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VK3ZWI > IARU 03.09.00 12:56l 141 Lines 6793 Bytes #999 (999) @ WW
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Subj: IARU RIII sets course for future direction
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IARU RIII sets course for future direction
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By Jim Linton VK3PC
The IARU RIII 11th Conference held in Darwin, August 28-September 1, 2000,
considered a wide range of issues and many of them were concerned with
protecting and furthering the cause of amateur radio within the region, and
globally.
The region's 17 member societies participating in the conference
demonstrated their willingness to tackle the numerous issues facing the
Amateur Service and Amateur-Satellite Service in the 21st century.
Conference chairman, and WIA President, Peter Naish VK2BPN, commented on the
positive approach taken throughout the week-long conference, when he said it
clearly showed that IARU RIII spoke with a single voice.
The ITU Radio Regulation s25, that currently requires Morse code proficiency
in amateur licence testing, generated considerable discussion during
conference Working Group 3 (WRC-03).
However, at the end of the day and after a number of wording revisions, the
general intent of recommendations in a WIA input paper on the ITU RR s25,
which is to be reviewed at WRC-03, were adopted.
The Conference resolved to support lowering the amateur licence Morse code
test speed as a temporary measure, and the ultimate removal of Morse being
an ITU licence requirement.
At the final plenary session a motion, proposed by WIA, seconded SARTS,
read:
IARU Region III strongly supports Morse code as an effective and efficient
mode of communication. However, it believes that the position of Morse as a
qualifying criterion for a HF amateur licence is not relevant to the healthy
future of amateur radio. Therefore:
1. That IARU Region III urges member societies to seek, as an interim
measure, the reduction of all Morse code testing speeds to five words per
minute.
2. a) That setting aside any previous relevant decisions of earlier
Conferences, a policy of the removal of Morse code testing as an ITU
requirement for an amateur licence to operate on frequencies below 30 MHz
be adopted by IARU Region III.
3. b) Further, we recommend that the Administrative Council adopt the
above position as IARU policy.
The motion was passed, with ARRL voting against, and HARTS, whose members
had three years ago supported retention of a Morse code as a licence
requirement, recorded an abstention.
Also related to ITU RR s25 was another motion in which the Conference
addressed concern about the preliminary draft recommendation for WRC-03
(M-AOQ, ITU-R Document 8A/TEMP/91-E), which includes reference to "Radio
Telegraphy" under a list of Operating Skills for the amateur licence.
The concern expressed by delegates was that "Operating Skills" could be
misunderstood, and in fact it had been wrongly seen by some in the amateur
radio fraternity as indicating the retention of a Morse code telegraphy
skill.
Delegates heard that in ITU terminology, Radio Telegraphy meant all digital
modes of transmission. In a motion proposed RSGB, seconded ARRL, the
conference resolved to instruct the IARU RIII representatives on the IARU
Administrative Council to replace in the M-AOQ the term "Operating skills"
with "Methods of communication".
The conference noted crowding in the 40 metre band being experienced
particularly in countries with narrow allocations, and reaffirmed the IARU
objective of obtaining an exclusive worldwide 7MHz allocation of no less
than 300 kHz, was reaffirmed. The conference instructed the Directors of
IARU RIII to treat achievement of this objective as a matter of the highest
priority, and member societies in the region were urged to do all they can
in support.
The emergency and disaster communications traditionally provided by the
Amateur Service is set to be strengthened as a result of the Conference
recommending the establishment of a regional committee for disaster
communications.
It will seek to appoint disaster communications coordinators within Region
III, identify the recurring needs for disaster communications, and identify
resources that could be deployed to provide international assistance in
times of a disaster.
The Conference also gave its support for seeking a band allocation in the
vicinity of 5MHz, and to consider defining HF band segments (not 10, 18 or
24MHz) for use during international disaster emergency communications. It
was noted that IARU RII has already defined such segments in its band plans.
Among many other resolutions were those related to:
* Harmonisation of licensing in IARU RIII. A new position was
established to continue surveying member societies on their amateur licence
syllabuses and examination standards, and reporting further on the findings.
* Monitoring of interference from non-amateur transmissions to amateur
satellites. The objective is to establish a series of terrestrial monitors,
similar to the IARU Monitoring System (Intruder Watch) to gather information
on intruders so action can be taken against them.
* Internet based amateur licence education, and on-demand computerised
licence testing, which are now available in Australia and New Zealand
respectively
* The need for radio societies to be alert to the problems associated
with so-called Low Interference Potential Devices (LIPDs), and to lobby
against their licensing on the 70cm band, particularly where amateur
repeater activity occurs.
* The desirability of radio societies to lobby their national
administrations to adopt the self-assessment method for amateur stations to
enable them to meet Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) standards, backed up by
EMR education programs for radio amateurs.
* The seeking of an amateur allocation for a Low Frequency band,
either 165-190kHz and/or 135.7-137.8kHz. It is existing IARU policy to
pursue LF bands in all three IARU regions.
* The emergence of high speed data technology, such as xDSL, and its
intrusion into amateur bands.
The contributions of six radio amateurs to the IARU Monitoring System
(Intruder Watch) were recognised by the awarding of certificates commending
them for their long term efforts.
They were: Rohan Wahrich ZL1CVK, Gordon Loveday VK4KAL, B.L. Manohar VU2UR,
Isamu Kobayashi JA0AD, C.C. Robertson VK4AKX, and N. Yatheedandran 9V1JY.
One of the final matters decided at the Conference was the election of the
IARU RIII directors for the next three years.
They are Fred Johnson ZL1AMJ, Peter Naish VK2BPN, Yong S. Park HL1IFM,
Yoshiji Sekido JJ1OEJ, and KC Selvaduras 9V1UV. The directors appointed Fred
ZL1AMJ as chairman.
The Conference resolved that the IARU Conference in 2003 will be hosted by
CTARL and held in Taiwan.
(IARU RIII Conference Media Officer, Jim Linton VK3PC)
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