Decades ago when repeaters were so active and numerous that they were
interfering with each other, Mitch was appointed as a section frequency
coordinator (by some authority of ARRL, not FCC). The plan was to
assure that repeaters would be separated sufficiently by distance or
frequency to avoid interference. The rules for frequency pair and
intermod interference at any particular site is, of course, the the
primary obligation of any new site. But Mitch's role was to regulate the
amateur repeater proliferation.
At about that time we either reduced power or skewed the radiation
pattern of our 625 machine because our transmitter was either opening
the squelch or overpowering the signal of a Boston area repeater to
remote receivers. We got several complaints from a club that Tom,
WA1YNU, used to belong to when he lived in that area before moving to
Barre. The change limited our very valuable south east radiation
pattern down I-89, that used to have a strong signal all the way to
White River Jct and beyond.
Mitch was put in the position of being able to dictate what repeaters
could do, in spite of the part 74 rule that allows any licensed operator
to use remote operation. Knowing Mitch, you know that he took that role
very seriously.
Ed, n1fmp