ARRLWeb: ARRL Board of Directors Acts on Background Checks, Digital Issues at July Board Meeting

ARRL Board of Directors Acts on Backg= round Checks, Digital Issues at July 2007 Board Meeting

Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ, ARRL Meeting Planner a= nd Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, prepares materials for the Board Meeting outside the meeting room in Windsor, Connecticut. [S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, Photo]

ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, = and ARRL Atlantic Division Vice Director Tom Abern= ethy, W3TOM, confer during a short break. [S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, Photo]

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN (left); and ARRL Midwest Vice = Director Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, take a quick break. [S. Khrystyn= e Keane, K1SFA, Photo]

ARRL Southwestern Division Director, Dick Norton N6AA, discusses upcoming actions with President Joel Harrison W5ZN. [S. Khrys= tyne Keane, K1SFA, Photo]

ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, gets ready for his presentation to the ARRL Board. [S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, P= hoto]

IARU Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, takes i= n one of the presentations at the ARRL Board of Directors meeting. [S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, Photo]

The AR= RL Board of Directors took action on two pressing matters -- background checks and emerging digital technologies -- at its second meeting of = 2007, held July 20-21 in Windsor, Connecticut. Invited guests included IARU Vice President T= im Ellam, VE6SH, and Radio Amateurs of Canada President Earle Smith, VE6= NM.

Bac= kground Checks

A major concern at this Board meeting was the topic of served agencies and backgr= ound investigations. The Ad Hoc Background Investigation Committee agreed that pursuing federally recognized credentialing for Amateur Radio volunteers = was critical for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) to function. The Committee chairman, ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill Ed= gar, N3LLR, proposed that the Board adopt a policy with regard to Memoranda= of Understanding with the various served agencies.

The Bo= ard adopted a policy that "communications volunteers participating in ARRL-sponsored programs should not be required by served agencies to unde= rgo background investigations of any kind," but notes that criminal background checks -- performed by law enforcement agencies -- are "g= enerally acceptable." The policy continues, "It is not reasonable for a served agency to require these volunteers to consent to credit checks, mo= de of living investigations or investigative consumer reports. In negotiatin= g or renegotiating Memoranda of Understanding that = commit the League to provide volunteer emergency communications support, the Lea= gue must be assured that these volunteers will not be required by the partner organization to consent to credit checks, mode of living investigations or investigative consumer reports."

Dig= ital Technologies

Digital communication was another topic up for discussion at the Board meeting. O= ne question was the extent to which D-ST= AR systems fall within the FCC definition of "repeater." Some repe= ater coordinators do not consider D-STAR to be a repeater. <= /p>

The Bo= ard also thanked existing VHF/UHF frequency coordination groups for their efforts "to promote orderly use of amateur frequencies." The Board requ= ested that such groups "extend their efforts to coordinate digital systems such as D-STAR" and consider the bandwidths actually required for successful operation.

In a r= elated action, the Board thanked those involved in digital networks that serve A= RES and specifically the Winlink 2000 development= team for creating a system facilitating Amateur Radio's ability to serve socie= ty's emergency communication needs. The League affirmed its desire to work with developers of digital systems including Winlink 2000 to improve efficiency, address control issues and enhance compatibil= ity with other users of the Amateur Radio bands.

Leg= islative Matters

John <= span class=3DSpellE>Chwat and Janet Worthington, KB3PDS, of Chwat & Company, ARRL's Washington, DC legislative consultant, presented the Legislative Relations report. In this session of Congress, the firm hired Worthington, who with more than three years' experience = on Capitol Hill, actively advocates on behalf of the League. Chwat & Company has continuously monitored and reported on congressional legislation and activities to the ARRL, and networks ARRL legislative priorities with House and Senate members and staff. They have also conduc= ted targeted lobbying on the key issues of Broadband over Power Lines and ant= enna placement, assisted in the grassroots networking of ARRL Officers, Direct= ors and members to contact their elected officials, as well as constant monitoring the legislative activities in all 50 states. Chwat and Worthin= gton also work closely with General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, on relevant legislative matters.

The re= port also discussed the status of two bills pending in the US Congress, HR 462 and S1629.

In Jan= uary, Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-Arkansas), introduced HR 462, the "Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007." It calls on the = FCC to study the interference potential of BPL technology and report its find= ings back to Congress. It has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

In Jun= e, Senator Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas) introduced S1629, "The Emergency Ama= teur Radio Interference Protection Act of 2007." This bill is currently pending in the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

The Bo= ard also voted to support HR 2743, "The Military Affiliate Radio System Emergency Communicati= ons Act of 2007." This bill would permit the continued use of the MARS a= nd SHARES programs of frequency-stabilized Amateur Radio equipment that meets FCC Part 97 technical standards. Otherwise, volunteers in these programs might be prevented from using their regular station equipment.

Com= mittee Reports

Recogn= izing the significance of recent FCC actions that included the removal of the M= orse code testing requirement, the Board set a goal of attaining 30,000 new licensees in 2008, increasing in the following years. With approximately = 6000 licensees disappearing from the ranks of amateurs each year through attri= tion and non-renewal, the Board recognized the importance of striving to create real growth in the Service. The new licensing regime, along with the appr= oaching increase in sunspots, can provide the motivation and inspiration for all = hams to use to increase the numbers of licensees as well as the interest level= of all.

The Bo= ard decided to ask the Programs and Services Committee to evaluate how the Se= ction Field Organization is governed. In doing so, the Board will request progr= ess reports from the Committee regarding this study, with final results repor= ted to the Board no later than the July 2008 Board meeting.

The Ru= les and Regulations concerning the League's elections were clarified and amended = with regard to "mass communication" of campaign material during Director, Vice Director and Section Manager elections. The Board prohibit= ed "communications by mail, electronic distribution, posting to a Web s= ite, e-mail, hand delivery or any other means of distribution to League member= s in the particular Division or Section" involved in an election at League expense during the campaign period if the material might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of the election.

Clo= sing Remarks

At the= close of the meeting, President Harrison noted that Director Frank Butler, W4RH, after 50 years of elected service to the ARRL (starting out as Western Florida Section Communications Manager in 1957), was not standing for re-election this October. Everyone present gave him a standing ovation in appreciation of his long service.

The ne= xt meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors is scheduled for Ja= nuary 18-19, 2008.