Dates for WWCIC meetings for 2004   The following dates were established for the slate of meetings in 2004.  They are almost all the 2^nd Tuesdays like always, but with a few exceptions.  June 15th joint meeting with WCTC, Jul 13, No meeting in Aug, then Sep 14, Oct 12, Nov 9, & Dec 14.  Please note, & place these on your calendars.

Financial Report

Business Reports

Chairman’s opening comments: Chairman George Bisso called the meeting to order at 0935, at WSP in Bellevue.  Introductions were made around the tables.  George reported that WCTC will not be able to host this year’s joint meeting in June and that started a chain of email correspondence between the Executive Committee and the WCTC.  The result was that we offered to host the meeting and WCTC accepted.  More below.

Adoption of draft minutes of last meeting: Members and guests in attendance today: 15.    Meeting minutes were recorded by Chuck Zappala, Sec/Treasurer.  The previous meeting minutes were reviewed, moved and accepted with one correction adding the savings account balance.

Secretary-Treasurer Finance and Correspondence Reports: Provided in the minutes.

Canadian-US Joint Meeting 2004 Report: Chuck z provided some detail why WWCIC will host this year’s annual joint meeting.  The joint meeting will be held Tuesday June 15 and the Semiahmoo Resort, same as last year.  The cost is about the same or a little less than last year, around $1,649.00.  The same room and menu items as last year have been arranged.  A call for speakers and presenters was made to the floor.  Steve said that Nextel would give a presentation.  Kurt suggested a presentation on P-25 from educational point of view.  Harlan offered to get a vendor to present it.  Discussion about appropriateness as subject matter and who would give it, etc.  Chuck z suggested Joe Blaschka.  Wiz said he would ask Joe.  Time slots for speakers and schedule were discussed.  A lot of focus was placed on making the joint meeting successful.  Harlan pointed out that we are short on time and that we need to focus on what we hope to have accomplished by the next WWCIC meeting.  George said we should not wait until the next meeting and that we should conduct on-line meetings.  (OPEN)

Committee Reports

Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report: Chuck z reported that the research was done and how that evolved into the boiler plate that was completed.  The draft text incorporates the latest and greatest on what subject matter experts consider standard elements and construction.  Therefore, the form of the draft is a combined Constitution and Bylaws to conform to a modern trend.  Major features are splitting the Sec-Treas. position into two positions to lessen the load, all of the officers have something specific to do and be responsible functions for WWCIC.  Two special actions are proposed in the draft text.  The first addresses “Charter Membership” and the other “fractional membership dues and voting.”  The work is still in committee and nothing is final.  Consideration is being given to adopt by phasing in over this current year and fully effective for 2005.  This work is being done to strengthen the organization, building membership and reducing problems.  (OPEN)

Technical Committee Report: None given, although Harlan commented that some focus should be given in this area. (OPEN)

Web Site Report: The December and the February minutes are still not posted as Alan reported.  Chuck z will resend them to Alan. (OPEN)

FCC Report: Nothing to report. (OPEN)

  Old Business

800 MHz IX and Nextel issues: Steve Leonard reported that Nextel requested and received a meeting with Boeing to discuss re-banding issues.  Steve thinks that the 900 MHz band offer is off the table at the moment because of other national level activities and if that happens there will probably be more Nextel 900 MHz roll-outs.  He did caution that nothing is firm and that more time will tell.  He remarked that the joint meeting in June will be a good opportunity to discuss  the situation and that Nextel will be well represented.  He anticipates a lot of interaction.  George requested from Steve that any advance information pertaining to this issue at the joint meeting be forwarded to the Sec- Treas. as soon as possible.  Steve commented on the recent Seattle P-I article about public safety radio interference.  He said that the article was well written and fair in presenting the issues to the readers.  Steve noted that on April 16 the Nextel international dispatch feature will be rolled out to its customers.  Harlan reported that WSDOT had their meeting with Nextel with the consultant about the 15 hot spots on I-405 “with a multitude of involvement that includes Boeing [?].”  Harlan noted that Verizon made an opening bid for the contested Nextel 1.9 GHz spectrum for $5 Billion.  The April 15^th FCC agenda item for 800 MHz has been removed.   (OPEN)

700 MHz Planning & Meetings: Harlan presented a document about the relationship of the SIEC Committee to Region 43 as to how it interacts in the planning process with the state of Washington.  The document was passed around and then given to Alan for posting on the web site.  The 700 MHz web sites are www.region43.org for Washington State, and www.region35.org, for Oregon.  Contact Jon Wiswell, Pat Buller or Kevin Kearns for more info.  Meeting schedules and past meeting minutes are on these web sites.   Be sure to check them for the latest information in this important planning step for both 700 and 800 MHz use in the future.  (OPEN)

Grass Mt. 48.48 MHz IX Report: Pat Buller reported that DNR may have the road cleared by the end of April so that the meeting could be held at the site.  The interference continues. (OPEN)

450 IX Report: Nothing new to report.  (OPEN)

FRS Issues: Nothing new to report.  (OPEN)

BPL Issues: Pat Buller reported about the session that he attended at IWCE 2004 as presented by a member of the General Council for UTC.  The stance by the UTC was that BPL was good for the utilities in a slide show.  Pat felt that the technical presentation portion by a lawyer was weak as questions could not be answered properly.  Pat also went to the FCC booth at IWCE 2004 and talked to them about negative BPL repots from other countries.  The FCC commented that this is new technology and that the FCC supports all new technology and with regard to interference, it is covered under Part 15 of the rules.  Further answers to questions were unsatisfactory.  Harlan read an article reporting on a BPL test that said BPL operations would interfere with an amateur HF station within 1 to 2 city blocks.  Details of the measurements were read.  Harlan read another report or comment from the ARRL on BPL. Loren Postma commented that more information and involvement needs to be made. (OPEN)

Technical Seminars at WWCIC Meetings: Harlan said we need to talk about this later. (OPEN)

XM and Sirius Satellite Radio News: George said that there are some big changes that will come out of NAB and will report on them next month.  (OPEN)

APCO business or reports and general frequency coordination news:  Pat reported that a final decision on 800 MHz is expected in May or June.  (OPEN)

License-free or Spread-Spectrum technology issues:  Nothing to report. (OPEN)

Amateur radio events and activities:  Pat reported that next Saturday there will be a flea market in Yakima. (OPEN)

New Business

Licensing, Re-banding 800 MHz and other concerns (Harlan):  VoIP systems that store voice communications, as on a hard drive, will not be protected under the 4^th amendment, like “real-time” voice telephony.

Chuck commented that lots of email is bouncing back from sending out the meeting minutes.  If you are not getting the minutes, that’s probably why.  Spread the word!   To get back on the email list you must send an email to chuck.zappala@boeing.com to get your email address corrected

Items of Information

Miscellaneous: Pat Buller reported that the Nevada Highway Patrol went from 150 MHz to their new 800 MHz Motorola system and found out that it didn’t work as well as the 150 MHz system.  So, they went back to the 150 MHz without a license.  The FCC is not enforcing this issue saying that have seen this before with other public safety agencies.  The story was leaked by the press.

Moved and seconded to adjourn at 11:30 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Your Secretary/Treasurer,