At the September 1997 IARU Administrative Council (AC) meeting in Beijing, President Baldwin, W1RU, appointed the "AMATEUR RADIO OUTLOOK COMMITTEE" with Thomas Atkins, VE3CDM, President of IARU Region 2, as Chairman, and Yoshiji Sekido, JJ1OEY, IARU Region 3 Director and Lou van de Nadort, IARU Region 1 Chairman, as members.

Because there are several different committees of the Administrative Council examining different challenges facing Amateur Radio, a brief explanation of each of the committees that is dealing with broad policy questions may be helpful.

The Future of the Amateur Service Committee, FASC, was appointed in early 1996. FASC deals with the possible future amendment of Article S25 of the ITU Radio Regulations.

During the September AC meeting a further Committee was appointed: "RevCom," a "Constitutional Review Committee." This Committee, consisting of all the AC members plus 3 non-AC "councillors," one from each Region, will occupy itself with a study concerning the structure of IARU and its future financial viability.

What then is the "Outlook" Committee? During the AC meeting, a lively discussion resulted from a document prepared at the Council's request by the International Secretariat concerning the Internet and its impact on the Amateur Radio Service. The AC felt that apart from looking into the constitution and finances of the IARU, and the ITU Radio Regulations, the IARU should also be concerned about the possibilities for future growth and development of our service. The assignment therefore to the "Outlook Committee" is as follows:

To review the current and future state of the art in the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services in the light of the changing technology and the Internet; to focus on technology, techniques and future developments and to make general recommendations as to the future growth and development of Amateur Radio.

A deadline of June 30, 1998, was established.

This, of course, is a matter for IARU Member Societies around the world. Some of these Societies are already asking themselves: "Where are we going and what do we expect for the Amateur Services in the future?"

The "Outlook Committee" is seeking your co-operation to share with us what you are already doing, and/or what your views are for the future. We would appreciate your publicising the above to your membership. Any and all input from amateurs everywhere, will be much appreciated, and should please be forwarded to:

Amateur Radio Outlook Committee
c/o IARU
P.O. Box 310905
Newington, CT 06131-0905 USA

E-mail: aroc@iaru.org

Many thanks for your co-operation.

73,

Thomas B.Atkins, VE3CDM. Lou van de Nadort, PA0LOU. Yoshiji Sekido, JJ1OEY