Florida Amateur Digital Communication Association
Promoting packet radio in the State of Florida


Mail Address:
L. E. "bud" Thompson
1131 Abady Court
Deltona, FL 32725


FADCA Board of Directors
Minutes
July 27, 1996


The FADCA Board of Directors Meeting was held Saturday, July 27, 1996 at
Stacy's Buffet in Altamonte Springs. President Joe Kuntz WB4TEM called the
meeting to order at 1210 hours, with the following directors attending:
District 2, WB4TEM; District 3, N4XEO; District 4, AA4RU; District 6,
WA2LKI; District 7, KD4UJK Assistant Director.

The Secretary / Treasurer, AA4RU, read the minutes of the April 26, 1996
meeting. MOVED by KD4UJK, SECOND by N4XEO to accept the minutes as read.

The Treasurer's report dated July 26, 1996 was then read. It was MOVED by
WA2LKI, SECOND by KD4UJK to enter it into the records as read. As an
addendum to the treasurer's report Doug, WB4KGY said that the Palm Beach
Packet Group as of June 13 has $339.26 of FADCA money which is mailing
credit for the newsletter.

The president reported that he has still not selected a name to nominate
for vice president. He had planned to have a name for this meeting, but
several people have not gotten back to him.

The president than encouraged all present to write regarding the LEO
situation and possible threat so our bands. The secretary was also directed
to write a letter on behalf of FADCA. John, WB4MOZ said he would email the
secretary a copy of the letter sent by the Palm Beach group to serve as a
text model and to provide the correct address.

Patrick, F1RVP, a guest of the frequency coordinator from France gave a
brief talk about the PC based rose type switch system being used in Europe.
It was developed by the same group who developed the FBB BBS program.

The frequency Coordinator KB4GBS passed out new lists of coordinated
devices. He said that the only other item of business he had was an appeal
to a decision he had made. In accordance with the new paragraph 27 of
the coordination policy, the appeal is being made to the board of directors
under new business. He then provided the president and secretary with
packages of correspondence copies related to the situation.

The frequency coordinator rejected an application for coordination on 145.09
MHz to an applicant in Starke, FL on the basis that this device is
approximately 25 miles from the coordinated devices in Gainesville. This
device is well within the 85-mile provision of the coordination policy.
Additionally, the Gainesville Amateur Radio Society (GARS) had registered
interference complaints with the coordinator. The matter had been referred
to the district seven director, remained unresolved and was referred to the
board.

Ben Dickerson, NN2S, representing the Starke group gave a presentation of
his reasons why the device should be coordinated on 145.09 MHz. This
included statements that the Gainesville equipment had been off the air for
periods of time invalidating it's coordination. He also suggested that the
Gainesville coordination may be invalid as the callsign on the equipment is
that of an individual who does not live in the Gainesville area. He also
stated that this device on this frequency was necessary in order to create
a network path from Gainesville to Jacksonville.

Larry Weaver, N4ZFH, representing GARS introduced KD4SR, Joe Lewis, whose
call is on the Gainesville equipment. Mr. Lewis said that they have his
permission to use his call and that some of the equipment in Gainesville is
still his personal property. Mr. Weaver also reported that there had been
no substantial periods of time when the Gainesville equipment had been off
the air. He again asserted GARS position opposing the Starke device on
145.09 MHz at some 410 feet as causing severe interference with operations
in Gainesville.

The two groups made many personal derogatory comments toward each other.
The president had to gavel the meeting back to order acknowledging the
animosity in existence. Various board members began asking questions of the
parties, and the following facts were found accurate:
1) GARS did receive coordination on 145.09 MHz. under the grandfather
provisions although their application was filed slightly after the
grandfather provisions of paragraph 25 of the policy.
2) The GARS application was received some time prior to the application
from Starke.
3) The callsign on the Gainesville equipment is with the permission of
the licensee, and there is no requirement under part 97 of the F.C.C.
rules regarding the location of the licensee relative to the
equipment. Therefore, there is noting invalid about the Gainesville
coordination application.
4) No evidence has been presented to show that the Gainesville operation
should be de-coordinated under the provisions of paragraph 21 (c) or
(d) of the Coordination policy, relating to time limits for a device
to be inactive.

Upon direct questioning, Mr. Dickerson could not state a reason why the
Starke device had to be on 145.09 MHz in order for a link between
Gainesville and Jacksonville to exist. The coordinator stated that there
are frequencies available in the two meter band on which the Starke device
could be coordinated.

MOVED by AA4RU, SECONDED by N4XEO that the action of the coordinator denying
the 145.09 MHz coordination to Starke is ratified, and that FADCA strongly
encourages the groups in Starke, Gainesville and Jacksonville to work
together along with the District Seven director to establish a link plan.
CARRIED.

It is also noted for the record that district 3 director N4XEO, in a private
discussion with Larry Weaver, N4ZFH of GARS obtained their commitment to
immediately make available to Starke an existing link frequency in the
440 MHz band with which to link Gainesville with Starke. Mr. Dickerson of
Starke was advised of this commitment.

F1RVP then gave a demonstration of the FPAC network Manager program.

The next meeting was scheduled for October 26, and the reservation with the
restaurant was made prior to departure.

There being no further business to come before the board, the meeting was
adjourned at 1410 hours.



Respectfully submitted
Robert W. Owens, AA4RU
Secretary



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