In the late 1950's inventive Hams began experimenting with connecting the output of a receiver to the input of a transmitter. Some additional circuitry allowed this arrangement to provide automatic retransmission of amateur signals. These "repeaters" provided a much greater range of dependable communications on the VHF and UHF bands. Because of the proliferation of these "repeaters", the F.C.C. decided in 1972 to require special "WR" prefix licenses for these stations. These licenses were issued with limitations on station coverage (ERP).

With the increasing availability of equipment specifically designed for VHF & UHF service, Hams became more interested in constructing repeaters. As the quantity and profiles of repeaters increased, so did interference from various sources. Repeater frequency coordination was becoming increasingly necessary. In the winter of 1970, a meeting was held in Philadelphia, PA at which the concept of coordination was agreed upon (on 2 meters, the use of a 600 KHz offset). This was the preliminary step to forming groups like the O.A.R.C. where repeater Trustees and technicians met to discuss their respective problems and institute the concept of repeater coordination. Shortly thereafter, the O.A.R.C. was organized.

In the 1980's the F.C.C. suddenly stopped issuing "WR" callsigns and deregulated the construction of repeaters. An increasing number of repeater applications resulted. Some F.C.C. backed authority became necessary to give the repeater councils the ability to enforce coordination.

In 1984 the F.C.C. issued a rule change basically giving repeater councils the authority to sanction a repeater before it was put on the air to make an attempt to limit the interference to existing users of a frequency. "Coordination" is interpreted to mean a system approved for operation by a select organization of Hams knowledgeable in the various intracacies of repeaters and their operation. In order to follow this guideline, the Ohio Area Repeater Council was restructured and the Constitution was updated to better describe the function it had already been doing.

Since that time, the O.A.R.C. has provided coordination and maintained records of all repeaters operating in Ohio. These records have proven useful to the F.C.C. more than once in enforcing the rules of Amateur Radio.

The O.A.R.C. consists of Trustees of repeaters operating in Ohio. Each Trustee of a coordinated repeater is eligible to be a member of the O.A.R.C. and to be elected to a position within the Council. The Board of Directors consists of five Directors elected from the membership at large, one each year, for a five year term. The Board of Directorsappoints Staff members (Secretary, Treasurer, Coordination Committee, etc.) as required to assist with the day-to-day operations of the Council. The O.A.R.C. is a member of the Mid-America Coordination Council, Inc. (MACC) which is a group of (currently 25) repeater councils. M.A.C.C. establishes uniform guidelines and technical standards for repeater operation. The O.A.R.C. is also now a certified member of the National Frequency Coordinators Council (NFCC), which was formed to be the single-point-of-contact for the F.C.C. in regard to repeater complaints or issues.

Dues for membership for the Trustee of a repeater coordinated with the O.A.R.C. are currently $5.00 per year per repeater. Membership in the O.A.R.C. is NOT a requirement for the issuance of coordination.

General membership meetings are currently held in April and October of each year on the second Saturday of the month at a location announced by newsletter.

The Board of Directors of the O.A.R.C. meets periodically between these meetings to conduct the general buisness of the Council. These meetings are open to interested parties, provided a request for the meeting details is received in advance by the O.A.R.C. Secretary.