The IARU Region 3 Conference Concluded this afternoon (Friday NZ time) with
the Final Plenary in which reports and recommendations from the Working
Groups were received. The Conference completed a considerable amount of work
very efficiently during the week.
During the Final Plenary elections were held for IARU Region 3 Directors.
For those who have been on the ARRL board for a few years you may recall
that the Region had pretty much become dysfunctional leading up to their
last Conference 2006. As a result, several new directors were elected and
the Region has been quite productive over the past three years. All of the
incumbent Directors were re-elected at this conference and are:
Michael Owen, VK3KI
Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI
Peter Lake, ZL2AZ
Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN
Joong-Guen Rhee, HL1AQQ
VK3KI was re-elected as Chairman of Directors and Jay Oka, JA1TRC, was
elected Secretary.
The Conference also selected Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as the location for
IARU Region 3 15th Triennial Conference in 2012.
A summary of the recommendations are as follows:
Working Group 1:
Reviewed the reports of the Member Societies and noted that there is a
general trend of declining membership. Member Societies that have been able
to increase their membership include WIA, through promotion of the
Foundation License and increased contact with new amateurs through local
clubs, and ARRL, as a result of the elimination of the Morse code
requirement for an HF license. Region 2 offered examples of increased
membership in Mexico resulting from personal visits by the President of the
Member Society to clubs throughout the country, and in Cuba resulting from
outreach to youth associations. The Conference adopted a recommendation that
Member Societies are encouraged to take further action to increase their
membership through promotional activities and streamlining of the licensing
process in their countries.
The coordination of IARU participation in regional Telecoms is the
responsibility of the respective regional IARU organization. In Region 3,
Project Manager VU2GMN reviewed the successful participation by the IARU in
Telecom Asia 2008 at Bangkok. With considerable assistance from RAST, Region
3 organized an effective stand that drew about 1,000 visitors including the
ITU Secretary-General. Promotional material was distributed in the English
and Thai languages. Region 3 has an exhibition kit stored in Tokyo that is
available for future events. The Conference adopted a recommendation that
IARU Region 3 Member Societies recognize the importance of the role of the
regional telecommunications organizations and in particular the APT and that
the Member Societies participate so far as possible in the activities of the
APT, including national preparation and participation in delegations.
The Region 3 Directors conveyed to the Conference the booklet "Ethics and
Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur" by John Devoldere, ON4UN and
Marc Demeuleneere, ON4WW along with Administrative Council Resolution 08-1.
After discussion, Working Group 1 formulated the following Recommendation
that was adopted by the Conference: The Conference endorses and recommends
the principles set out in the booklet "Ethics and Operating Procedures for
the Radio Amateur" by John Devoldere, ON4UN and Marc Demeuleneere, ON4WW
and encourages Member Societies to distribute it as widely as possible, with
supplementary material appropriate to their country.
WIA provided information on the status of Broadband over Power Line (BPL)
deployment in Australia and in other countries. BPL has proved to be an
inferior technology for delivering broadband service to consumers but may
yet be utilized in so-called Smart Grid applications as well as for in-home
networking. Mandatory notching of amateur radio allocations would greatly
reduce the probability of interference.
Working Group 1 also received papers and adopted a number of recommendations
pertaining to amateur radio education among schools and organizations.
Working Group 2:
Dealt with a number of emergency communications issues. Discussion was held
on the concept of "Centre of Activity" frequencies (CoA), their history and
purpose. The CoA are not spot frequencies but a starting point (+ or -
5kHz), are not the only frequencies to be used, and are not mode specific
and should be considered as being 'all modes'. The desirability of CoA and
the need to publicize them to the amateur radio community including within
bands plans was agreed. The Conference adopted the following recommendation:
"Noting that IARU R1 and R2 have already adopted Centre of Activity (CoA)
frequencies for emergency communications and training for emergency
communications, that conference adopt 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160, and
21.360 MHz as the CoA for IARU R3. Further that the regional band plan
include those CoA at the earliest possible opportunity and all member
societies take action to have them included in their national band plans."
Noting the positive public relations achieved in relation to a number of
emergencies in which amateur radio provided support, the Conference
recommended that member societies and their emergency groups include in
their planning how best to publicize such activities and consider the
appointment of a dedicated individual or individuals responsible for
promotion and making it internationally known. Highlights from some of the
Society reports were:
The WIA plans to provide nationally accredited training mainly for radio
amateurs, who engage in, or potentially will provide emergency
communications. The resource of amateur radio can be used in Australia in a
better coordinated fashion. The training will not only include
communications and traffic handling, but also occupational health and safety
aspects of being involved in an emergency. Training material and syllabus
has been approved by the government. ARSI expressed interest in the WIA
initiative and stated that there was a need to have training in India for
all radio amateurs in the setting up of an emergency station.
ORARI provided considerable detail on a range of emergency communications
activity by radio amateurs in Indonesia, the latest being the earthquake in
West Sumatra. On the first day radio amateurs set up at the governor's
office for seven days, and were also embedded with the Red Cross. ORARI
undertook to supply more detail to the worldwide amateur radio community on
its involvement in this latest disaster. An exercise next month will
involve all government agencies.
The CRSA advised that the government is greatly encouraging amateur radio in
its emergency communications role. This is helping to further increase the
number of radio amateurs in China. Young radio amateurs are interested in
the emergency communications aspects of amateur radio. Thoughts are being
given to setting up a network of internet-linked amateur radio stations to
assist in times of emergency. CRSA reported that third party traffic
handling is permitted in China and Hong Kong. The Conference adopted a
resolution commending CRSA for its activities in emergency communications
and the excellent publicity gained in both ham radio news and general news
services following the Great Sichuan Earthquake.
Also on the topic of emergency communications the conference concluded "That
the GAREC conference should continue to be in locations throughout the
world, and should maintain the character of GAREC as an informal meeting
among representatives of IARU member societies and of Amateur Radio
Emergency Groups within or outside of the respective national IARU member
society, serving as a forum for the exchange of experience and as an
advisory body for the work on emergency communications of the IARU." It
concluded this statement properly describes the nature of GAREC and what
should be its relationships with the IARU, and that the Administration
Council be requested to consider the conclusions of this conference, as well
as the conclusions and recommendations of GAREC-2009.
The issues of broadband over power lines were discussed. It was acknowledged
that there was clear recognition by those both inside and outside the
industry of the interference potential of the broadband enabling technology.
The WIA has made technical presentations to the joint Australia/New Zealand
standards authority. Notching can be effective but needed to be outside the
band of frequencies being used. The delay in national and international
regulation and standards for BPL is resulting in increased opportunities for
other broadband technologies. The financial viability of BPL is doubtful.
The Conference adopted a recommendation that there be ongoing work by the
IARU R3 societies and monitoring of developments in BPL/PLT standard setting
groups. Wherever possible member societies must provide input or have
membership to those groups.
Working Group 2 also reviewed the existing IARU R3 Band Plans. The
Conference adopted the following recommendations from WG2:
1. Noting the JARL and WIA have created band plans for the 135.7 to 137.8
kHz band, that a regional band plan be created by, and circulated by the
secretariat. The entire band should be planned for NB and CW.
2. The current 1.8 MHz band plan was noted without change.
3. That the 3.5MHz be amended to include the Emergency Centre of Activity
Frequency is 3.600MHz (all modes + or - 5kHz).
4. That the 7MHz be amended to reflect the Co-Primary allocation 7.1 -
7.2MHz. The Secondary allocation is changed to 7.2 - 7.3 MHz. The legend
note at the end of the band plan be changed to 7.2 - 7.3 in replace of 7.1 -
7.3 MHz. That 7.110MHz be included in the band plan as the Emergency Centre
of Activity Frequency (all modes + or - 5kHz).
5. That the 10.1MHz band plan, no changes have been identified.
6. That the 14MHz band plan be amended to include the Emergency Centre of
Activity Frequency 14.300 MHz (all modes + or - 5kHz).
7. That the 18MHz band plan be amended to include the Emergency Centre of
Activity Frequency 18.160 MHz (all modes + or - 5kHz).
8. That the 24MHz band plan, no changes have been identified.
9. That the 21MHz band plan be amended to include the Emergency Centre of
Activity Frequency 21.360MHz (all modes + or - 5kHz).
10. That the 70cm band be revised to include the notation that is a
Secondary Allocation.
11. In respect to the 6m, 2m and 1.2GHz bands plans, no changes have been
identified.
Ad-hoc Working Group 3 addressed the IARU Monitoring Service. The final
document Adopted by the Conference is attached.
I will be begin my travel home Saturday afternoon, scheduled to arrive home
Sunday evening. Dave and Rod will remain a couple of extra days for IARU
Adminstrative Council meeting that traditionally occurs following a Regional
Conference.
The next IARU regional conference will be Region 2 in El Salvador in the
fall of 2010.
73 Joel ZL/W5ZN
