karn@petrus.UUCP (02/03/85)
The following message relayed via HamNet: #: 26740 Sub-topic 4 - TRN & Freq Coord. Sb: TSARC SUSPENDS... 01-Feb-85 20:25:54 Fm: NORM W2JUP 74055,140 To: ALL At 12:01 AM this morning, February 1st, TSARC (Tri-State Amateur Repeater Council) temporarily suspended their repeater frequency coordinating activities for the next nine months.... At an emergency meeting called by TSARC president Steve Mendlesohn, WA2DHF, TSARC executive board directors heard excerpts from the contents of a new FCC NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) that hits the streets and becomes effective today. The FCC's NPRM addresses the subject of repeater frequency coordination, and calls for comments and opinions on proposed rulemaking that seeks to create a volunteer national "umbrella-type" coordination agency, similar to the NARTB, NABR, and other industry-based organizations of class. The "umbrella" agency would assist the activities of regional coordination councils on a nationwide basis, and hold a national database of all amateur repeaters. The same agency would establish and publish rules of procedures and technical standards for the coordination of new amateur repeaters. As part of the NPRM, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau requested a nation-wide nine-month suspension of repeater coordination, as a measure needed to gain the time required for gathering comment, acquiring an updated and validated national repeater coordination database, and setting up the mechanisms for accomplishing the tasks. In addition to the establishment of a national coordination scheme, the NPRM would change the wording of the Commission's Rules in Part 97.85(h) to codify and assign responsibility for the solution of repeater interference problems. What this means in plain English: no new repeaters will be coordinated in the 25 CMSAs (Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas) for at least nine months. The local frequency coordination councils will have to suspend coordinations pending the new rulemaking.
Robert Shnidman (VLD/VMB) <robert@Brl-Vld.ARPA> (02/05/85)
Be careful!! If repeater coordintation is suspended, then 220 and maybe even parts of other bands could become sitting ducks for attacks by other requesters for spectrum. I suggest that at least some "unofficial coordination" continue to show continued growth of amateur use of our frequencies.
ptb@Mitre-Bedford (02/05/85)
I am also concerned about just holding off on ANY new repeaters for 9 whole months, in light of the recent attacks on 220 mhz by the land mobile industry and others. I guess one question is, Are the repeater coordinators formally handling this band as well as 2 meters? In the long run (if 220 lasts that long), though, I think the national level planning will help us out by taking measures to prevent the repeater interference problems on a more global basis that the regional councils have been able to do. Even if this will suspend NEW 220 mhz repeaters for now, we can take more positive measures than sitting here and complaining. How about USING WHAT WE HAVE OUT THERE NOW? How about putting more packet repeaters out there, since they do not need to be formally coordinated? How about going out and getting a 220 rig, or using the ones we have and getting active on this band? The premise in the band takeover plans is that they are not getting used. Lets get out there and prove them wrong! Peter Baldwin, WA1SNH ptb@mitre-bedford