Hi Dave, I know you are tied up for a few days, but I hope we can meet again to finalize the Spectrum Defense copy at the end of this week or earl next week. I will be designing the QST ad and our copy will drive that process. To those ends, I thought of a new "tag line"...Spectrum Defense 2005 = YOUR wake up call. I also want to share some thoughts related to the BPL discussion I heard in Boxboro on Sat.. Can we share a general comment or two that ARRL does have an active on-going strategy to address issues related to BPL, and that ARRL staff and Leadership attend meetings on this issue to continue the strongest possible expression of our position on harmful interferenc? Can we highlight the grassroots campaign that has been launched and call on hams to participate by contacting their representatives in Washington and locall? Can we strengthen the paragraph I wrote on the steps (and progress) we've made so far on this issue? Can we mention our participation with International radio societies and the IEEE to develop single standards for BPL? should we mention the utility companies at all and the potential economic impact? Just thoughts that could drive a stronger aregument. What do you think? 73, Mary K1MMH -----Original Message----- From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 2:27 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [ARRL-ODV:11087] Re: FCC policy on Emergency Communications Declarations What prompted this was that the FCC was being asked to issue Emergency Communications Declarations in advance of there being a communications emergency. This put amateur radio in a bad light because it implied that we weren't able even to prepare for an upcoming emergency without getting protection from casual QRM. We knew there was something in the works to address this although I was not privy to the detailed policy statement. Despite what the policy says, I believe that if the need arose the FCC would issue an ECD for one or more HF frequencies other than in the 60 meter band. We also have the option of publicizing the use of particular frequencies ourselves, with a reminder to amateurs about 97.101(c). Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Frenaye, Tom (Dir, NE) Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 1:49 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [ARRL-ODV:11086] Re: FCC policy on Emergency Communications Declarations At 12:49 PM 8/13/2004, K1ZZ wrote:

Just in time for Hurricane Charley, the FCC has issued a clarification of its policy on Emergency Communications Declarations in the Amateur Radio Service. See attached. We're distributing the policy to SMs and posting a story about it on the Web.

Was there any consultation between the FCC and ARRL on this new policy? I'm not impressed with the results. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki@arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444