This page contains answers to common questions about MetroCor.
1. Why do systems need coordination? And, for that matter, why do we need MetroCor?
Frequency Coordination has many purposes. These purposes vary from region to region, however this general overview is applicable for the MetroCor service area, which is one of the most densely populated areas in the entire country. To understand why frequency coordination is necessary, you must first understand the limitations of certain types of stations.
Not all systems can share the same frequency due to mutual interference, so each must operate on its own unique frequency or set of frequencies. The users of a particular system will then know where to "find" it when needed. Frequency Coordination is a method to minimize interference among these stations while maximizing use of the limited radio spectrum available to the Amateur Radio Service by planning what specific frequency or frequencies a given station will operate on in a specific area. Frequency coordinators provide these planning services by maintaining records of existing systems and by either approving or recommending frequencies for use by new stations. The frequencies used for coordinated stations (commonly called a "band-plan" or "frequency utilization plan") vary somewhat in different parts of the country. It is a good idea to know the band-plan in your area, even if you do not use coordinated systems.
Frequency coordination is also necessary, or at least is in the best interests of all repeater stations, due to the following FCC rule:
97.205(c) Where the transmissions
of a repeater cause harmful
interference to another repeater, the two station licensees
are equally and fully responsible for resolving the
interference unless the operation of one station is
recommended by a frequency coordinator and the operation of
the other station is not. In that case, the licensee of the
non-coordinated repeater has primary responsibility to resolve
the interference.
In other words, the failure of a region to have an active coordination council could potentially jeopardize the operation of every single repeater, packet node, beacon, auxiliary link, and remote base in the region. Virtually every user of VHF and higher Amateur frequencies would be affected.
2. What is MetroCor?
The name MetroCor
stands for the Metropolitan Coordination Association, Inc., an entirely
not-for-profit organization created to serve the region with frequency
coordination, database management and (in extreme cases) supports dispute
resolution services.
MetroCor is the
frequency coordinator for the Northern New Jersey, Westchester County, NYC and
Long Island regions. Its goal is to promote responsible Amateur Radio operations
and usage through coordination, and cross-coordination in the FCC-authorized
Amateur Radio spectrum above 29MHz. To accomplish this goal, MetroCor
promulgates proper policies encouraging membership in MetroCor so as to promote
cooperation and the avoidance of interference between and among users of the
spectrum. In extreme cases involving Amateur Radio frequency coordination,
MetroCor endorses alternate dispute resolution through the available facility
within the ARRL, as well as other sources.
Specifically, our Constitution highlights the purposes of our organization as follows:
"�to promote and encourage cooperation a) among Amateur Radio Operators in achieving the coordinated use of that portion of the radio frequency spectrum allocated by the Federal Communications Commission to the Amateur Radio Service and to amateur radio auxiliary and repeater communications; b) with the Federal Communications Commission in the application of the rules governing the Amateur Radio Service; and c) by Amateur Radio Operators with public emergency management agencies and private disaster relief agencies during times of need.�
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3. MetroCor's Origin of Purpose
MetroCor began as a task force, organized in January 2000 by a group of concerned, licensed Amateur Radio operators who understood the consequences of the region not being served by a regional frequency coordination council. They knew that the use of Amateur Radio frequencies above 29.5 MHz were endangered through a lack of coordination within the area, as well as a lack of cross-coordination with adjacent, regional areas being served by existing frequency coordination organizations.
MetroCor's creation was achieved with a new core of founders and a fresh attitude toward getting the job done. Most importantly, the officers and directors of MetroCor have learned from the lessons of the past, so that they may guard against repeating those same mistakes in the future.
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MetroCor was created through the impetus of concerned members of the Amateur Radio community. The list of the Founding Fathers are included in the charter. The current officers listed below. The founders had a wide range of backgrounds and interests within Amateur Radio upon which to draw. Some were more active on HF as well as users of the spectrum above 29.5 MHz, but each of the founders had a keen sense of the consequences of uncoordinated activity.
A number of other groups had attempted
to start new coordination councils or breathe fresh life into old ones but, for various reasons, never got off the
ground. MetroCor is a totally new effort, with a new core of founders and a fresh attitude
toward getting the job done. Most importantly, the officers and directors of MetroCor
have learned from the lessons of the past so that the same mistakes aren't made in the future.
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5. What area does MetroCor serve?
 |
Area
in green is covered by MetroCor
Area in beige is covered by CSMA Area in blue is covered by UNYREPCO Area in grey is covered by ARCC |
MetroCor provides coordination services to licensed Amateur Radio operators in the New Jersey Counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, as well as the New York Counties of Bronx, Kings, New York (Manhattan), Queens and Richmond (Staten Island) in New York City, Westchester County to the north, and the Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk.
In general, MetroCor�s coordination area includes parts of the American Radio Relay League (�ARRL�) Hudson Division, which is all of the Northern New Jersey (�NNJ�) Section, with the exception of the New Jersey counties of Sussex, Hunterdon and Warren.
Westchester County is part of the ARRL�s Eastern New York (�ENY�) section.
The New York City and Long Island counties also comprise the ARRL�s New York City � Long Island section (�NLI�) .
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6. Neighboring Coordination Councils to MetroCor
- State of Connecticut - CSMA � Connecticut Spectrum Management Association.
- New England, except Connecticut and Vermont - NESMC - New England Spectrum Management Council
- Vermont - VIRCC
- NY State counties north and west of Westchester County � UNYREPCO � Upper New York Repeater Council.
- Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon Counties in Northern New Jersey, as well as Southern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania � ARCC � Area Repeater Coordination Council."
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MetroCor is governed by a Board of Directors, composed of both elected officers plus officers appointed by approval of the Board to serve MetroCor.
The current officers are:
Board of Directors
President Mario S. Sellitti, N2PVP Vice President Lance C Alfieri, N2HBA Treasurer Richard L. Gelber, K2WR Secretary David M. Krumholz, WA2YYL
Director Lawrence M. Lutzak, WA2CNV Director Mark J. Herson, N2MH Director Stan Coffield, N2NKI Director Robert W. Myers, K2TV Director Stephan Barreres, K2CX Back to Top
Aside from the founding members, membership
in MetroCor is open to any individual with an Amateur Radio license, who has an interest in the purposes of the
Corporation, as defined in the Constitution. These purposes generally include any channelized
operation, using any mode, on Amateur Radio frequencies above 29.5 MHz. Owners, operators,
and trustees of repeaters, packet nodes, beacons, auxiliary links, and remote bases;
weak signal devotees; repeater users; and virtually any user of Amateur Radio frequencies
at VHF and higher, without regard to class of license, should have an interest in, and
be a member of, MetroCor.
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MetroCor maintains an official address at:
MetroCor, inc.
305-12 Knickerbocker Ave,
Bohemia, NY 11716
with the appropriate fees.
E-mail: metrocor@metrocor.net
Coordination and Membership applications, as well as other inquiries regarding membership information may be sent to this address.In addition, please email Mario N2PVP if you have any other questions. He will get the answer from the proper person in Metrocor and email you back.
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The MetroCor web site offers information on the organization, as well as downloadable copies of our Constitution and By-Laws, recent press releases, coordination, link and membership applications. It is our intention to ultimately provide access to our coordination database and other coordination services electronically through our web site. In addition, check our new features such as a bulletin board and direct �per band� e-mail addresses, to better direct inquiries.
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11. "Active" systems that hold expired coordination from the former TSARC (Tri-State Amateur Radio Council)" - "Grace Period" to end at 12:00 Midnight, December 15th, 2004.
1 - As with new system coordination applications, if the system is located in the MetroCor coordination area, coordination must be renewed through MetroCor via the coordination application process.
2 - Attached to the application(s) must be any and all forms of documentation that substantiate proof that the system-(s) did possess the former TSARC coordination.
3 - There must be no outstanding FCC complaint-(s) against the trustee and/or any control operators of the system(s) concerning the system(s) under application consideration.
4 - In order to allow the system(s) to be "grand-fathered", the coordination application information for each system must not differ in geographic, topographic and/or technical parameters from the previous information filed by the trustee of the former "TSARC granted" system(s) applying for MetroCor coordination.
Exception to No. 4) In the view of MetroCor, if such changes have occurred to a system(s) possessing "TSARC-granted" coordination, such that the changes do not "enhance" or improve the system, so far as the unchanged location coverage area of the system, and continue to serve the amateur community so served previously when the former coordination was granted, such system(s) will be considered "grand-fathered" for MetroCor coordination.
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12. How do I obtain frequencies for a new repeater or other emitter?
MetroCor is in the process of coordinating new frequency assignments, starting with the Ten Meter Band, and working "upwards" in frequencies.
It is still important to remember that MetroCor's services are performed by unpaid volunteers and that the task of evaluating each and every coordination is a daunting and time-consuming effort.
With that in mind, please do the following:
Coordination applications in PDF format are available elsewhere on this web site. Coordination applications when completed may be sent to:
MetroCor, inc.
305-12 Knickerbocker Ave,
Bohemia, NY 11716
with the appropriate fees.
We must have a fully completed, hard copy application for each system to be considered, in order for Metrocor to be able to accurately determine viable coordination of your system(s).
Keep in mind that submission of such coordination application(s) in no way guarantees coordination, although in most instances, coordination will eventually be granted, based on availability of frequencies on band segments of the available spectrum managed by MetroCor, and in cooperation and consideration of its neighboring coordination council �partners.
13. Relationship between MetroCor and the ARRL;
NFCC.
There is no connection or affiliation contemplated between the ARRL and MetroCor, Inc. Many of the members of MetroCor are ARRL members. However MetroCor itself has not and is not affiliated with the ARRL.
MetroCor is now listed on the National Frequency Coordinators' Council, Inc (NFCC) website, at http://www.arrl.org/nfcc , where you may also find further information on the NFCC.
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Why didn't you ask sooner?
Membership
applications in PDF format are available elsewhere on this web
site.
Membership applications when
completed, may be sent to:
MetroCor, inc.
305-12 Knickerbocker Ave,
Bohemia, NY 11716
with the appropriate fees.
We must have a hard copy application for us to be able to
accept your membership.
Online membership renewal will ultimately be available on our web site,
allowing you the convenience of renewing your membership electronically and paying your
dues by credit card.
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15. What benefits are there to membership in MetroCor?
By being a member, you have a voice in policy and planning, which helps MetroCor to gauge how it will further manage coordination and band plan matters now and in the future.
MetroCor annual membership dues help to:
 |
Defray the cost of running the organization, |
|
Maintain/improve the "imaged" and statistical coordination and Membership databases, |
|
Office supplies (stationary; printing) for issuance of documents such as Coordination and Membership certificates. |
|
PO Box fee, postage and handling. |
MetroCor membership, most importantly, helps in maintaining order on the bands.
Remember - membership in MetroCor should not be construed to be an application for coordination. Conversely, MetroCor membership is not a requirement for coordination. If you have a repeater system to coordinate, your first year's annual membership dues ($15.00) include the processing fee for your main or first emitter. Processing paperwork for additional emitters are at additional cost of $5.00 per system.
In addition, MetroCor supports mediation and arbitration services as outlined by the ARRL ADR ("Alternative Dispute Resolution") forum. However all matters to date have been resolved through ongoing dialog with the parties involved in a dispute, or by either MetroCor and its neighboring coordinating bodies and/or the FCC. MetroCor feels that such ADR forums are a "last resort".
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16. What is currently happening within MetroCor?
MetroCor continues its ongoing commitment in soliciting the support of the Amateur Radio Operators and the Amateur Radio Clubs in its service area.
The database is finally being cleared and updated so that we may finally address the long-overdue buildup on the "Waiting Lists" for all bands.
MetroCor is now listed on the NFCC website. We have our own website and domain name. We are considering other alliances and doing a complete overhaul of Band plans, software and coordinated system "real-time" access to their own data, in order to update MetroCor automatically.
In return, MetroCor has already provided valuable services for its Amateur Radio Operators within the MetroCor service area, as well as several support issues with neighboring coordinating bodies.
However MetroCor's ability to provide services is predicated not only by recognition and the support of the Amateur Radio community with coordination applications and MetroCor membership.
You can also help support MetroCor by volunteering your time and effort. We need Amateur Radio licensees to assist MetroCor to :
| perform site surveys in the field, |
| engineering and coordination studies, |
| and many other tasks on a variety of technical and non-technical levels. |
If you REALLY want to do something to help amateur radio locally, we HAVE a job for you!
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Copyright � 2001-2004 & beyond
All Rights Reserved
by MetroCor
Webmaster:
Gabriel Cuebas N2PQT