Minutes of the fourth meeting of the 450-470 MHz band realignment project industry working group held on 1st August 2000 at No.1 Victoria Street

Apologies:

Gerald David
Tim Cull

Minutes:

The group agreed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Draft Consultation Document:

The members of the group discussed the draft consultation document. Adrian Grilli suggested that there were three questions that need to be answered about the document. What is its purpose? Who is it targeted at? And, What do we want to achieve from it?

The members of the group decided that the consultation document would be useful as a cover sheet for the questionnaire if the first four paragraphs were used as an introduction and not referred to as a consultation document but as a "Request for Information".

There were a number of changes suggested to the wording of the document. The reference to "Europe" was considered by members to give an unfair emphasis on the reasons for the change and that it should be emphasised that it is the UKs decision to go ahead with realignment and not because of an EU directive.

In the second paragraph the words "Scanning Telemetry" to be replaced by "Telemetry and Telecontrol"

In the third paragraph it was decided that the reference to the "south of England" should be changed to "in the UK".

It was agreed by the group that the amended first four paragraphs should form an introduction to the questionnaire and that the pressing issue was the devising and distributing of a questionnaire and that this issue should be given priority.

Draft Questionnaire:

Glenn Everett introduced the draft questionnaire to the members of the group who discussed the contents and design of the form. It was decided that the members of the group should each draft a questionnaire with particular focus on their sector of the radio industry.

The members agreed to produce their documents by the end of August and forward them to the IWG secretary who would then forward them to Glenn Everett. Action: IWG Members

To facilitate this the Chairman agreed to circulate a set of questions giving an overall framework for the questionnaire to all members. Action: Chair/Secretary

The members discussed the introduction of the questionnaire, it was decided that the first four paragraphs of the consultation document could be modified to form an introduction for it.

Band Plan:

The group reviewed the current status of the band plan. The question of digital and analogue compatibility was discussed with the general view that separation where possible was the ideal to aim for and that dealing in blocks of frequency would be the safest way of ensuring that both technologies could successfully co-exist in the same band.

Tim Culls' Paper:

The members of the board discussed the points raised by the paper produced by Tim Cull, in particular the proposal that some users could move before the 2005 deadline. It was agreed that this would prove difficult but should be investigated further as a way of speeding up the realignment procedure.

AOB:

Adrian Grilli requested a copy of the Republic of Irelands bandplan. The Chairman confirmed he had a copy and would forward one to him. Action: Chairman

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 4th October at 11 AM in Kingsgate House on Victoria Street.

MIKE PURDOM