Chairman George Bisso called the meeting to order at 0935, at WSP in Bellevue.  Introductions were made around the tables.  Vice-Chair Wiz, Sec/Treas Joe King and Member-at-large Steven Mayes were not here today.  Your former Sec/Treas Loren Postma filled in to take minutes.  DRAFT Minutes of the Dec 9, 2003, meeting were reviewed and approved.  Members and guests in attendance today: 11.  Please be sure to sign in at each meeting, as your Sec/Treas looks at that info every time when preparing the minutes, to get or make updates, and to yield the most current member and guest information, or to correct the e-mail distribution list. 

Financial Report

Old Business

APCO (and more)  Pat Buller reported the Western Regional Conference will be in Spokane, the National in Montreal, Canada.  That may require Visas and Passports, plus fees.  There is an FCC concern about “warehousing” frequencies.  The SIEC Committee is dispensing frequencies for law enforcement.  There is a new purchasing consortium WSCA, for State Contracts.  WA, OR, ID, MT are involved so far.  (Web research reveals more…-LHP)  Governmental agencies are being encouraged to use it for purchase advantages.  It may cost more than direct purchases do now.  They use a % of proceeds to keep it going.  IX-   Also, Pat mentioned that the IX issue on Grass Mt, 48.48 MHz had NOT been finalized, as reported earlier.  The correction of the fluorescent lights had actually not completely solved the problem.  He is having trouble getting info from DNR.  There was extended discussion on this, and Steve Hauser, FCC, asked that Pat send them all info about it, so the parties of record (at FCC) could be contacted.  Pat will send to Dennis Anderson, and has continuing concerns that there is lax enforcement of site standards.  John Woodcock suggested a low pass filter.  (OPEN)

Unlicensed or Spread-Spectrum   Several developments were discussed; a clip-on 2.4 GHz intercom, wireless to your phone, or whatever, Multi-freq/multi-mode radios, etc.  Chuck Z talked about the cranes he deals with.  74 units, all radio controlled, and concerns with bringing in 2.4 GHz gear that might interfere with the crane control.  There are possible conflicts with the I-T folks and mechanically controlled devices using radio.  Is a mix of many frequencies a danger?  In manufacturing, they always seem to be in the thick of interference issues, due to a high use of technology.  George gave an example of an IX problem in the Sandusky building between 2 wireless network systems interfering with each other.  (OPEN) 

FRS  Nothing was brought forward this time, but interest in FCC perspective about businesses using FRS continues.  (From earlier meetings) They only investigate on a complaint-initiated basis.   They suspect some unknowing users are programming higher power radios with FRS frequencies.  It is illegal to modify the factory-produced radios, including their antennas or power supplies.  (OPEN)

Elections   (for refresher info purposes) George, Wiz, Steve & Harlan all will continue their positions, w/ George being re-elected to a 2 year term (expiring Oct 2005) as Chairman.  Joe King volunteered to do the Sec/Treasurer, & then was unanimously elected.  All Officers except George are for 1-year terms.  Check the web page or our header sheet in each e-mailed minutes for each person’s position.  Beginning in Jan 2004, we will identify ourselves at the beginning of comments or statements, to assist in recognition, and making the minutes easier to produce.  George will be providing a tape recorder & tapes to serve the organization. (CLOSED, BUT Could re-open…)

Interference on 450 MHz   Per Chuck Z.- (from last month) Boeing still having 450 MHz IX.  This is a 2-watt channel.  Someone is running 75 W ERP.  This is affecting a Boeing safety system, which monitors workers inside a hangar inside an airplane.  The offender is licensed.  Opinion is that he should never have been issued a license.  Boeing Frequency coordinator will work directly with FCC.  The questionable license was issued 3 months ago.  Applicant never filed for a waiver, so other users were not notified.  There was also no notification of the higher operating power...   At today’s meeting, Chuck told us more of the story, which has about an inch thick file going so far, in his records.  Briefly… a letter was sent to FCC, Hollingsworth responded it was a licensing issue, handed it over to the Licensing Bureau, as not an enforcement issue, Boeing is now waiting for a response from Terry Fishel in that Bureau.  Boeing has been using their system since 1987.  The Coordinator for Boeing is MRFAC.  There was much more on the tape, but too lengthy for this venue.  Please come to the meetings to get the “full complement”.  (OPEN)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

New Business

Harlan mentioned a request had been tendered from Washington State Ferries- They have requested proposals (RFP) for a Wi-Fi system for customer and internal use.

A BPL system in Argentina was shut down after massive interference problems were encountered.

Items of Information

Steve Hauser reported today.  He told about RFR on Mt Wilson, fines for unsolicited FAX’s, a fine to ATT for violating the “Do not call” order, pirate radio, and “Interference temperature”.  IX temperature affects only the 6 GHz ranges, with comments being sought.  Steve brought along info defining it, but the paper was about ¼ inch thick.  Catch Steve to get info about a copy, or the FCC web pages.  (From earlier info) All the e-mail addresses for FCC staff have been changed, to a new style.  They are using the full name of the staff member, and are case sensitive.  Example: Dennis.Anderson@fcc.gov is the new appearance.  Full first name, dot, (appropriately caps), full last name, at fcc, dot gov.  Hopefully, not too confusing.  Contact Dennis Anderson for information about how to get FCC documents, or follow directions on their excellent web pages.  This writer has done so many times, and the sites just keep getting better, easier to use, and less error-prone.  Or maybe, the user is getting smarter… naw.

Chuck’s cure for FRS…  Well, you will have to ask him.

Meeting adjourned at 1120.  

Respectfully submitted,

Your fill-in former Sec/Treas,

Loren H. Postma