Chairman George Bisso called the meeting to order at 0941, at WSP in Bellevue.  Introductions were made around the tables.  Vice-Chair Wiz, and Member-at-large Harlan were not able to be here today.  Welcome back to Steven Mayes.  DRAFT Minutes of the Nov 12, 2003, meeting were reviewed and approved.  Members and guests in attendance today: 19.  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

800 MHz IX   Steve Leonard has no news, but hopes to have info for Harlan by end of week.  Harlan is having IX problem on I-90 from MP 36-50 nearly to the top of Snoqualmie Pass.  Jerry Noe has not noticed any changes with Nextel.  (His other issue of IX on 48.62 may have been sunspots.  There is no issue at present-closed).  This is quite abbreviated, & more information was covered.  Please come to the meetings to get the most from what is discussed, as it is just not practical, even though the meeting discussions are taped, to get the whole discussion into an interpreted form by your Sec/Treas.  (OPEN)

Technical Seminars at meetings   Maybe Kim Torp-Pedersen TxRx for Jan or Feb

WWCIC web site   The counter on the web site is not working consistently.  Alan Robinson may have to update his copy of “FrontPage.”   It was moved and seconded to authorize up to $100 to update to a new copy of FrontPage- carried.   George will pick up the copy after discussing with Alan. (ALWAYS OPEN)

XM and Sirius Satellite Radio  Per George, the XM system is looking for a million customers by end of 2004 to break even.  They are not likely to make it.

APCO  APCO is holding some symposiums in April 2004.  There was Info from Kim Torp-Pedersen about the narrow-banding stay of implementation.

Unlicensed or Spread-Spectrum   Steve Mayes – 2.4 GHz link put up Seattle to Olympics for data and voice, T-1 carrier (did not work).  Replaced with 5.8 GHz, and now works well.  Others (Jerry – Bellingham, Wiz- Seattle) have not had much luck in their areas.

Chuck Z – Article on Verizon putting in 400-500 pay phones V over IP on spread spectrum in New York City – not working very well either.

George B – There are lots of troubles in the 900 MHz arena too, all spread spectrum has so much hash.

FRS  FCC was asked about businesses using FRS. 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.

Elections   George, Wiz, Steve & Harlan all will continue their positions, w/ George being re-elected to a 2 year term 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 for each person’s position.  Beginning in Jan 2004, we will identify ourselves at beginning of comments or statements, to assist in recognition & making the minutes easier to produce.  George will be providing a tape recorder & tapes to serve the organization.

NEW BUSINESS

Interference on 450 MHz   Per Chuck Z. - 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. 

3 Things from Chuck Z:

• FCC changes in FRS Rules?

• Need to get more information on BPL issues

• IX on 450 MHz channels affecting Boeing

Dates for WWCIC meeting for 2004   The following list of Dates was established for the slate of meetings in 2004.  They are almost all the 2^nd Tuesdays like always, but a couple exceptions.  Jan 13, Feb 10, Mar 9, Apr 13, May 11, Jun-to be decided after coordination w/ WCTC as Canada is host for the year 2004, Jul 13, No meeting in Aug, then Sep 14, Oct 12, Nov 9, & Dec 14.  Please note & place these on your calendars.

Items of Information

Kris McGowan had nothing to report.  She told about doing a presentation to High school classes, and surprise that about 80% of students responded “yes” to an inquiry about whether they had cell phones.

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 name, appropriately caps, dotgov.  Hopefully, not too confusing.

Meeting adjourned at 1145.

Respectfully submitted,

Sec/Treas Joe King

w/ a little editing help & sent out by Loren Postma