September 2002
MINUTES
New England Region 700MHz
Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Eighth Meeting
Tuesday 10 September 2002
List of Attendees: See attachment
The eighth quarterly meeting of the New England Region 700 MHz Technical Advisory Committee was held on Tuesday, September 10, 2002 at 10:30 AM at the Massachusetts State Police Headquarters, Framingham, MA
The meeting was convened at 10:30 AM.
The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary were present.
Order of Business:
1. Moved to ACCEPT the June 11, 2002 minutes as distributed. Seconded and CARRIED by unanimous vote.
2. MEMBERSHIP
The Chairman noted that the committee is awaiting documents
from Rhode Island confirming Tom Crotty's appointment as Rhode
Island Police Representative. The committee is awaiting documentation
from the President of APCO, Atlantic Chapter naming the APCO Frequency
advisors to the Committee. Angela Bean, is the new VT APCO Advisor
and will be the Vermont APCO representative. States that have
not responded by appointing various committee members will be
contacted again.
The Chairman's position as a committee member will be as "member at large" from the State of Connecticut. The Chairman asked if there is any objection to placing member's names and which state they represent on the Committee website. NO OBJECTION voiced from the members present.
A binder containing official documents of the committee was provided to all current members. Updates and additions will be provided, as available.
3. STATE UPDATE
All of the States of Region 19 have chosen to handle their
own assignments of the "state" frequency allocations.
The Committee will perform the assignment of "interoperability
channels" for Vermont, all other states will perform their
own. The Region 19 Committee will review all "state"
and "interoperability" frequency assignments to prevent
conflicts between those various States. The structure of this
review/monitoring of the state/interoperability frequency assignments
is open at this time.
Mr. Sutherland suggested that the Region 19 committee Chairman
visit with each state's licensee holder and present the committees
view on respective state/interoperability border assignments.
MOVED, by Mr. Carbonell and SECONDED by Mr. Sutherland
that: The Chairman of the Region 19 (700 MHz) Committee be
directed to visit each of the respective State Interoperability
Committees with the intent of coordination of their efforts regarding
avoidance of frequency assignment conflicts.
APPROVED by all (voice vote).
4. PSWN UPDATE
The document from the Public Safety Wireless Network
entitled Public Safety Radio Frequency Spectrum Digital Television
Transition Status Update, dated, January 2002 was distributed
for review and comment.
5. NCC UPDATE
The database of frequencies related to this band plan is created
and maintained by the NCC. There is a request on the floor for
a person from this planning committee to select and maintain the
frequency assignment database. Training will be offered to the
selected candidate through Regional Planning Committee funds.
Training is offered in October, November, and December. It
is the Chairman's feeling that the person chosen should be experienced
in frequency coordination. Mr. Carbonell suggested that there
be a primary and backup person trained in operation of the database
software. Mr. Kowalik offered to be the primary and Mr. Carbonell
volunteered to be the backup. There will be further discussion
of the roll of Database Manager at later meetings.
6. FCC UPDATE
The Chairman introduced Vincent Kajunski, Chief of the Boston
FCC office.
Mr. Kajunski briefly discussed the Commercial and Public Safety
aspects of this band allocation. He pointed out issues within
the commercial auctions and noted that several interests may be
participating. He noted some on the participants on the commercial
side were expected and some were totally unexpected. He noted
that the Public Safety Regional Committees have been endorsed
by the FCC for frequency selections and dispute resolutions.
7. PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Application Procedure
The committee discussed the document distributed to the committee,
FCC REGION 19 NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE 700 MHz
CHANNEL APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The section "Authority of the Committee" should be entered under Section One of the document.
The next paragraph "As of this date" should be part of Section 4.
Mr. Kowalik explained that " Application Windows",
is derived from the 800 MHz plan. The Chairman questioned
whether the "window" process would be valid for the
700 MHz process. He observed that other Planning Committees have
evolved into a free flowing application system without specific
openings as in Region 19, 821MHz practice. Mr. Carbonell noted
that windows with date certain allow for more orderly flow of
applications.
The current schedule of quarterly Committee meetings would lend
itself to a self-enforcing progress toward granting frequency
allotments. Subsequent scheduled meetings would serve as deadlines
for evaluation and discussion.
The deadlines for applications would be one month before the next
committee meeting thus making the action dates more predictable.
The number of copies of the applications would be the burden of the applicant. The quantity was temporarily set at twenty.
"Application Procedures"
Mr. Kowalik discussed the source of authority granted to the
Regional Committee for evaluating various States' Plans. During
discussion several participants emphasize the oversight function
of the RPC. This would be necessary along border areas where
the plans of adjacent states would have to be harmonious with
respect to interoperability. The interoperability with Federal
entities will also have to be considered.
Mr. Kowalik noted that technical parameters are not fixed at
this time because
FCC requirements have not been delineated.
The Scoring method for applicant qualification was discussed. Various historical debates were reviewed. The rating method using points was generally accepted. The assignment of values and the weight of factors were discussed without a conclusion at this time. Further study of the methods will have to be viewed with objectivity based on previous historical practice with the 800 MHz Plan.
Technical Standards
Mr. Kowalik noted that the EIA/TIA 8.8 technical methods are
the general standard. He noted that other technical parameters
are being considered for other radio services and these might
affect the current standards.
Mr. Zarwanski offered that various models of system efficiency
could be chosen as standards for acceptance. Technical parameters
will have to be chosen by the committee. These methods will have
to be universal to all of the coordinating agencies.
MOVED by Mr. Carbonell to purchase two copies of the
TIA/EIA 8.8 for further use by the committee. The expenditure
for two copies APPROVED by the general committee.
A primarily TECHNICAL COMMITTEE was formed consisting of
J. Kowalik, G. Carbonell, J. Zarwanski, J. Warakois, and others
as appointments are made. This sub-committee will review the EIA/TIA
8.8 standard and offer recommendations within the Region 19 application
process.
8. NEW BUSINESS
Previous discussion of training for NCC database.
Mr. Carbonell requested annual funding for the website, this is
an annual expenditure for website name maintenance. He also explained
how anonymity would be preserved within the website using the
list-server for committee work.
MOVED TO ADJOURN. SECONDED AND CARRIED.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:13 PM
Respectfully submitted
James Warakois, secretary.