There is an interesting post elsewhere about our Part 15 FM petition discussions. You'll have to ignore the name calling and the fact that the poster obviously can't be bothered to read all the discussion material.
There is a valid point somewhere in that post, however, although it isn't directly stated. The discussions are going to have to brought together into a petition document that will be presented to the FCC and other interested parties. So, even though we're waiting on more experimentation and research to be completed, now may be the time to start thinking about how this document will be put together.
It's a non trivial task. Just reading the LPFM petition (to become primary or commercial) demonstrates that. While I don't expect that a Part 15 petition will be as exhaustive, all statements within that document will need to be supported by facts (and not just opinions, or wants).
It is my opinion that while support from all interested Part 15 FM operators, as well as the ALPB, would be nice, the document can't be written by everyone. My experience in the consulting field tells me you'll need a small, working group to gather together the material, organize it and then produce it. Whether that is done under the umbrella of the ALPB would be up to the ALPB (it doesn't have to be). Perhaps that can be an agenda item in the next meeting.
I also don't propose that the document be written here in the Forum, out in the open. There will be too many deliberate distractions from the nay sayers and unintended ones from the pro sayers. You just need a directed effort to produce it, and then you open it up to comments from outside the working group before going public with it.
So perhaps those most interested in a change in the rules should start thinking if they would be willing to participate in this effort.
I'm interested as long as someone helps actually write the petition. I'm not good with the correct way of doing it and I'd look stupid and the FCC would not take lightly not having everything done in a professional business like manner. Jeff Gill is writing a petition for more power on AM but he has some personal issues to deal with as I wrote him about FM. He did say if I had something quick he'd help so maybe when its ready we could ask him his thoughts. I agree we need to have the facts no guessing or it will be thrown out. If the ALPB in its entirety doesn't want to be an activist we can form a separate group with some of the members of the ALPB. We have teamspeak server so we could form a channel so us Pro Fmers can meet and scheme there. We can call it ProFM or something else if you rather a more professional sounding name like Part15 FM or something small like Turbo15. There could be a website (Pass coded and encrypted with 128 bit encryption so the trolls can't get it. Even make it a TOR only access group where you have to have the encryption key to get onto the hidden site that no one can hack. Well at least not easily. This is where we can say what we want without fear till its ready for the public. I know this sounds like CSI cyber here lol. But if someone else steals our work they could publish it and make us look bad so we just want to keep it quiet and on the DL till done. I just hope we didn't already do too much damage (or should I add myself in that equation). I know I was a big pro FM dude and still am but the prevention measures I thought of I still want in the higher power transmitters to stop Johnny Punks (I know we can't call it that when done there is a politically correct word for that name I do it to let off steam). Also going to Washington D.C by myself I would not last not only because I don't get around well, but again I'm not experienced with law and I'd most likely find myself in federal prison for saying something I should not. I realize this is not a game though I act like a person with a attitude at times there is no time for that in a federal system. This is the one and only chance we get to do something good for the rest of part 15 so the country is counting on us to do it right the first time. Its going to take a very tough skin so we have to be ready to be torn to shreds and picked apart for our efforts. We also have to look at the repack and how it could effect FM as we talked about 87.9 I really am not sure that will happen maybe a sub part of the petition could talk about this but again wireless mics were considered not a good use of the FM band so we really need to word things right or the FCC could argue that part 15 is not a good use for FM and tell us to play on AM only. I have a feeling since the other site has engineers who feel like that maybe the way the FCC feels but we don't know till we try. In the short time I started to stir the pot on this and kick up a lot of stink in a very short time we did get more done than I expected in the process. The NAB has helped me too in many ways with experimenting with AM and to have a better understanding about field strength uV/M at 3 meters and what it takes to get a range of around 1-2 miles. Now I'm willing to play with the AM side too. Its truly a wonderful learning process as we learn about science and how Radio transmitters work and how different things effect range like multipath and L shaped antennas. Now is the time for a huge brain storm and making it all happen. If there already is an activist group we could certainly merge with it. The fact that we are a topic of conversation means an interest in what we are trying to do. Its how we can get our group established and that was one thing we talked about in the meeting. I can imagine we'd get a lot of likes if our petition has merit and solid and hard to put bullet holes in the plan. Sorry it has to be secret until release just like Windows 10 was. Some beta testers knew some of what was coming but even more things came when it was final. Its not to be sneaky or underhanded but the way professionals do things. So I'm already thinking about stuff for the next meeting. Best Regards and lets start to think about this secret plan.
It's not secret.
It's just that you need a small, dedicated group to get things done. Otherwise you waste all your time communicating and not enough time doing.
Once you have a draft, you can invite comments from all interested parties.
As a start, one might take a look at proposals to the FCC from ARRL. This will give you some idea on how to make your pitch.
In Post # 1 Artisan stated: "The discussions are going to have to brought together into a petition document that will be presented to the FCC and other interested parties."
What do you mean "other interested parties?"
If you mean the NAB, SBE, ARRL, and whoever else, are you sure that we need to address more than simply the FCC itself?
Won't those other organizations be given a "comment period" and we a "rebuttal opportunity?"
I am only guessing, not knowing the ropes.