 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
 Previous: Amateurs Respond to Carolina Ice Storm |  Next: The Amateur Amateur: The HF Chronicles--EC-001 and Contacting NTS |
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 9, 2002--The ARRL Executive Committee met December 5 in a rare telephone session to discuss items of League business needing attention before the next Board of Directors meeting in January. ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said that, among other things, holding the meeting by telephone helped to hold down expenses at a time when the Committee was dealing with issues that did not warrant an in-person meeting. The Executive Committee is required to meet twice yearly.
During the approximately 90-minute session, the EC reviewed suggestions regarding possible changes to the League's standing committee structure and responsibilities. The EC agreed to share its suggestions with the rest of the Board for comment.
The EC also authorized the ARRL to support an AMSAT-NA petition to the FCC that seeks to eliminate a 27-month pre-launch information filing requirement for the Amateur-Satellite service. "The requirement is routinely waived, because launch commitments for amateur satellites are not available that far in advance," Sumner noted in the EC's official minutes.
The committee also directed ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, to provide a "white paper" and to draft formal comments in response to the FCC's request for comments on the Spectrum Policy Task Force report in ET Docket 02-135. Comments are due at the FCC January 9, although at least two requests have been made to extend the date. After a review by Imlay regarding other pending FCC items of interest to the ARRL, the EC agreed that no further ARRL comments were required in ET Docket 02-146. Among other things, that proceeding realigns the 76-GHz amateur allocation effective in 2006 to conform to WRC-2000 decisions.
The committee reviewed a recent FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the implementation of digital broadcasting. The EC concluded that the proceeding revealed no implications for the Amateur Radio Service. The EC also briefly discussed concerning the implications for the Amateur Radio Service of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Imlay also offered a status report on a comprehensive Board-ordered study of allocation and utilization policy for the amateur bands between 902 MHz and 24 GHz. Imlay, the ARRL Technical Relations Office and First VP Harrison are collaborating on the study, which has been delayed by other pressing obligations as well as by developments in the regulatory environment. The EC targeted the July ARRL Board meeting as a completion date for the study.
Sumner also briefed the members on the recent Conference Preparatory Meeting for WRC-03 and the status of 7-MHz worldwide "harmonization" efforts.
In other business, the EC affirmed a recent e-mail vote approving 12 pilot schools and one progress grant in the ARRL Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program--also known as "The Big Project."
On-line for the telephone conference in addition to Sumner--who serves as the EC's Secretary--and Imlay were committee members President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, who chaired the session; First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; and Directors Frank Butler, W4RH, of the Southeastern Division; Frank Fallon, N2FF, of the Hudson Division; Tom Frenaye, K1KI, of the New England Division; and Rick Roderick, K5UR, of the Delta Division.
Minutes of the December 5 EC meeting are available on the ARRL Web site.
| Previous: Amateurs Respond to Carolina Ice Storm | Next: The Amateur Amateur: The HF Chronicles--EC-001 and Contacting NTS |
