In this Issue:

World Amateur Radio Day 2013
IARU Michael J. Owen VK3KI Award
UK Amateurs Gain Increased Access to 5 MHz
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World Amateur Radio Day 2013

Each year the IARU Administrative Council selects a theme for World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) for the following year.  WARD takes place each year on April 18.  At the November, 2012 Administrative Council meeting the AC adopted the following proposal:  "The theme 'Amateur Radio:  Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications' was adopted for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2013."

The selected theme for 2013 is a excellent opportunity for amateur radio emergency communications or disaster communications groups to take advantage of the WARD to highlight the role amateur radio plays in disaster communications and disaster response.  IARU member-societies could arrange amateur radio demonstrations in public places such as parks or shopping areas.  Prepared handouts could explain the benefits of amateur radio in times of emergency or disaster.  A ham radio demonstration in public areas usually generates inquiries and questions from the public about amateur radio and it also provides a great opportunity to attract new ham radio operators.  If you plan on such a demonstration, don't forget to include some young people from your society so that young people who happen by the demonstration can see that amateur radio activity can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

In 2013, April 18 is a weekday.  However, that doesn't prevent the public activity from taking place on  the weekend before or after April 18.  The idea is to gain as much exposure and publicity for amateur radio as possible.

Emergency communications groups might also combine a public demonstration for WARD with a simulated emergency test (SET).

WARD also provides an opportunity for amateurs to give presentations about ham radio to such groups as civic organizations, charitable groups, etc.  For example, Rotary Clubs and Lions Clubs are only two of many worldwide organizations who have weekly meetings and these organizations are always looking for interesting and informative programs to present to their membership.  There are very few experienced hams who can't talk for 15 or 20 minutes about ham radio in a positive fashion.  Don't make the talk too technical.  Stress the fun aspects of ham radio and the opportunity to assist in times of disaster.  Keep the presentation to about 20 minutes to allow time for questions.

The fact that World Amateur Radio Day only happens one day each year shouldn't prevent IARU member-societies from promoting ham radio all during the year of course.  Some member-society officials have expressed concern about a  decrease in the number of new amateurs entering ham radio in their country.  Upon further examination and discussion, it turns out there are many activities that societies could be involved in to increase public exposure to amateur radio but many are not taking advantage of those opportunities.  WARD provides an opportunity to get out and make the effort to show the public what ham radio is about.

And, if your member-society is involved in promoting amateur radio on a regular basis and it has been a success, let me know.  I will publicize the activity in this newsletter so that other member-societies can benefit from activities that have attracted people to amateur radio.

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IARU Michael J. Owen VK3KI Award

The IARU Administrative Council created the IARU Michael J. Owen VK3KI Award in November, 2012.  The Administrative Council Summary Record states:  "10.13.  The AC created the IARU Michael J. Owen VK3KI Award.  A recipient of the award will be named from time to time and the award will be restricted to those individuals who perform above and beyond their volunteer roles either for a specific task or for long standing involvement on behalf of IARU.  Nominations for this award should be directed to the IARU Secretary and will be forwarded to the AC for consideration at an AC meeting."

Michael was the President of the Wireless Institute of Australia at the time of his death in September, 2012.  He started his involvement in IARU affairs in mid 1970's as a member of the newly formed IARU Region 3 Association, an organization of IARU member-societies in the Asia-Pacific region.  He was involved in WARC 1979 when amateur radio gained bands at 10, 18 and 24 MHz.  He was heavily involved in WRC 2003 and the Article 25 re-write which contain the rules that apply specifically to the amateur and amateur-satellite services.  From 1989-1999, Michael served as IARU Vice President.  After stepping down as IARU VP, he became involved in WIA and had an important role in transitioning the WIA from a confederation to a national amateur radio society.  He then turned his attention once again to IARU Region 3 and served as Chairman of IARU Region 3 since 2006 until the time of his death.

Michael's enthusiasm and experience was beneficial to all of the IARU member-societies and his passion for amateur radio will remembered well by those who had the good fortune to know Michael.

If you know an any deserving individual who has contributed time and effort to the IARU and the IARU member-societies, please send along the information about the person to me as IARU Secretary and the individual will be considered for the award by the Administrative Council.

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Amateur Access to 5 MHz for UK Hams

After 1 January 2013, UK amateurs who hold a "full" license have been allowed to apply to operate on frequencies within the 5 MHz band.  Following a request from the Radio Society of Great Britain for increased access to the 5 MHz (Experimental) Band, Ofcom (the UK independent telecom regulator)  secured the agreement of the primary user to increase spectrum access from the current 7 spot frequencies of 3 kHz each.  Details of the change can be found at  http://www.rsgb.org/committees/spectrumforum/5mhz.php  Congratulations to the RSGB for their effort to gain additional access to 5MHz.  Let's hope this news encourages some of the other IARU member-societies to approach their telecom authority with a request for access to the 5 MHz if they currently have no operating privileges in that band.  (Credit:  RadCom, March 2013 issue and RSGB)

73,  Rod W6ROD

On 1 November 2012 voting was completed on the admission of Federation of Radio Sport of Azerbaijan (Proposal No. 247) and St. Vincent & Grenadines Amateur Radio Club (Proposal No. 248) to IARU membership.

With 53 affirmative votes required for approval there were 60 votes in favor of Proposal No. 247 and 61 votes in favor of Proposal No. 248. Accordingly, both proposals were adopted. All participating member-societies voted in favor. Vote sheets were received after the deadline from CRAM (Mali) which voted in favor of both proposals.

The following member-societies participated in the voting...

The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) held its annual meeting on 2 & 4 November 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The AC is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU and consists of the three IARU international officers and two representatives from each of the three IARU regional organizations. It was a somber occasion due to the passing of Michael J. Owen VK3KI who had been a member of the Administrative Council for most of its existence and had been a longtime contributor to the efforts of IARU to promote and preserve amateur radio.
Here is a summary of the discussions and actions...

An application for IARU membership has been received via IARU Region 1 from the Federation of Radio Sport of Azerbaijan (FRSA). The application has been examined by the Region 1 Executive Committee and has been found to satisfy the requirements of the Constitution and Bylaws of the IARU.

Based in Baku, Azerbaijan, FRSA was formally organized on 30 December 2001. There are 50 licensed members of the Society out of a total amateur population of approximately 50...

472-479 kHz The worldwide amateur radio service has a new frequency band, 472 to 479 kHz. It is a secondary allocation. There are other services in that portion of the spectrum that must not be interfered with by the amateur operation.

The aeronautical radionavigation service is a primary service in the band 415-495 kHz in the
following areas: Australia, China, the French overseas communities of Region 3, Korea (Rep.
of), India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.
The aeronautical radionavigation service is a primary service in the band 435-495 kHz in the
following areas: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Latvia,
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The amateurs are allowed to use the band so long as it does not cause interference to this primary service or the maritime mobile service operating in the 472-479 kHz band.

There are some countries that will not allow amateur radio operation in the 472-479 kHz band....

The procedures used by the Int’l Telecommunication Union (ITU) before and during a World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) seem complicated. They are somewhat complicated but they are understandable with a bit of background.

The International Telecommunication Union (“ITU”) World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) started 23 January 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. This is the “big show” for spectrum allocation matters and a very important meeting if you are an amateur radio operator anywhere in the world. Every 4 or 5 years a WRC takes place. The last one was in 2007. Approximately 3,000 people will attend WRC-12. These are government officials, telecommunication industry people and others, like the IARU, who have an interest in the use of the radio spectrum. The agenda items discussed during WRC-12 were established at the previous WRC in 2007. In the past 4.5 years there have been many committee meetings within the ITU to try to arrive at solutions that will satisfy each of the agenda items. In the case of some of the agenda items, several possible methods to satisfy the agenda item have been identified. It is up to the WRC to select the most appropriate method to satisfy the agenda item, that is, to arrive at an worldwide solution to the issue presented in the agenda item....