From: estey@skyler.mavd.honeywell.com
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.packet
Subject: Dallas Digital Committee Mtg News
Date: 28 Sep 92 19:28:54 GMT
Organization: Honeywell Systems & Research Center


SB HFNEWS @ USA < W3IWI $DFW_REPORT
HF Digital Accord Reached in Dallas

     On September 26, the ARRL Digital Committee met in Dallas with
five representatives of the present HF automatic-forwarding STA
networks to discuss means of continuing the benefits of the
existing operational forwarding networks while protecting the
interests of other users of the bands.  The participants took note
of the IARU Region 2 digital band plan which was adopted September
4 in Curacao.  This international agreement opened the door to
reconsideration of recent recommendations of the Committee to the
ARRL Board of Directors.

     Resulting from the meeting was a recommendation that the part
of the IARU Region 2 band plan that provides for digital forwarding
be incorporated into the US regulations.  This recommendation will
be forwarded by the Committee to the ARRL Board for their
consideration as a potential petition for rulemaking to the FCC. 
An ARRL request for extension of the current STA for the period
during which new rules are under consideration is also recommended.

     In concert with the recommendation, which would both allow
automatic operation and provide rules to protect nonautomatic users
of the band, the participants formulated a tentative voluntary band
plan for the digital parts of the MF and HF bands.  Interested
parties are encouraged to comment on the tentative band plan, which
will be made widely available.

     The participants agreed that the changing nature of the
digital state of the art requires that periodic review of national
and international band plans be performed.  The Committee pledges
to work with all segments of the digital community to suggest such
changes to the band plans as may be needed in coming years.

      --------------------------------------------------

W3IWI NOTES:
  Those attending the meeting in Dallas were:
     ARRL Digital Committee: W5TOO (chairman), W5SMM, WA8DRZ, AD7I & W6IWO
     ARRL Board Liasion: N5TC
     ARRL HQ Representative:  KE3Z
     HF STA Representatives: W3IWI (spokesman), W0RLI, WA0CQG, KD7XG & AD8I

  The preceeding text was agreed as a brief statement of what happened.
More news will follow later as the detailed report from the Digital Committee
to the ARRL Board is prepared. The meeting, while intense, showed total
cooperation by all the participants. The emphasis was that all the digital
modes (RTTY, AMTOR, PACKET and newly developing technology) would sink or 
swim together and that we needed a scheme that would support orderly 
developments for the next 10-20 years.

  The big breakthru was possible because all parties WANTED an amiable 
solution, and because of the development of the IARU Region 2 Digital 
Bandplan at the Sept. 4th meeting in Curacao. 

More to follow -- 73 de Tom, W3IWI
______________________________________________________________________________
Carl Estey                  |  Home Mail Address: 276 Walnut Lane
Amateur Callsign:    WA0CQG |                     Apple Valley, MN 55124
                            |  Business Address:  Honeywell Inc.
Phone: Work (612) 542-5136  |  Flight Systems & Test Operations M/S MN15-2370
       FAX  (612) 542-6003  |  1625 Zarthan Ave. S., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
       Home (612) 432-0699  |  Packet: WA0CQG @ WA0CQG.#SOMSP.MN.USA.NA   
The nonsense here is of my own making - no one else would want credit!