[GreenKeys] Activity Report De W7KSJ

Mon, 23 Jun 2003 09:10:55 -0400

I thought it was we who were pestering you.  Thanks for all the time and
effort all of you put into this and the Dovetron project.

Gil, W1RG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George B. Hutchison" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 5:47 PM
Subject: [GreenKeys] Activity Report De W7KSJ

> 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.
>
>
>
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