fcc.gov; Geraldine.Matise(a)fcc.gov; Karen.Ansari(a)fcc.gov; Anh.Wride(a)fcc.gov Cc: lazarus(a)fhhlaw.com; dsumner(a)arrl.org; ehare(a)arrl.org Sent: Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:47 pm Subject: Written ex parte filing, ET Docket 04-37 and ET Docket 03-104; Broadband over Power Line Systems Greetings. Attached on behalf of our client, ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, formally known as the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated, please find a PDF copy of a written ex parte presentation submitted through the ECFS today in the above-captioned docket proceedings, with exhibits. Kindly address any questions to undersigned counsel. Regards, Chris Imlay Christopher D. Imlay Booth, Freret, Imlay & Tepper. P.C. 14356 Cape May Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6011 (301) 384-5525 telephone (301) 384-6384 facsimile W3KD(a)ARRL.ORG Christopher D. Imlay Booth, Freret, Imlay & Tepper. P.C. 14356 Cape May Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6011 (301) 384-5525 telephone (301) 384-6384 facsimile W3KD(a)ARRL.ORG

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Reports Outstanding
by Joel Harrison 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

The following reports have not yet been received: 1. Administration & Finance Committee (Doc. 16) Fenstermaker 2. RF Safety Committee (Doc. 20) 3. EMC Committee (Doc 21) Bodson 4. Ad-Hoc Committee on Scouting (Doc 24) Mileshosky 5. Ad-Hoc Part 97 Committee (Doc 27) Harrison (being completed today) 6. Microwave Bandplanning Committee (Doc 28 - being completed today) 7. ARDF Coordinator (Doc 29) 8. Contest Advisory Committee (Doc 30) Please complete and submit these as soon as possible. 73 Joel W5ZN

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Report of the Executive Committee
by Joel Harrison 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

Please find attached the report of the Executive Committee

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RE: [arrl-odv:18432] Treasurers Report
by Jim McCobb 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

Marty thanks for the tip. The outgoing message indicates the attachments were there---who knows. Here they are again. Very recently I've been using a new computer, a new operating system and a new e-mail program and things have not been 100% happy, happy, happy. 73, Jim From: Marty Woll [mailto:n6vi@socal.rr.com] Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 1:09 AM To: Jim McCobb Subject: Re: [arrl-odv:18432] Treasurers Report Hi, JIm. I received no attachment with your message. Marty N6VI ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim McCobb <mailto:jimmccobb@comcast.net> To: arrl-odv <mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 6:02 PM Subject: [arrl-odv:18432] Treasurers Report Attached is the Investment report for the period ended November 30, 2009, which is what I expect to cover at the meeting. Last week I sent a copy to Lisa which I expect she will include in your books for the meeting. I decided not to try completing the report as of December 31 because I do not have in my possession any of the source doc's I use to prepare my report. And at this point, I doubt I will have all of them by the time I leave my QTH Wednesday afternoon. Therefore, I will complete it later this month and thus I'll forward a copy of it to each of you at that time. BTW, the ARRL sum file has two reports in it. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to let me know. 73, Jim K1LU No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.123/2595 - Release Date: 01/10/10 14:35:00

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[arrl-odv:18436] VUAC Semi-Annual Report - Jan 2010
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

Here is the report of the VUAC. Dave K1ZZ

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[arrl-odv:18435] Strategic Plan approved
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

I am pleased to report that I have recorded 15 "aye" votes to approve the Strategic Plan as distributed to ODV on December 28. David Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary

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Options paper, Section 97.113
by James F. Boehner MD 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

I have enjoyed this discussion. There have been a number of opinions noted, and despite a computer crash on my part, I have kept up with the e-mails! I did send a note previously with my opinions, observations and suggested actions. I hope that was received positively, with the best of intentions. After all, I am the new member here. I know everyone has had their personal experience with 97.113, but it has dominated my service to the ARRL since the FCC forum at Dayton to the present. I did not attend the FCC forum, but I was scheduled to moderate a Sunday Dayton forum as SC SM "When Disaster Strikes, South Carolina will be ready" . Bill Cross's comments torpedoed much of the enthusiasm from the emcomm efforts SC had worked so hard for. SCHEART www.scheart.us (Who actually had a booth in the ARRL EXPO area) was hit particularly hard. I tried to explain to a very puzzled audience why the FCC comments were made, to prevent commercialization of amateur radio. I was very respectful of the FCC during the presentations-Which was very wise, as I found out later that Bill Cross was in the audience! I had mentioned previously that SCHEART is a large scale linked repeater system that is intended to support the hospitals of SC "when all else fails". The educational arm trained over 500 new hams, many of which were hospital employees. The training arm, as mentioned previously, has been severely compromised by the current strict interpretation of 97.113. There have been work-arounds, but they have not been entirely satisfactory. The concerns are drills and training. There was NO move for amateur radio to replace normal hospital communication modes by either the hospital employees or the hospitals. I do need to mention that I am not a dyed-in-the-wool Emcomm ham. My interests have been mainly DXing and NTS (in my younger years) with a bit of contesting, experimentation and ragchewing thrown in. When I became SM, I realized the importance of EMCOMM, took the courses, and turned over the administration of the ARES/RACES program to my Section Emergency Coordinator. When Allen Pitts brought out his "What Will You Do?" campaign, I thought it was brilliant. Like it or not, the American public is most concerned with things that affect them directly. Emergency services, particularly to an area that is prone to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes-is a BIG deal! Although I do not think Amateur Radio is all Emcomm or should be, it is how the public perceives us. Whether we are trying to protect our spectrum or obtain a tower permit, it is our volunteer emergency service that gives us the edge. I see Emcomm as allowing our avocation to pursue other interests basic to amateur radio. I am fully against the commercialization of amateur radio. That is not in question. The ARRL position paper was very timely, and handled a number of situations where hams and agencies were "stepping over the line", and assisted the ARRL field service in addressing those issues. I was faced with the question multiple times as to why the board did not have the 97.113 issue as a primary topic at the July board meeting. It was clear that members were looking to the ARRL for help. Some hams took things into their own hands. The current NPRM previously referred to (the one cosigned by Gordon West) was filed. I just received word from another list that an individual had a discussion with one of the FCC commissioners regarding the issue at CES and handed her a copy of this NPRM. The internal squabbles at the FCC are interesting. If they do put out an NPRM to codify their waiver procedure, could that potentially allow governmental agency employees to use amateur radio frequencies for their own communications? The very situation that the RACES rules were meant to prevent? So, it has been 8 months since Dayton, and as far as the members see, this issue has not been addressed by the ARRL, with the exception of the position paper regarding the Appropriate Use of Amateur Radio. So what harm would a limited exception to 97.113 do? We all know that asking a government agency for something may result in something worse than we now have. But the membership is looking to the ARRL for leadership, not abstaining or watching what might happen. Keeping with the usual population dynamics, those affected will welcome the ARRL action, those that are not will probably not care, if it doesn't affect them. The others? Well, if a leader doesn't have at least ten percent of their target population mad at them by the end of the day, he/she is probably not doing their job! A properly worded limited exception to 97.113 from the board as a Petition for Proposed Rulemaking would indicate to our members that the ARRL is expressing strong leadership. It is an opportunity to handle the situation now. It is fully understood that the FCC may not even consider it, but the Amateur Radio public at large will see that the ARRL put their best foot forward. It appears that Bill Cross is the only one (?) at the FCC holding back the potential commercialization of Amateur Radio, citing, but using strict interpretation of 97.113. When he retires , what will happen? If there are still complaints about 97.113 then, someone at the FCC may just realize that deleting the entire paragraph would be in their best interest to stop the squabbling. Not likely, but possible! Looking forward to seeing everyone this week! '73 de JIM N2ZZ ARRL Vice Director Roanoke Division

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[arrl-odv:18433] Report of the CEO
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 Jan '10

11 Jan '10

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