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The 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-03) is an important international event, with outcomes that could have an impact on Amateur Radio in the future. Among major agenda items facing Amateur Radio in 2003: The possible realignment, or harmonization, of the 40-meter band; defending our 70-cm frequencies from the synthetic aperture radars; and proposals to rewrite Article S25, the section of the Radio Regulations that deals with the Amateur and Amateur- Satellite Services.
Here are some resources and background information about WRC-03 and issues facing Amateur Radio.
World Radiocommunication Conference 2000, August 2000 QST [PDF, 261,622 bytes]
Written by IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, IARU Secretary/ARRL EVP David Sumner, K1ZZ, and ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, this article does a terrific job of explaining the outcomes for Amateur Radio from WRC-2000.
It Seems to Us...: Fixing 40 Meters, August 2000 QST [PDF, 35,902 bytes]
This editorial by David Sumner, K1ZZ, dealt with fixing 40 meters--one of the most important issues the ARRL, and indeed all the IARU member-societies, are pursuing.
It Seems to Us...: Whither Shortwave Broadcasting?, August 2001 QST
This editorial by David Sumner, K1ZZ, dealt with the state of shortwave broadcasting--also called HF broadcasting--which is one of the "competing uses" of spectrum on the HF bands that particularly affects Amateur Radio at 40 meters.
It Seems to Us...: Article S25: More Than Morse, June 2001 QST
David Sumner, K1ZZ, wrote this editorial that details why the outcome of WRC-03 and the effect of its actions on Article S25 are much more than just an issue of Morse code.
The IARU has developed a booklet, "Amateur Service Spectrum Requirements at 7 MHz" and an Action Plan for 7 MHz. Both are available at the IARU Web site.
The National Telecommunications and Information (NTIA) is responsible for coordinating the federal government's participation in the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) and related national and international meetings. NTIA receives recommendations for US preliminary views and proposals for these World Radiocommunications Conferences from the Radio Conference Subcommittee (RCS), a subcommittee of the Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). This subcommittee is tasked with preparing for WRCs, including the development of recommended United States proposals for the conferences and preparatory meetings.
After the RCS makes recommendations to NTIA, NTIA will review and revise these recommendations and determine which proposals will be put forward by the executive branch to be considered in the national preparation process. NTIA will work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which represents the civil spectrum community, and the State Department, to create the United States Preliminary Views and United States Proposals for the WRCs.
The FCC will be working with the NTIA and the State Department to represent the USA. FCC announced WRC-2003 preparations in January.
In May, the FCC's WRC-2003 Advisory Committee approved several "preliminary views."
The FCC publishes a Web page devoted to conference activities. There are many other links from the FCC site that are useful, including those that describe the WRC-03 preparations being made by foreign administrations.
The ITU's Web site is the next step to take to learn how the world community is preparing for WRC-03. The site includes administrative circulars for WRC-03, the agenda for WRC-03 and the results of WRC-2000 with its final acts.
What are the folks in Britain planning for WRC-03? Take a look at their Web site and click on "International Policy." Other European activities may be found at the home of the European Radiocommunications Office.
The African Telecommunications Union has a great multi-lingual Web page that you can explore to find information about all facets of communications in this huge continent.
The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity also has a robust Web site that includes information about their WRC-03 Preparatory Group's activities.
For information on past WRCs, see the ITU's Web site. They have information on WRC-2000, as well as WRC-95 and WRC-97.
