As WRC23 gets closer so the preparatory activities for all the agenda items are increasing in intensity. The most pressing for the amateur community is the 23cm band radio navigation satellite service (RNSS) coexistence agenda item 9.1b. The IARU engagement is continuing with the studies in the regulatory institutions as well as amongst the amateur community. As detailed proposals are starting to emerge so the amateur community needs to be ready to defend its interests in this band.
Most recently the Region 1 PRC and SRLC collaborated to provide a consultation response to the European Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) that develops “Opinions” on the various WRC23 agenda items used by the European Union to develop its positions on the agenda items. Of course the 23cm band related agenda item 9.1b features heavily in the response. The full IARU R1 response can be found here. This is a parallel activity to the EU consultation to which the IARU responded just a few weeks ago (here).
Following the presentations given during the IARU R1 interim conference and the HamRadio2022 event, the IARU was kindly invited to present the 23cm band situation to the eme community at the 19th EME conference in Prague. Reactions were mixed. However the IARU maintains its objective to find a solution that can facilitate all the amateur radio applications active in the band today (including eme operations) even if some compromises will be inevitable.
To progress the 23cm band studies, ITU‑R Working Party 4C will meet during the second week of September. At this meeting the technical studies regarding the amateur service and radio navigation satellite service will be developed further. The IARU global 9.1b team is preparing contributions and will be participating in the meeting.
During the same week the European CEPT will be busy with its own Conference Preparatory Group (CPG) project team (PTA) focussing on the future WRC agenda items (so-called WRC Agenda Item 10). The discussion will develop the CEPT views on those items that CEPT will propose. Already some draft proposals are touching on spectrum bands of interest to the amateur service therefore IARU volunteers will be attending and making contributions this meeting too.