Dates for WWCIC meetings for 2008   Meetings will be held on the 2^nd Tuesday like always, with no meeting in August and November 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 9:44 am. Introductions were made around the tables.  Attendance today: 9.

Secretary-Treasurer Finance and Correspondence Reports: George followed up with Semiahmoo about them not crediting our deposit to the November meeting facilities bill. They have carried the funds forward and applied the credit to the up coming June meeting room deposit. Starting balance in Checking $499.48, no activity, ending balance of $499.48.  Starting balance in Savings $1881.94, interest $.45, ending balance of $1882.45.

Committee Reports

Technical Committee Report:  Suggestions for technical presentations at meetings are always welcome. We need more support for presentations even if nothing more than suggestions on topics. Harlan’s work commitments are limiting his participation in the committee but will continue to support as much as he can. Several topics and presentations are being worked on for 2008. (OPEN)

Web Site Report:  No problems noted. (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: Industry Canada has a request for comments to align with the US plan, interoperability, costs, etc. They had been delaying major changes untill after 2010 but now may do it sooner.

The region 43 revised plan was sent to the FCC Jan. 31, 2008. The provision to reserve blocks of 5 channels for portable trunked repeaters is included. Another is a change to 7CALL (the 700 equivalent to ICALL) so it does not duplicate other functions.

The next meeting will be the last Wed of February, 2/27 in Lynnwood at Sparling Engineering’s office. 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: The FCC has sent out another Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for border area 800MHz plans. Region 43 filed comments requesting the FCC to look at existing licensees to see if the new plan will work on paper and verify with field tests on a case by case basis.

The WADOT has had some interference in the Newhalem area and are working with ATT Wireless on the issue.   (OPEN)

Technical Seminars at WWCIC Meetings:  Suggestions for future seminars are welcome. (OPEN)

APCO business or reports and general frequency coordination news: The APCO winter summit will be held in Florida.  http://www.apcowa.org/ (OPEN)

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

4.9 GHz: Boeing has migrated some 5.7GHz systems to 4.9GHz in their Renton facility. The users are pleased with the performance and have asked about expanding. Equipment for Everett plant is arriving and installation will start soon.   (OPEN)

Amateur radio activity: The Mike and Key Club Flea Market in March 8, 2008 at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

New Business

This winter snow depths in the mountains have been higher than levels in recent history presenting site access problems. The WSP did not replace their aging Snocats several years ago opting for snowmobiles instead. The technical staff have expressed their concerns that snowmobiles are inadequate citing safety, logistics and training problems. 

The WADOT had a MW dish mounting come lose at the Kalama site and had a tower at one of the maintenance sheds fail.

Joint WCTC/WWCIC Meeting

We will be hosting another meeting this June. We need to set the agenda by May so please submit questions, topics or other suggestions for the agenda by our April meeting.

Items of Information

Moved and seconded to adjourn at 11:42 AM.

Respectfully submitted,