Revised Action Plan for 7 MHz

Objective - ultimately an allocation around 7 MHz of no less than 300 kHz, amateur exclusive on a world-wide basis.

In the process of achieving this objective, the guiding principles to be followed are:

• access is more important than exclusivity. That is, sharing may be necessary on an interim basis during a period of transition.
• even during an interim period, amateurs should not accept less access than is presently available to them, in particular there should be no reduction in the present exclusive allocations.
• it is desirable to harmonize the allocation among the three regions to the extent possible.
• because of differences in propagation characteristics and patterns of usage, the solution to the 7 MHz allocation problem should be treated as a separate matter and not coupled to allocations to the Amateur Services at any other frequency.

Discussion - the matter of harmonization of HFBC and changes to the Amateur Service as a result, may be taken up at WRC-2003. However, there is uncertainty both as to the timing of WRC-2003 and the Agenda. One lesson learned at WRC-97 is that only the Agenda of the next WRC can be considered as determined at a WRC. The preliminary Agenda for four years hence is little more than a list of issues that administrations would like to have considered but were unable to get on the agenda for the next WRC, and items on the preliminary Agenda may or may not be confirmed two years later.

However, our preparations must proceed on the assumption that the issue will be handled in approximately mid-2003. Accordingly, a timeline of actions necessary is attached as an annex. It must be emphasized that at this writing there is no schedule of WRCs beyond 8 May -- 2 June 2000, although it is assumed that the next conference will be held in the fall of 2003. Meetings of the ITU-R leading up to the next WRC are known only through the end of 2000.

Actions by the AC - In Porlamar in September, 1998, the IARU Administrative Council reviewed and carefully considered the Report of the IARU 7 MHz Strategy Committee. The AC updated the timetable of events based on the best available information. A new timetable is annexed to this Action Plan which is based on the best information available at this time.

Timetable of events (subject to change)
Revised September 1999

IARU Preparations for WRC-2003 re: 7 MHz