International Amateur Radio Union
Region 1
Working for the future of amateur radio
World Radio Conference makes
important decisions on amateur radio
(IARU-R1) 3 July 2003
The World Radio Conference held in Geneva in June/July 2003 concluded
some important agreements on amateur radio.
Click here for a report
by Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, of IARU.
In summary the main changes are:
7 MHz
The big news for radio amateurs is that there will be a dramatic
improvement in the 40-meter band! After weeks of debate and efforts to
resolve great differences between numerous proposals, including strong
positions for no change, the conference agreed to shift broadcasting
stations in Regions 1 and 3 out of the 7100-7200 kHz band and to
reallocate the band to the amateur service in those two regions. The
allocation in Region 2 of 7000-7300 kHz remains exclusively amateur. The
broadcasting band in Regions 1 and 3 will become 7200-7450 kHz and in
Region 2, 7300-7400 kHz. The change will take effect on 29 March 2009 -
a relatively short time by ITU standards.
Click here for details of the new
frequency allocations (47k Word file) from that date.
In Regions 1 and 3 the 7100-7200 kHz band will become exclusively
amateur on that date. A footnote containing the names of countries that
are mainly in Region 3 and the Arab States makes the band also available
to the fixed and mobile services in those countries on a primary basis.
Article 25
A package of revisions to the international Radio Regulations that are
specific to the amateur and amateur-satellite services has been adopted.
The revised Article 25 takes effect on Saturday, 5 July 2003.
Click here for the complete although as yet unofficial
Article 25. An explanation authored by Michael Owen, VK3KI, who has
guided the work of the IARU on this issue since 1996
is also available.
Other changes
Other changes at WARC-03 included the introduction of greater
flexibility into how amateur callsigns are structured, and a number of
ancillary agreements which impinge onto amateur frequencies.
Click here for
details.