Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union

1) The sixteenth meeting of the Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union convened at 1400 local time Sunday, 6 October 1996 at the Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel-Aviv, Israel, with President Richard L. Baldwin, W1RU, in the Chair. Also present were the following members: Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Vice President; Larry E. Price, W4RA, Secretary; Louis van de Nadort, PA0LOU, Chairman, and Wojciech Nietyksza, SP5FM, Vice Chairman, IARU Region 1; Thomas B. J. Atkins, VE3CDM, President, and Pedro Seidemann, YV5BPG, Secretary, IARU Region 2; and Sangat Singh, 9M2SS, and Young-Soon Park, HL1IFM, Directors, IARU Region 3. There were also present, at the invitation of the Council, Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS5AKV, IARU Satellite Adviser and member, Region 1 Executive Committee; Mustafa Diop, 6W1KI, member, Region 1 Executive Committee; Region 2 Treasurer Steve Dunkerley, VP9IM; Region 3 Director Yoshiji Sekido, JJ1OEY; and David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President and Secretary, American Radio Relay League, and Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, Technical Relations Manager, American Radio Relay League, for the International Secretariat.

2) The Chair introduced those present, several of whom were attending their first meeting of the Administrative Council. The Chair then asked that a moment of silence be observed for IARU President Emeritus Noel B. Eaton, VE3CJ, Jean Wolff, LX1JW, and other radio amateurs who had passed away since the previous meeting of the Council.

3) The following agenda for the meeting was adopted:

Agenda

1. Opening of meeting by the President

2. Introduction of all present and Moment of Silence

3. Approval of Agenda of meeting

4. Reports of the officers

4.1 Report of the President - Mr. Baldwin
4.2 Report of the Vice President - Mr. Owen
4.3 Report of the Secretary - Mr. Price

16. Adjournment

4) Reports of the officers:

4.1) Mr. Baldwin's written report discussed several topics, including the African Development Program and the need to develop Amateur Radio in more African countries, the IARU response to WRC-95, and preparations for WRC-99.

4.2) Mr. Owen's written report noted his assignment to chair the Future of the Amateur Service Committee (FASC) and his recent travels within Region 3 on behalf of the IARU.

4.3) Mr. Price's report detailed the written communications distributed by the International Secretariat to, and on behalf of, the Administrative Council, as well as his own international travel. He called particular attention to the plans of the International Secretariat to expand its staff devoted to advocacy on behalf of Amateur Radio. In response to a question, Mr. Price explained how the International Secretariat had implemented the instruction of the Administrative Council, at agenda item 11.8 of the 1995 meeting, to delete from the list of active member-societies the names of any inactive societies as requested by the respective regions.

5) Reports from the regional organizations:

5.1) Region 3 reported on recent and planned activities, including the Second Region 3 Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships held in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, in July, the annual Region 3 Directors' Meeting held in Beijing in August, the upcoming Asia TELECOM 97 to be held in Singapore next June, and the Region 3 Conference to be held in Beijing, 8 to 12 September 1997. Region 3 wished to discuss the possibility of terminating the IARU membership of two societies that appear no longer to exist, in Myanmar and Brunei, and whose membership rights are already suspended under Bylaw 10.

5.2) The report of Region 2 noted that it, alone among the regional organizations, still relied entirely on volunteers. Its financial position is stable, with no change in the dues calculation since 1986. The 1996 Region 2 Executive Committee meeting and Americas TELECOM 96, both held in Rio de Janeiro, were both successful, with the latter offering an excellent opportunity for Region 2 to participate in a special session on emergency telecommunications during the Strategies Summit. Progress in having countries join in the International Amateur Radio Permit has been slow, with just six countries signed on: Uruguay, United States, Canada, Peru, Venezuela, and Trinidad.

5.3) Region 1's report noted the acquisition of five new members since the last meeting of the Administrative Council. This year's Executive Committee meeting also had been held in Tel Aviv. Region 1 has been participating in regional Telecommunications Development Conferences and in a TELECOM for the Gulf states in Muscat, Oman. Mr. Nietyksza provided a supplementary oral report on progress within CEPT toward a common European table of frequency allocations.

6) IARU participation in recent ITU meetings:

Written reports of IARU involvement in ITU conferences, meetings, and TELECOMs during the past year, as listed in the agenda, were reviewed and discussed. The increased number of such events is challenging the capabilities of most participating administrations and organizations, including the IARU. So far, it appears that the IARU has been successful in fielding appropriate representation at all of the ITU events of significance to Amateur Radio.

7) IARU participation in future ITU meetings:

7.1) Mr. Baldwin announced the following IARU representatives at upcoming ITU meetings during 1997: Special Committee on Regulatory/Procedural Matters (SC), 27-31 January, Mr. Price; Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG), 11-14 March, Mr. Price; Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM), 5-16 May, Mr. Nietyksza; Study Group 8, 9-12 June, to be determined; Radiocommunication Assembly, 20-24 October, Mr. Price; World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-97), 27 October-11 November, Messrs. Price, Nietyksza, and Owen.

7.2) The next World Telecommunication Standardization Conference (WTSC) will be held in Geneva, 17-18 October 1996. The IARU generally does not cover meetings of the Standardization Sector, relying instead on informal monitoring of the Sector's activities by radio amateurs who are involved professionally in its work.

7.3) Region 1 will cover the 1996 Arab Regional Development Conference in Beirut, 11-15 November. Plans are not yet complete for IARU involvement in the 1998 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Malta.

7.4) TELECOMs:

7.4.1) Mr. Singh briefly outlined Region 3's plans for participation in Asia TELECOM 97. Based on the success of Region 2 in Rio de Janeiro, the Council encouraged Region 3 to take advantage of any opportunity to participate in a Forum during the event.

7.4.2) After discussion, it was agreed that the IARU would not plan to participate in TELECOM Interactive 97 in Geneva, 8-14 September.

7.4.3) Region 1 is planning to participate in Africa TELECOM 98 in the spring of that year, and will attempt to arrange Forum participation. Mr. van de Groenendaal is on the organizing committee in South Africa.

7.4.4) IARU will participate in TELECOM 99, 10-17 October 1999, in Geneva. Some hotel arrangements already have been made in anticipation of the usual overcrowding of Geneva-area hotels during a major TELECOM.

7.5) With regard to the 1998 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis, Mr. Price noted that at the present time organizations such as the IARU are not permitted to participate in Plenipotentiary Conferences. At the last Plenipotentiary Conference in Kyoto in 1994, the Japan Amateur Radio League had participated in the hosting of delegates. The ARRL plans to do the same in Minneapolis, if the financial requirements to be allowed such participation are not beyond its means. A committee of Minneapolis-area volunteers has been formed, and the ARRL is participating in the overall planning meetings that are being held in Washington.

8) Reports from IARU Ad Hoc Committees:

8.1) Mr. Owen, as chairman of the Future of the Amateur Service Committee (FASC), delivered the report of the Committee. The FASC members had had their first opportunity for an in-person meeting during the Region 1 Conference the previous week. He reported that the task the committee has undertaken is difficult and that the Morse code issue has tended to overshadow the others. He commented that the way the committee had expressed its tentative view on that issue had perhaps not helped. On the other hand, member-societies and others are producing thoughtful papers addressing the entire range of issues. More input is needed, particularly from the less developed countries. Mr. Owen urged the Administrative Council to support the proposal that the regional organizations delegate the final responsibility for formulating a world wide policy to the Administrative Council, this being the only way that the same policy in different regions can be assured. It was agreed that having heard the report of the FASC, the Administrative Council resolves to adopt the policy development procedure proposed in the FASC Discussion Paper and First Report.

It was agreed to move to agenda item 8.5, as the intervening agenda items were likely to take more time than was available before adjournment for the evening.

8.5) Mr. van de Groenendaal, as convenor, reported for the Project SAFE Committee. The Committee had been asked to study a concept for a satellite to study the amateur frequency environment. The project turned out to be more complex than originally envisioned, and is not feasible without sponsorship. As the IARU has no means to implement such a system, its future must be left to the amateur satellite community. It was agreed that upon recommendation of the Committee, the Council supports the concept and recommends that the AMSAT groups consider the project. The Committee is discharged with thanks.

The Council was in recess from 1750 until 0830 the following day, Monday, 7 October 1996, with all persons previously mentioned as in attendance present. Mr. Price distributed sample forms for an IARU database and asked that the attendees mark the changes they desired and return the forms for further revision.

8.2) The report of the 7-MHz Strategy Committee had been received from the chairman, Fred Johnson, ZL2AMJ. The report posed a number of matters for consideration by the Administrative Council. The report, including the list of matters for consideration, was reviewed. The conclusions of the Council will be communicated to the Committee and IARU strategy for upcoming WRCs updated accordingly.

8.3) The report of the Beacon Committee had been received from the chairman, David Rankin, 9V1RH. The report and the following recommendations were adopted, and the Committee was requested to further the description of the challenge to the amateur community to develop an automatic receive-only recording system.

Recommendations of the Beacon Committee Adopted by the Administrative Council

• The phrase "IARU Beacon Project" is the officially accepted meaning of "IBP." With respect to the time-share network on five HF bands the expression "IBP/NCDXF" should be used.

• The Administrative Council invites the regional organizations to consider the possibility of agreeing on a time-share beacon allocation in the 1.8 MHz band.

• The Administrative Council requests all three regional organizations to consider the question of establishing a time-share beacon frequency in the 3.5 MHz band.

• The Administrative Council maintains the status quo and adopts the policy that no IBP transmissions be considered for the 7 MHz band unless, or until, the major IARU goal of a world wide allocation of 300 kHz has been achieved.

• The Administrative Council requests all three regional organizations to consider the question of establishing a time-share beacon frequency in the 10.1 MHz band.

• With respect to the 14 MHz beacon band, the status quo is maintained.

• The Administrative Council requests all three regional organizations to consider the question of establishing additional time-share beacons in the 18.1, 21, and 24.9 MHz bands but with no additional frequencies being allocated.

• The segment 28.190 to 28.199 MHz is maintained for use by intra-regional time-share networks along the following lines:

  World Wide Network #2	28.190 MHz
  Region 1 intra-regional network	28.191, 28.194, & 28.197 MHz
  Region 2 intra-regional network	28.192, 28.195, & 28.198 MHz
  Region 3 intra-regional network	28.193, 28.196, & 28.199 MHz

  Further, the first intra-regional beacons should be two-band systems involving 28 and 50 MHz, with the intra-regional 50 MHz frequencies being between 50.047 and 50.052 MHz. Beacons already using such frequencies should be invited to join the new network.

• The Administrative Council suggests that the three regions consider the question of harmonizing the guard bands for all beacon frequencies between 1.8 and 28.9 MHz at ± 0.5 kHz.

• Any coordination work required for the 70 MHz band should be left to IARU Region 1 to do on a regional and not global basis, leaving it to the discretion of Region 1 to liaise with the International Coordinator and/or the other two regions on an "as required" basis.

• The duties of the International Coordinator do not extend to satellite beacons.

• Amateur Service beacons in the bands 1.8 to 54 MHz are coordinated on an international basis through the IBP International Coordinator who will in turn coordinate and liaise with the three Regional Coordinators as necessary.

• Intra-regional networks should become the responsibility of the relevant regional organization. Such responsibilities would include administration, construction, coordination, frequency assignment, funding, and geographical siting.

• To enhance the status of IARU and its IBP, the IARU offers the resources of the Amateur Service beacon networks to organizations outside of the amateur community and in particular the ITU, with appropriate guidelines to be decided by the Administrative Council.

• The Administrative Council supports a more aggressive program of publicity for beacons by continuing to use traditional media but more aggressively than before, and by inaugurating an Internet WWW page that would devote space to up-to-date and topical material concerning beacons.

• To encourage new technical initiatives within the IBP, the IARU issues a challenge to the amateur community at large to develop a "receive only" recording system with a suitable prize offered for the best design.

8.4) Discussion of the report of the Communications Planning Committee was deferred until later in the meeting.

9) ITU and regulatory matters not previously discussed:

9.1) With regard to the IARU Strategic Plan for the Development of Amateur Radio, Mr. Price presented a paper discussing the special circumstances confronting Amateur Radio in Africa and recommending a global approach. It was agreed that a committee should be created, to be appointed later in the meeting, to develop a plan for the marshaling of global resources to enhance the position of Amateur Radio in Africa. The International Secretariat proposed that in the future, the Strategic Plan itself should be produced in two volumes, with Volume 1 to be a reference that will not change materially from year to year and Volume 2 an annual implementation plan based on a moving three-year projection.

9.2) The status of international recognition of Amateur Radio licenses was reviewed briefly. In addition to the European and CITEL initiatives, interest in the concept is being shown in southern Africa and Central America.

9.3) The implications for Amateur Radio of the international trend toward privatization of telecommunications were discussed briefly. In particular, industry representatives are becoming much more visible at international meetings and conferences.

9.4) In response to a question from Mr. Seidemann, Mr. Price reported on the working relationship that had developed between the IARU and the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UNDHA). A draft convention developed by the UN Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications (WGET) does not specifically mention the Amateur Service but may prove helpful in addressing the issues of international licensing and moving equipment across borders more easily when amateurs are called upon to respond to a natural disaster.

The Council was in recess for luncheon from 1220 to 1345.

10) Consideration of reports of International Coordinators and Liaison Officers:

10.1) The written report of Mr. R. E. Knowles, ZL1BAD, IARU Monitoring System International Coordinator, was received. Most reports of interference to amateurs from non-amateur stations operating in exclusive amateur bands involve the 7 and 14 MHz bands.

10.2) The written report of Mr. John G. Troster, W6ISQ, IARU Beacon Project International Coordinator, was received. Sixteen of 18 planned five-band beacons have been built, and 11 have been delivered. Of these, six are on the air with one of the six operating on just three bands owing to licensing restrictions.

10.3) Mr. van de Groenendaal presented the written report of the IARU Satellite Adviser. The report had proposed that the Satellite Adviser be authorized to attend a meeting concerning the International Space Station scheduled for Houston in November 1996, but it was no longer practical to do so and the proposal was withdrawn. Graham Ratcliff, VK5AGR, now serves as IARU AMSAT (Amateur Satellite) Frequency Coordinator. Mr. van de Groenendaal stated that relations between IARU and the amateur satellite community have improved. Next year's IARU International Satellite Forum is to be held in Canada in conjunction with an AMSAT-NA Symposium.

10.4) The written report of Mr. Christian M. Verholt, OZ8CY, IARU EMC Adviser, was received. His work on behalf of IARU primarily involves the International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR), and while he attended the Region 1 Conference in Tel-Aviv in his capacity as Chairman of the Region 1 EMC Working Group he was unable to remain for the meeting of the Administrative Council owing to a scheduling conflict with a CISPR meeting in France. Region 2 advised that it now has its own EMC Committee chaired by Noel Donawa, 9Y4NED.

10.5) Messrs. Knowles, Troster, van de Groenendaal, and Verholt were reappointed to their respective posts for the 1997 term.

11) Organizational and administrative matters:

11.1) Mr. van de Nadort noted that nothing requiring immediate action by the Administrative Council had arisen from the just-concluded Region 1 Conference.

11.2) Mr. Price presented a report on International Secretariat expenditures and regional contributions for 1995, a review of performance against the 1996 budget, and a three-year budget for 1997-1999 prepared by the International Secretariat. The budget includes provision for financial contributions from the three regional organizations, per Resolution 91-3, to defray a portion of the expenses that are assumed by the International Secretariat beyond its constitutional obligation. The budget for 1999 is substantially greater than for 1997 or 1998 owing to WRC-99 and TELECOM 99. With the understanding that some desired travel may have to be rearranged in order to remain within fiscal limitations, the budget for the years 1997-1999 was adopted.

11.3) Mr. Price presented a report on utilization of the World Wide Web to disseminate Amateur Radio information. He noted that the IARU Web site, http://www.iaru.org, was now functionally independent of the ARRL Web site. The three regional organizations announced plans to establish Web sites of their own, linked to that of the IARU and of those member-societies in the respective regions having Web presences of their own. Possible guidelines for IARU-related Web sites were discussed without formal action.

11.4) There were no additional operational matters brought to the Administrative Council for attention.

12) Review of matters pending from previous meeting:

12.1) The following Administrative Council resolutions were deleted from the list of active resolutions, for the reasons given:

Number	Subject	Reason
93-6	IARU response to ITU restructuring	Largely superseded by Policies #2 and #3
93-7	Implementation of IARU Strategic Plan	Superseded by Policy #3
94-1	Policy on the VGE Report	Action completed
94-2	Formation of IARU policy on Morse code	Made obsolete by WRC-95
95-2	Roaming license qualifications	Made obsolete by WRC-95

Mr. van de Nadort noted that the Region 1 Conference had not accepted item F in the Rules for the Administrative Council Pertaining to World and Regional Telecommunication Conferences and Preparatory Meetings contained in Policy #3. Mr. Price observed that Administrative Council policies do not require acceptance by the regions and should not be submitted to regional conferences for action, but only for information. Mr. Baldwin said the concerns expressed during discussion of the matter at the Region 1 Conference were noted, and the Administrative Council would take them under advisement.

12.2) The document, Spectrum Requirements of the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services, originally prepared by the Administrative Council in July 1990, had been reviewed by the International Secretariat and an updated draft was offered for consideration. After discussion, additional revisions were proposed and Messrs. Price and Sumner were asked to incorporate them in a further revision to be reviewed the following day.

13) Other business:

13.1) The theme for World Amateur Radio Day 1997, "35 Years of Amateur Radio in Space," was reaffirmed.

13.2) After discussion, the Region 3 representatives decided not to pursue the formal termination of membership of the inactive societies that had previously represented Myanmar and Brunei. Prior proposals to terminate the membership of extinct member-societies had failed to achieve the required number of affirmative votes.

13.3) Mr. Nietyksza congratulated the International Secretariat on the publishing of the Agenda and References booklet for WRC-97, and offered suggestions for future booklets of a similar nature.

13.4) Mr. Seidemann expressed appreciation for the extensive documentation prepared for this meeting by the International Secretariat, the committees, and the international coordinators, and requested that in the future, lengthy reports include a brief summary of conclusions at the front.

13.5) Mr. Singh reported briefly on the apparent implications for the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society of the reversion of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997.

14) Determination of date and place of next meeting of Council:

At the 1996 meeting of the Administrative Council in Niagara Falls, a majority of Council members had favored the decoupling of Council meetings from the regional conferences, beginning in 1997. Accordingly, the International Secretariat proposed that the next meeting be held in Dayton, Ohio, USA, 12 - 14 May 1997. On behalf of the Region 3 Directors, Mr. Singh asked the Council to reconsider its earlier decision and to continue to follow the practice of holding meetings in conjunction with regional conferences. After discussion, it was agreed that the next regular meeting will be convened at 1400 local time on 13 September 1997 in Beijing, following the Region 3 Conference, and will conclude on 15 September. Mr. Atkins asked that the summary record reflect the fact that Region 2 continues to support the earlier decision to decouple the meetings, but has acceded to the will of the majority.

The Council was in recess from 1635 until 0900 the following day, Tuesday, 8 October 1996, with all persons previously mentioned as in attendance present. The following unfinished items of business were taken up in turn:

9.1) Mr. Baldwin announced the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Africa Development with the following terms of reference:

Ad Hoc Committee on Africa Development

Tasks:

• To develop a plan for acquiring support from African countries on Amateur Radio related issues at future WRCs;

• To evaluate the support needed from global IARU organizations and member-societies to support the plan described above;

• To develop a method for financing the implementation of the plan, once agreed by the IARU Administrative Council.

Timing:

The plan must be completed and supplied to the International Secretariat by not later than 31 March 1997.

Working method:

The Committee will work by correspondence. No travel is required.

The President named the following as committee members: Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS5AKV, chairman; Nelson Matsie, 7P8ND, Fred Johnson, ZL2AMJ, Tom Atkins, VE3CDM, Kofi Jackson, 9G1AJ, Tafa Diop, 6W1KI, Bill Musoke, 5H3JB, and Hans Welens, ON6WQ, and Richard Baldwin, W1RU, ex officio.

8.4) In his capacity as chairman of the Communications Planning Committee, Mr. van de Groenendaal introduced a document proposing an IARU public relations initiative. After a discussion of the practical problems that may affect its implementation, the proposal was adopted. The report calls for the creation of a permanent Public Relations Committee. Mr. Baldwin announced that he would name the members later.

12.2) The updated Spectrum Requirements of the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services document was reviewed and adopted.

8.2) An updated timetable of events to guide IARU preparations for WRC-99 with regard to the 7-MHz issue was distributed by the Secretary.

15) Drafting and approval of news release covering meeting:

A draft news release describing the meeting was reviewed, revised, and adopted.

16) Mr. Baldwin expressed his appreciation for the constructive way in which participants conducted themselves during the meeting. The Council thanked the Israel Amateur Radio Club for their support of the meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1035 local time.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry E. Price, W4RA
Secretary