[CQ-Contest] Assisted - still trying to get it right

[kr2q at optonline.net]

It was recently posted that:

[snip]
That's not Single-Op Assisted, that's (technically) Multioperator.  The
definition of "Assisted" in both CQ and ARRL contests is specifically
limited to spotting assistance, with "spot" presumably defined as a complete
identification of call sign, frequency, and time.  "Assisted" category does
not cover all forms of "assistance" - as I discuss in this evening's issue
of the Contester's Rate Sheet.
[end snip]

I couldn't DISAGREE more.  Please read the CQWW Rules:
http://www.cqww.com/WW%20Rules%202006.pdf

Note that it says, :

"The use of DX alerting assistance of any kind places the station in the SINGLE OPERATOR
ASSISTED category."  That is a direct QUOTE!  Please note the phrase "of any kind."

Your stated "presumption" of the definition to mean the "complete identification of call sign,
frequency, and time" is your own invention and certainly NOT correct for CQWW.  You have
somehow narrowed the definition of "of any kind" to be something very specific, which is not
part of the rule.  You go on to state the exact opposite of the rule states when you state
that "the rules does not cover all forms of assistance."  When it comes to DX alerting
assistance, Yes it does cover all kinds!

When someone says that the band is open "to the Pacific" and you are in the USA (or VE or etc), it is my considered opinion, that such "notification" certainly does qualify as "DX alerting assistance OF ANY KIND."  It's about DX and it is assistance.  What else would you call it?  The fact that it resulted in additional DX qso's is just more proof (but not necessary to meet the criteria). 

What if you are competing with your buddy in a "local" or "regional" or "club" competition.
You are both slugging it out on an equal basis.  You both have the same years experience,
you both have the same rig, antennas, and tower, and you both are at the same elevation
with the same "surrounding" terrain topography.  You are both approaching the finish line and
you both have essentially the same score.  Suddenly, someone "mentions" to your competitor
that "the band is open to the Pacific" and he works some extra Q's or an extra mult or two,
and as a result, he wins.  Are you telling me that he was not "assisted?"

If there were an organized effort to find other club members and "alert them" about band
opening (say, on 10m during the sunspot bottom), and as a result, many of those club
members "discover" more Q's and maybe more mults, how could that NOT be defined as
assisted?  Does it make a difference if the "alerting" is over the internet or over the HF air?

Food for thought.

DISCLAIMER:
The concepts and interpretations mentioned above are my own and should not be construed
as any official or unofficial consensus by any contest committee with which I may be 
associated.

de Doug KR2Q