Beginning August 1 at 0100 UTC.
Frequency:  3810 khz or first clear spot between 3810 and the general class
sub-band limit.
Essentially 3810 khz or next clear spot below 3810 but above 3803 khz.

Duration:  We'll try to remain actively guarding that frequency until 0500
UTC. 

The net will handle all legal traffic.  Any traffic which would be other than
an informal "words with" etc. should be formal written traffic. 
Net members such as NTS liaisons with other nets may wish to assist those not
conversant with formulating formal messages. 

                            Rationale

The central area night watch is not intended to draw usual
functions such as tcc schedules from the usual scheduled cyclic activity of
region and area nets within central area.  Its sole purpose is providing
manual access to the NTS structure for
stations who may for whatever reason be unable to access normal Morse circuits
during those hours.   A second purpose is to provide support for ARRL sections
experiencing communication difficulties and outages due to disasters or large
scale emergencies.

Many sections do not operate late sessions of their cycle 4 nets. Although
parts of regions 5 and 7 may be covered by the presence of independent phone
nets the remainder of central area is under served after about 0115 UTC.     
This will give stations who would otherwise be able to provide access to NTSD
circuits who are not cw operators a method to pick up traffic. 

With some daytime nets within central area unable to provide every day service
methods of access to the system in addition to those during limited times is
desirable to help educate and recruit new traffic handlers.  By encouraging
mobiles and others to maintain a listening watch during nighttime hours with a
controlled net helping facilitate communications could provide great benefits
as I discussed in the white paper I submitted to multiple ARRL bodies, and for
public comment. 

This is a pilot project which will begin running August first at 0100Z. 

Another important reason for the net to exist would be the standing up of an
emergency resource almost immediately when needed.  This would provide all
comers with outlets for traffic, including health and welfare advisories from
the disaster area and tactical
messages, both formal and informal. 

Short term goal is to maintain a directed net until 0300 UTC daily with
stations standing a watch over that frequency until 0500. When a pattern of
activity is established for the net eventual goals would be to stand up
controlled net operations first quarter of every hour or until business
handled, with a listening watch the other 45 minutes of each hour. 

All stations with appropriate amateur privileges are encouraged to utilize the
facilities of Central Area Nightwatch. 

Central Area NIghtwatch is part of the ARRl National Traffic system.  All
stations are welcome.

Richard Webb, NF5B

Chair, ARRl NTS Central Area
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 * Origin:  (1:116/901)