Welcome to the IARU-R1 webpage dedicated to the STARS program.
STARS stands for Support to The Amateur Radio Service and the Working Group (WG) is an integral part of the IARU-R1 organisation. The STARS program is supervised by the IARU-R1 Executive Committe.
What is the objective of the STARS WG?
The objective of the STARS program is to defend, protect, extend, develop and promote the amateur radio service. The work of STARS is specifically directed to those areas of the Region where amateur radio activity is low or non-existent.
| IARU in general is at its most representative for the amateur radio service when it has member societies in all the ITU member countries and when those societies have friendly and regular contacts with their national regulatory authorities. The basis for an active, viable and truly representative society is the recruitment of members with the nationality of the country. |
The STARS Program has been updated
The strategy, to put this philosophy into practice and to achieve the objectives of the STARS philosophy, was updated at the 2017 IARU-R1 Regional Conference in Landshut, Germany.
A copy of the Conference presentation can be found here.
The STARS WG works along the guidelines conslidated in the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference can be found via this link
STARS works on the basis of in-country projects, selected against a set of defined criteria.
The five criteria to commence a STARS project are:
- Pre-qualification of the in-country program manager.
This is a critically important phase, and without a suitable program manager, a STARS program cannot be commenced. - The governmental dimension.
Here we seek confirmation of:
- The Program Manager having an “open door” to the Regulator
- Spectrum Regulator supporting the development of Amateur Radio (accepting the ITU syllabus for accepting and organizing amateur radio exams)
- A existing, governmental, protocol for issuing individual licences
- An appropriate licence fee being is in place
- An appropriate (non-penal) Import Duty for radio equipmment being is in place - Creation of a “Radio Club” or “Radio Society”
To set-up associated training facilities. This should form the basis of establishing and growing amateur radio in the country. - Ability to import and use of radio equipment
to be used by the radiosociety or radioclub. - Consolidation of the STARS program
Nurturing, supporting and recognising local success of the program.
STARS projects are funded and sponsored by IARU R‑1’s Development Fund and are coördinated by the STARS WG. This Working Group consists of:
- A chairman appointed by the IARU-R1 General Conference. The chairman is responsible for the general coordination and logistics.
- A deputy chairman
- A STARS support group, comprising of people who are in a position to provide advice, guidance and support to projects.
- Those EC member appointed to liaise with the STARS WG such as:
- The IARU-Region 1 Treasurer (in charge of the Development Fund)
and
- Representatives of all the interested IARU-Region 1 member societies.
A STARS project can be requested in several ways:
- By a radio amateur in a country requesting for help to develop amateur radio in his country
- By a radio society, a member of the IARU-R1, where the society has not sufficient resources to start setting up activities due to the lack of knowledge.
- By a non member radio society wishing to revamp its local radio activities. In this case the local society should apply for IAUR-R1 memebership before a next step regarding STARS activities can be deployed.
IARU R‑1 welcomes initiatives from countries wishing to explore the possibility of starting a STARS project.
Please contact STARSxxiaru-r1.org (replace xx with @)) Some news items about STARS activity can be seen here.