Vice Chairman Gerry Broerman called the meeting to order at 9:40.  Minutes of the July meeting were reviewed and approved. 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Checking Account Balance:                        $2,722.17

Savings Account Balance:                           $1,249.55

OLD BUSINESS

Washington State Patrol (WSP) Squak Repeater.  Since George Bisso was not present to address  NOAA’s possible dissatisfaction with their move to Cougar Mountain,  Kris McGowan will contact  Ted Beuhner at the National Weather Service for the status and/or invite him to attend the next meeting.   (OPEN)

Interference from Nextel.   The City of Seattle has been conducting tests with Nextel at various sites using effective sensitivity readings of  Motorola radios.  The measurements showed that the noise level effected by Nextel is affecting public safety operations.  Wiz passed out spreadsheets that illustrate the findings.  (OPEN)

Suggested Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws.  Rich Tiedeman was not present to discuss his recommendations.  (OPEN)

Interference Complaint Form.   The item was deferred in Alan Robinson’s absence.  Members present decided that an e-form should definitely be attached to the web site.  Tami Bernstein will work with Alan on that.  A disclaimer will be included.  (OPEN)

WWCIC Meeting Location.  Shirley will contact George Bisso to find out if we can continue to use Sandusky’s Conference Room next year.  (OPEN)

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business. 

ITEMS OF INFORMATION

Licensing.  Dennis Reanier commented that their license applications are being processed more quickly.  Jerry Noe noted that Wiztronics’ applications still take too long, no doubt because they are near the Canadian border. 

WSP.  Pat Buller relayed items discussed at the Boston APCO Conference. 

(1)    Riley Hollingsworth, the FCC Amateur guru, reported that enforcement of Amateur rules has spilled over into the commercial arena.  FCC has finally gone after the Amateurs that are improperly using the spectrum as well as the Two-Way Radio shops that are marketing illegal power amplifiers to CB operators.  Congress is providing greater backing to FCC’s enforcement activities as it brings more money into the U.S. Treasury.   Report Amateur interference problems to rholling@fcc.gov.

(2)    In regard to licensing:   when requesting a waiver, Part 1.925 of FCC rules must be followed or the application will be rejected.  There is no grace period for renewals—licensees that do not keep their license current will lose their frequencies.  FCC can also issue a fine for operating without a license.

(3)    NTIA is not going to 6.25 KHz yet as the technology is not there.

FCC.  Mike Rothe reported on the following FCC issues.   Most FCC documents can be found on FCC's web site www.fcc.gov.  If you would like a hard copy, please contact Shirley Perry.

1)      Seattle agents shut down a pirate operation on 103.3 FM in Auburn.

2)      Over 700 low power FM applications have been received thus far, primarily from churches and community groups.  FCC has not yet opened up the State of Washington.

The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

Shirley Perry

Secretary-Treasurer