[NLRS] Digital in contesting: CAC report

[Jon Platt]

As your Dakota Division CAC representative, let me tell you that the CAC is keenly aware of this topic and has it under discussion.  This topic crosses both HF contesting as well as VHF+ contesting with some similar and some different issues.  Its complex.  And has been mentioned, there are a lot of positives that digital modes bring to both HF and VHF+ contesting and these need to be weighed into any actions.  We are listening, talking, and we appreciate the constructive input from all sources.
Here is where we are at.
Regarding HF contesting the CAC has recommended to the ARRL PSC that the current RTTY RU contest should be RTTY only.   This recommendation was made in concert with a proposal to create a new digital only contest.  Both of these recommendations were recently approved by the PSC at their July board meeting.   However, the PSC has directed the contest manager not to take any RU actions until the new digital only contest is established.  At this time the CAC is still working on the rules for the new digital only contest.  So looking forward, and I can't give you any exact dates, we should have the RU contest return to be RTTY only while at the same time a new digital only contest will be created too.
Regarding VHF+ contesting, the issue is much more complex and the discussion within the CAC has only recently started.  While it remains a passionate issue for many, the CAC is currently working to first understand the impact that FT8 has had on VHF+ contesting.  There has been vocal comments by quite a few op's (myself included) related to FT8's impact on activity, rovers, and high band operations.  However we have little actual data so far to back up this these observations.   As such the current work within the CAC is to generate data that documents the impact that FT8 has made and that we can in turn then use to support any recommend rule changes (if any is made).  I think we all understand that making contest rule changes can have a significant negative impact if made without first understanding the issue (ie, having data).  
73, JonW0ZQ