|
|
|
ITU Disaster Communications Documents Approved
The IARU is pleased to announce the approval by the International Telecommunication Union Development Sector (ITU-D) of two landmark documents related to amateur radio disaster communications in developing countries. These documents represent the culmination of two years of work by the IARU and ITU-D Study Group 2 chaired by Nabil Kisrawi of Syria. The first is Recommendation ITU-D 13, Effective utilisation of the amateur services in disaster mitigation and relief operations. It recommends that administrations include the amateur services in their national disaster plans, reduce barriers to effective use of the amateur services for disaster communications, and develop memoranda of understanding (MoU) with amateur and disaster relief organizations. ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau Director Hamadoun I. Touré announced the approval of Recommendation ITU-D 13 on 12 April. It will be available in English, French, and Spanish from the ITU bookshop at www.itu.int. The second is the Disaster Communications Handbook for Developing Countries. This was a joint effort of the IARU and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) with contributions from L.M. Ericsson (Sweden), Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) (USA), and others. The Handbook, to be published in English, French and Spanish, will have three parts devoted to policy, operational and technical considerations of disaster communications. It is one of a series of Handbooks being produced by the ITU-D under the coordination of Maurice Ghazal of Lebanon for use by developing countries. The Handbook will be available shortly in English from the ITU bookshop. French and Spanish language editions are to be available soon after. Director Touré was most gracious in his closing remarks to the September 2000 meeting of ITU-D Study Group 2. "My sincere thanks go once again to all those who have contributed to the production of these handbooks," he said. "IARU has made a particular contribution to the production of a Recommendation and of the Handbook on disaster communications, and for this I should like to thank IARU very much indeed." The IARU has been represented in ITU-D Study Group 2 by President Larry Price, W4RA.
Pitcairn Island ARA Applies for IARU Membership The Pitcairn Island Amateur Radio Association (PIARA) has applied for membership in the IARU. The Directors and the Secretary of IARU Region 3 have examined the application in the light of the relevant provisions of the IARU Constitution and Bylaws, as well as of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of IARU Region 3. They have found the application to be in order and have made a favorable finding with respect to the qualifications of the applicant society. PIARA is an independent non-profit organization to promote and develop amateur radio friendship, technical knowledge, and communication technology, providing public service and furthering the public interest, plus fostering international goodwill. It has 10 members, representing the entire population of resident amateur operators. PIARA reports that there are 23 amateurs licensed to operate including several temporary residents and visitors, plus one club station. Amateur Radio has special significance on Pitcairn Island, as it continues to provide the main communications link to the outside world. Pitcairn Islands (including Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The application for IARU membership by PIARA is supported by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Due to transport difficulties from and to Pitcairn, PIARA has requested that the RSGB continue to represent PIARA at IARU Region 3 Conferences. The officers include Tom Christian, VP6TC, President; Dennis Christian, VP6DR, Treasurer; Betty Christian, VP6YL, Secretary; and Kan Mizoguchi, VP6BK, IARU Liaison. The contact information for the IARU Liaison is: 4-5-3 Sakuragaoka, Tama-shi, Tokyo 206-0013, Japan; email kanmiz@attglobal.net; telephone +81 423 71-5886; fax +81 423 89-3824. The direct mailing address is: P.O. Box 88, Adamstown, Pitcairn Island, South Pacific Ocean via New Zealand; Therefore, in compliance with the Bylaws pertaining to applications for membership the following proposal is presented to member societies for consideration: Proposal No. 232 The Secretary of IARU Region 3 has forwarded to the Administrative Council an application for IARU membership submitted by the Pitcairn Island Amateur Radio Association. The Directors and Secretary of Region 3 have examined the application and have found it to be in order, and so have made a favorable finding with regard to the application. Therefore, in accordance with Bylaw 3, it is proposed that the Pitcairn Island Amateur Radio Association be elected to membership. A vote sheet for Proposal 232 and a return envelope are enclosed. The closing date for receipt by the International Secretariat of ballots on this proposal is five months from the date of issuance of this Calendar, or 15 November 2001.
IARU Prepares for WRC-03 The principal focus of your IARU officers is on preparing for the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-03, scheduled for four weeks beginning on 9 June 2003. For the Amateur Services the most important item on the conference agenda is item 1.23, to consider realignment of the allocations around 7 MHz. Preparatory work on this item is taking place in ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Working Parties 8A and 6E. IARU representatives are participating actively in both, along with representatives of IARU member-societies who have been named to the national delegations of their administrations. In support of their work the IARU has published an information paper in the form of a color booklet, Amateur Service Spectrum Requirements at 7 MHz." Two copies of this booklet were sent to each member-society on 11 May for their use with their administrations. Limited quantities of additional copies are available for official use. Interested amateurs may view or download the document on the Web at http://www.iaru.org/7-MHz-Spectrum.pdf (678 kB PDF file). Another important agenda item is item 1.7, to consider possible revision of Article S25 (the regulations pertaining specifically to the amateur and amateur-satellite services) and possible consequential changes to the terms and definitions in Article S1. This item also includes a review of the provisions of Article S19 concerning the formation of call signs in the amateur services in order to provide flexibility for administrations. Preparatory work is taking place in Working Party 8A, also with IARU participation. Several other agenda items have the potential to affect the Amateur Services and require careful monitoring. For example, agenda item 1.36 is to examine the adequacy of HF broadcasting frequency allocations from about 4 MHz to 10 MHz. This has implications not only for the 7 MHz band but also for the upper portion of the 3.5 MHz band. Agenda item 1.38 is to consider provision of up to 6 MHz to the Earth exploration satellite service in the band 420-470 MHz; the proponents are known to be particularly interested in 432-438 MHz. Agenda item 1.20 is to consider additional allocations to the so-called Little LEO satellites below 1 GHz. Agenda item 1.3 is to consider globally or regionally harmonized bands for use by public protection agencies. The preparations for these and other agenda items are being watched closely by IARU volunteers and International Secretariat staff, with meetings being attended as required. WRC-03 preparations are not confined to the ITU-R Working Parties. The regional telecommunications organizations are playing a greater role than ever before. IARU Region 1 is actively participating in CEPT, Region 2 is actively participating in CITEL, and Region 3 (with assistance from IARU Vice President David Wardlaw, VK3ADW) is actively participating in APT. Region 2 Prepares for Conference The officers, directors, and member-societies of IARU Region 2 are preparing for the 14th General Assembly, to be held on 1-5 October in Guatemala City. In addition, an Extraordinary General Assembly will be held on 30 September for the purpose of considering proposals for review of the By-Laws of the Region. Any member-societies in Region 2 (North, Central, and South America) that have not yet submitted their requests for hotel reservations should do so immediately, as the deadline for the special conference rate is 3 July 2001. Contact the Organizing Committee, Club de Radioaficionados de Guatemala (CRAG), at iaru-r2@guate.net or crag@guate.net. A meeting of the IARU Administrative Council is scheduled to take place in Guatemala City on 6-8 October.
IARU Sends ITU Greetings on World Telecommunication Day It is traditional for the IARU Secretary to send greetings and congratulations to the ITU Secretary-General on the occasion of World Telecommunication Day, 17 May. This year the following letter was sent to Mr. Yoshio Utsumi: Dear Mr. Secretary-General: Please accept greetings and congratulations on World Telecommunication Day from the world's three million radio amateurs. This year's theme, "The Internet: challenges, opportunities and prospects," captures one of the principal focal points of recent discussions within the International Amateur Radio Union. Radio amateurs were the first worldwide community of individuals to be bound together by electronic communications. Since the opening of the short waves in the 1920s there have been no physical limits on the ability of radio amateurs to communicate with one another across geographic, political, cultural, and economic barriers. Radio amateurs naturally became early adopters of the Internet and use it daily to share their knowledge in pursuit of greater understanding of the remarkable natural phenomena that make radio communication possible. The IARU looks forward to continuing our work with ITU members and staff to help close the "digital divide." Amateur radio provides unique opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience with telecommunications at very low cost. Amateur radio also retains a unique ability to bridge the gaps in telecommunications that so often develop in times of natural disaster -- gaps that become ever more disruptive as society becomes ever more dependent on telecommunications. Best wishes for another successful observance of this significant anniversary.
Society Annual Reports Due It is time for member-societies to submit their annual reports. Please complete the enclosed form and return it to the International Secretariat as soon as possible. The enclosed Status Summary for 2000 shows that a number of member-societies did not complete forms last year. It is important that we have up-to-date information on amateur radio in each country so we may report an accurate picture of progress in amateur radio worldwide. Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Enclosures:Vote sheet, Proposal No. 232
2 Return Envelopes
|
