SB QST @ ARL $ARLB033
ARLB033 Venezuela Withdraws Invitation for WRC-03, Conference 
Location Uncertain

ZCZC AG33
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 33  ARLB033
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  June 10, 2002
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB033
ARLB033 Venezuela Withdraws Invitation for WRC-03, Conference 
Location Uncertain

World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 is looking for a new
location. Citing economic concerns, the Venezuelan National
Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) has advised International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi that
it will be unable to host WRC-03.

The conference had been scheduled to be held in Caracas next June
and July. Whether it can be held on the scheduled dates in some
other location is not yet known.

''Planning for a conference of this size and scope generally takes
two or three years,'' said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David
Sumner, K1ZZ. Sumner serves as administrative officer for the
delegation that will represent the International Amateur Radio Union
at the conference. ''It is a formidable challenge for the ITU staff
to work with potential host administrations to find a suitable
facility for a conference that is supposed to open less than one
year from now.''

Several issues of importance to radio amateurs are on the conference
agenda, including harmonization of the 7-MHz amateur and
broadcasting allocations. Other Amateur Radio-related issues include
the revision of Article 25 of the international Radio
Regulations--the basic rules for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite
services. Among other issues, this includes the issue of whether to
retain the treaty requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency
for access to amateur bands below 30 MHz.

''Amateurs may rest assured that wherever and whenever the
conference is held, the IARU team will be there for them,'' Sumner
said.  
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