International Amateur Radio Union
Region 1
Working for the future of amateur radio
IARU Council Addresses Strategic
Issues
Report on Annual Meeting held in Amsterdam
IARU (R1) 16 September, 2003
The
Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
held its annual meeting on 6-8 September 2003 in Amsterdam.
The meeting was to be held in Taipei in conjunction with the IARU Region
3 Conference but was moved to Amsterdam when the Region 3 Conference had
to be postponed to next year as a result of travel restrictions arising
from concerns about SARS.
The Council took the following actions:
1. Four hours of the meeting were devoted to a strategic planning
session with a planning horizon of the year 2010. Several key issues
that are likely to influence the future of the IARU were identified. A
report is to be drafted and circulated for further consideration by the
Council early in 2004.
2. The results of the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference
concerning the amateur and amateur-satellite services were reviewed in
detail. The Council congratulated and thanked all individuals and
organizations who contributed to the satisfactory outcome. IARU
member-societies were urged to bring to the attention of their
administrations the desirability of adopting specific changes in their
domestic regulations for the amateur and amateur-satellite services, so
that they will be consistent with the revised Article 25 of the
international Radio Regulations.
3. The Council revised an existing Resolution concerning the Morse code
in the light of the WRC-03 decision to leave to each administration the
question of whether or not to require a demonstration of Morse skill to
operate below 30 MHz. Under the revised Resolution, IARU policy is to
support the removal of Morse code testing requirements.
4. A working document describing the spectrum requirements for radio
spectrum allocations to the amateur and amateur-satellite services was
reviewed and updated, particularly to reflect the results of WRC-03. One
result of WRC-03 was the adoption of a recommended agenda for the next
WRC presently scheduled for 2007. The agenda includes two items of
interest to the amateur service: a review of allocations between 4 and
10 MHz and a possible secondary low-frequency amateur allocation at 136
kHz. While considerable progress was made at WRC-03 toward fulfilling
amateur service spectrum requirements at 7 MHz, the requirements were
not fully satisfied and there may be an opportunity to revisit the issue
at WRC-07.
5. The ITU meetings at which IARU representation will be required for
the coming year were identified, and plans for representation were
reviewed. The IARU will participate in meetings within Study Group 1 of
the ITU Radiocommunication Sector concerning the interference potential
of high data rate telecommunication systems using power lines (variously
referred to as PLC, PLT, and BPL).
6. The budget for 2004-2006 was presented by the International
Secretariat (ARRL). The budget includes provision for financial
contributions from the three regional organizations to defray a portion
of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy. The
Council thanked the International Secretariat for its continuing
financial support of the IARU.
7. Council reaffirmed the importance of World Amateur Radio Day,
celebrated each year on 18 April, as an opportunity to present a
positive image of Amateur Radio to the general public. World Amateur
Radio Day marks the anniversary of the founding of the IARU in 1925.
8. Preparations for the IARU exhibit at the upcoming ITU TELECOM World
2003 (Geneva) were reviewed. TELECOM World 2003 is the world's largest
telecommunications exhibition and is visited by many telecommunications
administrators and other important officials.
9. Reports of volunteer IARU international coordinators and advisers
were received. At the request of the IARU Satellite Adviser, policies
concerning frequency coordination of satellites operating in the
amateur-satellite service bands were clarified. In response to the
increased emphasis placed on emergency and disaster relief
communications in Article 25 of the international Radio Regulations, the
new volunteer position of IARU Disaster Communications Adviser was
created.
10. The International Secretariat presented nominations of candidates
for President and Vice President for the 2004-2009 term, and the
nominations were unanimously endorsed by the Council. Larry E. Price,
W4RA, was nominated for a second term as President. Timothy S. Ellam,
VE6SH/G4HUA, was nominated as Vice President. The nominations will be
submitted to the IARU member-societies for ratification.
11. Retiring Vice President David A. Wardlaw, VK3ADW, was recognized for
his long and devoted service to the IARU.
12. The Council requested that the ARRL, as the contest organizer, have
its Contest Advisory Committee consider the merits of proposals for
changes in the rules of the IARU HF World Championship.
13. The next scheduled meeting of the Council will be held in Trinidad &
Tobago on 2-4 October 2004, following the Conference of IARU Region 2.
Attending the Amsterdam meeting were:
IARU President Larry Price, W4RA; Vice President David Wardlaw, VK3ADW;
Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; regional representatives Ole Garpestad,
LA2RR, Don Beattie, G3BJ, Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Pedro Seidemann,
YV5BPG, Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Tim Ellam, VE6SH, Fred Johnson, ZL2AMJ, K.
C. Selvadurai, 9V1UV, and Yoshiji Sekido, JJ1OEY; and recording
secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI.