Notes from March 6-7, 2000 CORF Meeting

CLOSED SESSION

March 6, 2000

1. CORF's newest member (Karen St.Germain -NRL) was introduced.

2. The structure of the Committee was discussed including discussion of replacements for those rotating off the committee (R. Narayanan REMOTE SENSING, and M. McKinnon RADIO ASTRONOMY).

3. The annual discussion of a recreation of "Views of CORF" in an easy-to-access online version was led by Tom Kuiper. In terms of its usefulness in arguing the case for Radio Astronomy and Remote Sensing, it was felt that a number (cost) for the world wide investment in both radio astronomy and remote sensing systems should be determined. Mike Klein agreed to develop a number for radio astronomy. Karen St. Germain agreed to look into the number for remote sensing, with assistance from Kunkee.

4. The extreme importance of our response to RM 9740 (the FCC proceeding on Satellite Network Out-of-Band and Spurious Emissions) was discussed at length. CORF's ability to alert radio astronomers through the AAS bulletin system (thanks to Kevin Marvel) led to a substantial number of filings of comments to the FCC (over 100) supporting the need to protect radio astronomy and remote sensing.

OPEN SESSION

March 6, 2000

The presentations listed in the Agenda were presented as listed, and the viewgraphs of those presenters can serve as the "notes" for those presentations. However, one additional presentation was was given by Dick Barth (Dept of Commerce/Office of Freq. Management) in which NOAA's concerns regarding the proposed IMT2000 and fixed wireless Access (FWA) service allocations in the 2.7- 3.5 GHz band, and their potential interference to NextRad, currently operating from 2700-2900 MHz. The concern of protecting GPS frequencies for scientific uses (as well as Navigation) was also discussed, as were issues to be addressed in WRC 2000.

A teleconference was convened with Ken Tapping (DRO/Canada), with Celso Gutierrez (INAOE) present. The new mm-wave observatory being constructed in Mexico was discussed, as well as other hemispheric issues. It was concluded that some discussions with the hemispheric coordinating organizations (such as CITEL) will be explored.

In a very informative presentation was given by Thomas Mooring of the FCC Spectrum Policy Branch. In addition to the viewgraph materials, he reminded us that a current FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WT 00-32) sought input on the updating and merging of footnotes US311 and US257 in the US allocation table.

CLOSED SESSION

March 7, 2000

The closed session included a discussion with Gary Brown, Chair, US National Committee for URSI. Also present was Tamae Wong (NRC International Organizations Program Director). Problems in the URSI meeting structure regarding frequency allocation sessions were discussed. Gary felt URSI could play a pivotal role in bringing together scientists and engineers involved both with radio scientific and telecommunicatins activities. He solicited articles on the technical issues involved with RF compatibility of different services. He also felt that a special emphasis should be given by funding agencies (e.g. NSF) which would allow technological solutions to problems such as out-of-band and spurious emissions.

A presentation was also made by the Committee's Legal Consultant (Paul Feldman, Esq.). Besides reviewing the Committee's numerous filings over the past year, he briefed the Committee on the upcoming visit to be made by Committee Members (incl. Steffes, St.Germain, Riemer and Feldman) to the FCC. Meetings would be held with staffs of all Commissioners (except Kennard) and with the Int. Bureau. He also mentioned that the FCC would convene an informal "Industry Panel" regarding the out-of-band and spurious issues addressed in RM-9740. It was felt that CORF representation on that panel was critical.

Some discussion regarding schedule of the next meeting was also held. Strong interest in a Fall teleconference was expressed.