Meeting Minutes for January 9, 2007

Web Page: www.wwcic.org

Information Line Phone Number: 425-820-6271

Dates for WWCIC meetings for 2006 Meetings will be held on the 2^nd Tuesday like always, with no meeting in August and June joint meeting with our Canadian counterparts. The current location for regular meetings is the Washington State Patrol Office in Bellevue.

Business Reports

Chairman’s opening comments: Chairman George Bisso called the meeting to order at 9:40 am. Introductions were made around the tables. Attendance today: 12.

Adoption of draft minutes of last meeting: Meeting minutes for December’s meeting were approved as drafted.

Secretary-Treasurer Finance and Correspondence Reports: No activity. Checking balance $594.70, savings balance $2873.47.

Committee Reports

Technical Committee Report: Suggestions for technical presentations at meetings are always welcome. Datron is scheduled to make a presentation at the February meeting. Icom is now planning a presentation at the March meeting on digital modulation land mobile radio. (OPEN)

Web Site Report: Web.com took over as the new web hosting company for the WWCIC site. Their rates are $9.95/mo, $8.95/mo with 1 year commitment, and $7.95 with 2 year commitment if paid in advance. It was moved and seconded to go with the yearly rate. Discussion on the need for software updates to maintain the web site concluded that we do not need anything at this time but will at some point in the future. (OPEN)

FCC Report: A number of fines were assessed for violations by broadcast stations;

WEGA Puerto Rico $15K for failures to enclose antenna tower system, to make a complete public inspection file available and to operate the station in accordance with its license.
$13K for failure to paint, clean, maintain obstruction lighting and good visibility.
WEKC Kentucky $5K for failure to register and maintain a public inspection file service contour map.
$8K for failure to maintain an operational EAS system.
$10K for operating a radio station without authorization.
$4K for failure to maintain a complete public inspection file.
WHVX Florida $15K for failure to maintain a complete public inspection file, maintain and test EAS system.
KNCR California $4K for operating a station from an unauthorized location.
$3K failure to notify the FCC of the change in ownership of an antenna structure.
$15K for failure to maintain an effective locked enclosure at base of antenna structure and operational EAS.
$4K for operation of a transmitter exceeding 105% of authorized power.
Larry Duckworth $10K for operating a radio transmitter without authorization.
An individual in San Diego $10K for operating an unlicensed transmitter on 96.9 Mhz.
An individual in New York $17K for operating an unlicensed transmitter on 87.9Mhz and repeated willful failure to permit inspection of station.
$10K for operating a radio station without authorization, Des Monies, IA.
$10K for operating a radio station without authorization, Okeechobee, FL.
Revoked the Amateur license for David E. Cox for criminal activity and convictions.
Marcus A. Roberts $10K for operating an unauthorized radio transmitter. A 106 watt CB linear amplifier.

The FCC has made a selection for a new employee in the Seattle office.

Currently only certain federal government activities are authorized to use wireless phone “jammers”. They are not authorized for restaurants, sports venues or other law enforcement. (Open)

Old Business

BPL Issues: No report. (OPEN)

150/450 MHz IX: No report. (OPEN)

FRS Issues: Nothing new to report. (OPEN)

700 MHz Planning & Meetings: No report. The November and December meetings were canceled due to weather. Joint 700/800 Mhz meetings are the last Wed of the month, non public safety attendees welcome. The 700 MHz web sites are www.region43.org for Washington State, and www.region35.org, for Oregon. (OPEN)

800 MHz IX and Nextel issues: A FCC position paper is out that states Public Safety entities that have non-disclosure agreements with Sprint/Nextel for rebanding can discuss items covered by the agreement with other Public Safety entities but not with non-PS parties. (OPEN)

Technical Seminars at WWCIC Meetings: Dekolink made a presentation on in-building communications systems. A session on P25 and HF radios by Datron is scheduled for the February meeting. Icom is tentative for March. Suggestions are welcome. (OPEN)

XM and Sirius Satellite Radio News: Boeing is doing noise floor measurements at their telemetry sites that share the frequency band with Satellite radio to see what impact the Satellite radio signals have on the telemetry systems. (OPEN)

APCO business or reports and general frequency coordination news: Washington APCO conference in Wenatchee on June 27-29. http://www.apcowa.org/ (OPEN)

License-free or Spread-Spectrum technology issues: No report. (OPEN)

4.9 Ghz: No report. (OPEN)

Amateur radio activity: The FCC has dropped the morse code requirement for all amateur radio licenses. The Mike and Key Club annual Hamfest and Fleamarket will be held March 10. (OPEN)

New Business

None.

Items of Information

Snopac was doing a demonstration at their dispatch center and inadvertently sent an EAS message to evacuate Snohomish County direct to air bypassing all the delays that are normally built into the system creating a lot of temporary excitement and some very red faces.

Moved and seconded to adjourn at 10:35 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Steven Mayes, Secretary/Treasurer

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