Dates for WWCIC meetings for 2005   Meetings will be held on the 2^nd Tuesday like always, with no meeting in August and June joint meeting with our Canadian counterparts subject to change.  The current location is the Washington State Patrol Office in Bellevue.

Financial Report

$108.00 payment for web site hosting (July through December, 2005).

Business Reports

Chairman’s opening comments: Chairman George Bisso called the meeting to order at 09:51AM, at the WSP office in Bellevue.  Introductions were made around the tables.  Members in attendance today: 11.

Committee Reports

Technical Committee Report:  Suggestions for technical presentations at meetings are always welcome. Harris Corporation is planning to make a presentation at the February 14, 2006 meeting about High Definition (HD) radio. Motorola is scheduled to make a presentation on Tower Mounted Amplifiers in March.  (OPEN)

FCC Report: Two $21,000 fines were assessed to J. Gerritsen for causing multiple willful interference incidences (6counts) in the southern California area. Several Broadcast Stations were assessed fines for EAS, site fencing, tower registration and marking violations. Wave three of the 800Mhz reallocation/implementation is delayed until January. FM Broadcast auction is scheduled for January twelve. A Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Canada on 800mhz is in the process. Firewalls are noted for causing problems when using the FCC licensing web site. EAS continues to have problems with the current system topology. Multiple links over different agencies equipment is hard to maintain. Level, timing, maintenance, operation, training, etc. varies. A recent example was an alert was sent over a cable TV system indicating more information was available on a specific channel and the information was not available on that channel. (OPEN)

Old Business

BPL Issues: Equipment for in building BPL is available.    (OPEN)

450 MHz IX: No report.  (OPEN)

FRS Issues: Nothing new to report.  (OPEN)

700 MHz Planning & Meetings: No report. 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:  Nextel has asked for more time for wave 1, the FCC has not responded.  (OPEN)

Technical Seminars at WWCIC Meetings: Harris Corp. is scheduled for a presentation on HD radio and Motorola is scheduled for a presentation on tower top amplifiers at meetings in early 2006. We are always looking for more presentations. (OPEN)

XM and Sirius Satellite Radio News: Nothing new.  (OPEN)

APCO business or reports and general frequency coordination news:  No report.   (OPEN)

Amateur radio activity: Amateurs in the New Orleans area were recognized in a Broadcast publication for their contribution to public safety and well being. An Amateur radio group had a low power FM station on the air as part of their activities. When the hurricane hit it damaged the transmitting and studio sites. The FCC granted a STA to move and they were back in operation in a short time from another location providing public service information. (OPEN)

A source of interference to Orcas Island Fire Dept. , amateur repeater and others on Mt. Constitution was traced to a near by FM broadcast station. When the station switched to its auxiliary transmitter the problem went away.  The broadcast station is going to add filtering to their system.

New Business

Burlington Northern Santa Fe has had interference from a carrier around 161.4Mhz, it appears to be coming from the Eastside/Cougar mountain area but it has been elusive so far.

Items of Information

There have been concerns over the vulnerability of Public Safety equipment to natural and man made electromagnetic pulses. Research into the effects recommended designers and persons responsible for this equipment should take steps to insure the continued operation after such events. 

Moved and seconded to adjourn at 11:10 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Our thanks to chairman George Bisso and Sandusky Broadcasting for the wonderful holiday brunch that was provided.