FinalMinutes of theOfcom/RSGB Forum meeting held on 03-12-2015at
11:00am – 3:30 pm at Riverside House, London.
Participants:
<name redacted> / Ofcom - Head of Business Radio, Spectrum Group<name redacted> / Ofcom – Business Radio - Amateur, Maritime, Spectrum Group
<name redacted> / Ofcom – Senior Spectrum Engineering Officer
<name redacted> / Ofcom – Spectrum Licensing Team Manager– part attendance
<name redacted> / RSGB – General Manager
<name redacted> / RSGB – Chairman
<name redacted> / RSGB – President
<name redacted> / RSGB – ETCC Chairman
<name redacted> / RSGB – Spectrum Chairman
<name redacted> / RSGB - EMC Committee Chairman
<name redacted> / RSGB - AROS
- Welcome and apologies
The meeting was opened by <name redacted>(Chairman)by welcomingthe participants to the meetingand thanking them for their attendance.
- Approval of the agendaDoc1) Agenda for OFCOM-RSGBForum meeting of 03-12-15
The agenda was agreed.
- Approval of minutes of the last meeting – Doc1) Final Minutes of the OFCOM-RSGB forum 23-06-15. The Minutes were approved.
- Actions of the last meeting
Action 5.1 (June 15) – <name redacted> to forward spreadsheet to <name redacted> and liaise direct - Done
Action 6.1 (June 15) – <name redacted> to provide a copy of the Guidance Notes before publication - Done
Action 6.2 (June 15) – Ofcom to update website to match re-issue of IR2028 – to be done
Action 7.1 (June 15) – <name redacted> to provide <name redacted> with a paragraph for a statement on the start of the revocation process - Done
Action 11.1 (June 15) – <name redacted> to advise <name redacted> on the channel for communication for input into standards and co-operation between RSGB and Ofcom – <name redacted> is OFCOM link to Standards
Action 12.1 (June 15) – <name redacted> to discuss process with <name redacted> (Head of Spectrum Assurance) at the July meeting and report back. – process agreed and flow chart supplied
Action 13.1 (June 15) – <name redacted> to clarify the RSL for club callsigns and the structure of temporary callsigns - Done
Action 14.1<name redacted> to consider/release the 71 MHz draft NoV and 146-147 MHz draft terms –Done
Still ongoing:-
Action 9.3 (October 14) – <name redacted> to complete and forward the >275GHz NoV to RSGB
The NoV has been drafted internally but not yet finalised/released. Ofcom suggested that they will proceed to issue (inc a list of protected astronomy sites) rather than delay further
5)Licence Review - updating of Amateur Radio Licence and Guidance Notes:
It was reported that <name redacted> has been supplying comments, based on RSGB member feedback and RSGB analysis of the Guidance.name redacted> has undertaken to initially review and update the Guidance Notes every month and then on a quarterly basis as they become more refined. It was agreed that the RSGB should continue tosubmit the comments that it had collated before Christmas and a meeting will be held in the New Year to consider the proposed changes alongside the draft RSGB Best Practice notes.
6)Revalidation and revocation of Licences – update on progress – OFCOM
Emails sent on 09-10-15; web notification of proposal to revoke published 15-10-15.
Representation period ran till 16-11-15 and no representations received that dissuade the decision to proceed. name redacted> reported that OFCOM must publish the notice to proceed by 16-12-15.
OFCOM reported that 537 un-validated licences from the first batch had been revoked after all attempts to contact the licence holders had failed, and that the callsigns concerned would be published on the OFCOM website. The RSGB agreed to publicise the notice. It was noted that some 15,000 licences still remained un-validated and the revocation process would continue. OFCOM confirmed that copies of death certificates were no longer required to verify a “silent key”, but notification in writing was needed.
7)WRC15 – Agenda Item 1.4 – progress report - OFCOM
name redacted> reported on the proceedings of the WRC15 and the outcome of Agenda Item 1.4 . Although the final allocation in the 5 MHz band was smaller than being sought, at only 15kHzbetween 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz,it is at least now harmonised in all regions. Whilst the existing allocation for UK amateurs remains unchanged, the feasibility of extending the allocation to encompass the harmonised 15kHz allocation will now be explored by OFCOM with the primary user (MoD). name redacted> asked whether we could clarify with the MoD as to whether this frequency allocation can be used whilst mobile, particularly in an emergency situation.
Action 7.1 (December 15) –<name redacted> to contact the MoD to discuss harmonisation and mobile use in the 5 MHz band
name redacted> expressed the thanks of the RSGB and the wider amateur community for the efforts and support of OFCOM at the WRC15 in achieving a satisfactory outcome.
8)WRC19 – IARU proposed Agenda Items for WRC19
Allocation at 50-54 MHz
name redacted> reported that a Resolution was drafted proposing an allocation in the frequency band 50-54 MHz to the amateur service in Region 1. This was accepted at the first Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM 1) and has now been adopted as Agenda Item 1.1 for WRC19. There will now be a period to study spectrum needs for the amateur service in the frequency band 5054MHz;taking into account the results of the studies, consider sharing between the amateur service and the mobile, fixed, radiolocation and broadcasting services, in order to ensure protection of these services.
9)Generic NoV Issues:
- Beacon and Repeater Applications and Clearance of NoVs – OFCOM
MoD liaison/clearances for beacon applications – <name redacted>.
- Licensing Issues – OFCOM
In response to both sub agenda items, <name redacted> informed the meeting that <name redacted> is taking the lead responsibility for the clearance process and liaising with the MoD, CAA and MCA.
name redacted> asked whether the RSGB carried out any international coordination with other amateur radio societies if the repeater coverage extents into a neighbouring country. name redacted> replied that is done through the IARU as most of the frequencies are already block cleared.
The RSGB asked that forms for an amateur radio licence, Special Research Permits and SES callsigns be updated, and agreed to provide drafts. It was commented that is would be very helpful if the forms were type-able so that data could be entered directly onto the form from the computer.
- Spectrum Licensing Department – potential changes – OFCOM
name redacted> stated that there may be the potential for a re-structuring of Spectrum Licensing but this is very much dependent upon the new system changes
- Revised Packet NoV – <name redacted> to provide proposals
name redacted> stated that there has been resurgence in Packet Radio and provided a draft Notice of Variation for establishing a Packet Gateway.
OFCOM agreed in principle that the Packet NoV should be amended in line with the draft prepared by the RSGB. It was noted that the revised form addressed the recent concern about igates. OFCOM agreed to provide a definitive response by the end of the year
Action 9.1 (December 15) –OFCOM (<name redacted>) to approve draft NoV to allow issuing to proceed.
- Special Contest CallsignNoV amendments
Proposals to amend the NoV have already been submitted by <name redacted>. The revisions cannot be applied until the next renewal, i.e. until the existing ones have expired, which we believe to be 1 January 2016. name redacted> stated that OFCOM must retain the right to allow non-RSGB approved contests ; otherwise it fetters our discretion.
10)EMC Matters – RSGB
RSGB highlighted the implications of the new EU Radio Equipment Directive that would be implemented on 13 June 2016. It was agreed that this be a major item for discussion at the next meeting, to which enforcement colleagues would be invited.
It is now being more widely recognised that LED lighting and solar panels may affect the operation of some wireless based services, e.g. WI-FI. This is something that the amateur radio community noticed much earlier but now the general public are becoming aware, particularly where broadband speed is being affected.
name redacted> commented that a better definition of “harmful interference” is required. <name redacted> said that he would speak to Baldock to see if a form can be developed for reporting EMC which asked what is the normal operation that the harmful interference preventing.
Action 10.1 (December 15) –<name redacted> to investigate the possibility of developing a form for reporting EMC and the normal service that is prevented by the harmful interference.
A much wider discussion followed on the implications of harmful interference from EMC and compliance on new regulations. name redacted> asked about the current position with regard to the Statutory Instrument which will give OFCOM more powers to intervene in cases where EMC is causing harmful interference.
name redacted> further asked who he should speak to in OFCOM about “closed cases” of reported interference. name redacted> is to provide a contact.
Action 10.2 (December 15) –<name redacted> to provide a contact name
11)Interference (Amateur on Amateur)
Line redacted as this relates to an ongoing investigation
OFCOM Report – <name redacted>– Regional Engineering Manager
name redacted> and <name redacted> reported that they had been in frequent contact and improved joint working arrangements had been agreed. name redacted> provided a flow chart of a proposed process for reporting and investigating sources of interference.
Paragraph redacted as it relates to an ongoing investigation
name redacted> reported that AROS had recently acquired a new VHF Direction Finding capability.
name redacted> reported that OFCOM had been active in removing non-compliant equipment for the UK market. name redacted> offered to write an article about this activity for RadCom and possibly other publications.
Action 11.1 (December 15) –<name redacted> to produce an article for publication on the removing non-compliant equipment from the UK market.
name redacted> reported that OFCOM, in conjunction with the Police, had successfully resolved a complaint about poor operating practice.
<name redacted> alsoreported complaints about poor operating practice on the GB3GL repeater(Glasgow) had been followed upby the local field engineer and OFCOM will continue to monitor activity, but to date nothing significant has been heard. This again is due to random activity. It may be necessary to consider also deploying a Raspberry Pi based monitoring system to constantly monitor activity and gather evidence of poor operating practice.
12)Discussion on Temporary Call Sign Policy, Call Sign Enhancement & Call Sign Re-Issue - RSGB
A meeting is to be arranged in early January for <name redacted> and <name redacted> to discuss this issue with <name redacted> and <name redacted>. name redacted>is to provide a framework for the discussions.
Action 12.1 (December 15) – name redacted> to provide a framework for the discussions.
Action 12.2 (December 15) –<name redacted> to make the booking arrangements and inform participants
13)AOB and date of nextmeeting (Tuesday 15th March 2016)
Tim Peake and the ISS - OFCOM confirmed that the NoVs for the planned school contacts would be issued next week. The RSGB agreed to liaise with Tim with a view to providing an educational event at OFCOM.
Callsign re-issue - RSGB raised several concerns about the callsign re-issue policy. It was agreed that the RSGB and OFCOM would meet early in the New Year to discuss these in detail (Agenda Item 12).
400th Anniversary of the Mayflower voyage to America - RSGB reported that 2020 would see extensive celebrations to commemorate this event and that they had been approached by a group planning amateur radio events. OFCOM agreed to consider a suitable special SES callsign.
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