MABAS Special Communications Committee
Meeting Minutes
March 17, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. at Lisle-Woodridge Fire Station 1. Present were committee members Dave Dato, Wauconda; Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; Steve Rauter, Lisle-Woodridge; John Lozar, Ducomm; Bob Mierop, Bolingbrook; Dave Riddle, Channahon; Bill Bouma, Mount Pleasant; and Greg Riddle, IFCA Communications Committee.
Chief Maplethorpe reported that IMSA is honoring the MABAS Communications Committee’s request for concurrence on the identified MABAS dispatch and fireground frequencies. The procedure for issuing concurrence letters was discussed. The concept of combining resources for concurrence with other similar entities like IREACH and IDPH was considered.
It was decided that requests for concurrence would be forwarded to all committee members for comment within 48 hours. The response to IMSA or APCO would be provided under the signature of the committee.
Additional discussion with APCO coordinators Bill Carter and TJ Ward needs to be held to work out procedures.
A/C Rauter agreed to host a website for the MABAS Communications Committee at Lisle-Woodridge. He will attempt to secure the URL of www.mabasradio.org. Advocacy statements, meeting minutes, coordination forms, related links and other information will be hosted on the site.
A lengthy discussion concerning the FCC’s recent narrowband deadlines was held. It appears that all significant licensing for 25 kHz frequencies must be completed before August 2002. It was suggested that this information be passed to fire departments at the IFCA Symposium, through the GONG publication and OSFM. A position cover letter will be produced.
Greg Riddle agreed to discuss IFERN base and mobile issues with APCO’s legal staff.
Frequencies for Division 15 to relocate them from 154.295 were discussed. 154.310MHz has considerable co-channel interference from Indiana. Narrow band frequencies recently licensed by WESCOM were considered. Narrow band paging issues remain a problem for conversion to narrow band at this time.
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2003 at 1000 hours at Lisle-Woodridge Station 1. Please mark your calendars.