[GreenKeys] Activity Report De W7KSJ

[George B. Hutchison]

GreenKeyers - - -

It has been a while since I have said much of anything here on GreenKeys.

I have been quite busy, and now that a major milestone is complete, it is
time to let you know what has been going on.

First, The Petition For Rulemaking to the FCC is now complete, and I will
be taking it to the duplicator within the hour.

Many of you will recall the experimental broadcasts I ran from WA9XHN and
WC2XPF. Towards the end of the experimental period I ran a survey, the
point of which was to determine whether or not we should get WC2XPF
renewed.

Virtually all who responded were in favor,

The Office of Engineering and Technology said we think you have had enough
time to prove your point, now do something to make it legal to continue.

The FCC is an organization which runs by rules. If there is no rule for
it, then they can't allow it, or nor waiver for it if there is no rule to
begin with. Such is the case for RTTY broadcasting.

A significant amount of time was spent thinking about all of the various
aspects of the project before I ever sat down and started to generate
words. I won't bore you with piles of details, but needless to say, there
were a couple of false starts before things began to gel.

The petition which will be mailed tomorrow requests that the FCC amend the
rules of the Commission to create what I have decided to call the
"Homeland Public Press and Information Widecast Service".

The word "Homeland" is one which will draw the attention of the policy
makers who are now entrenched in doing all that is necessary to enhance
the well-being of America.

The word "Widecast" is used as opposed to broadcast. Why? Well, the
National Association of Broadcasters is a rather protective group which
will do almost anything to protect the wallets of the nation's broadcast
interests. Widecast is a word they might not get too excited about.

Widecast also is rather definitive about the nature of what the project is
about, in that broadcast stations cover a relatively limited area of
ground around the communities and cities such stations serve. Widecast
more closely defines what short-wave propagation can do, in that it
extends far beyond a local community. Sort of appropriate, eh?? Widecast
was suggested, by the way, by Phil Kane, K2ASP, who is a former FCC
attorney and is now semi-retired, and amongst other things is a Volunteer
Counsel for the ARRL. (He likes the project, and has been helpful in
several ways.)

Rules - - -  Well, since the FCC needs and likes rules,  Part 96 of the
FCC rules was written to set up some manner of structure to demonstrate
that the Widecast Service is intended to be something other than a toy or
extension of Amateur Radio.  Part 96 did not exist until a couple of
months ago. It is not law, but inasmuch as Part 96 did not exist, it
seemed fair to give it someplace to reside in the rule book, assuming that
the Commission will look favorably on this activity.

The NAB protects and services Broadcasters. The NASB is a similar
organization for Short-Wave Broadcasters. Amateur Radio has the ARRL. I
figured that it would be proper to give this project some manner of
organization so that those interested in receiving RTTY Signal over the
air could have a focal point for their interest, and some place to voice
support for this type of undertaking.

April 29, 2003 is the date that NASDAW, the National Association of Data
Widecasters was incorporated in the state of Washington.

NASDAW has a website, www.nasdaw.org, where all of you can read the bulk
of the material which will be submitted to the FCC. You are cordially
invited to go there, where you can click on the buttons and read
everything.

The board of directors of NASDAW is a very select group of people.

I appointed myself President, so as to be able to get things going, not as
an ego boost.

The board has as its membership Jack Hart, WA2HWJ; Roy Norris, K4EEG; Rich
McClung, WA6KNW; Jerry Lockett, N6JP; Phil Kane, K2ASP; Phil Ferrill,
K7PF; and Marv Collins, W6OQI.  These gentlemen are all highly capable
individuals, with a lot of expertise in a broad array of disciplines. I am
very grateful that they have seen fit to be associated in some way with
this project.

NASDAW membership is open to all who are interested in once again being
able to find signals for their machines and computers to detect, decode
and display for them. There are no dues. There are at this time no
membership cards. About all you get for joining is your name on a list
with others similarly interested. We had to start somewhere.

Please feel free to go to www.nasdaw.org and read. It will take you a
while, but, you will also see that this project is anything but a small
effort.

I'll gladly answer any and all questions.

DOVETRONS - - -

Now that the big project is complete, we'll start shipping this coming
week. There are about fifteen Brand New ones. Those who spoke up first and
have sent funds will get those units. The balance of the units I will
check out and make sure they are functional before they leave. I surely
don't want to send out anything that is a junker. You guys just don't
deserve that.

I appreciate your patience.

Y'all have a nice Sunday.

73,

George, W7KSJ

I will say thanks to all those whom I have pestered about this
undertaking.