SB QST @ ARL $ARLB050
ARLB050 ARRL Board requests policy recommendations to implement
WRC-03 results
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ARRL Bulletin 50 ARLB050
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT July 24, 2003
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB050
ARLB050 ARRL Board requests policy recommendations to implement
WRC-03 results
The ARRL Board of Directors has called on ARRL Chief Executive
Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and
the ARRL Executive Committee to develop ARRL policy recommendations
for an FCC filing to implement the results of World
Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03). ARRL President Jim
Haynie, W5JBP, chaired the July 18-19 Board session in Windsor,
Connecticut.
"The League, as the Amateur Radio representative in the United
States, will, through its democratic process, review input from its
members as to the impact and implementation of these results to the
Part 97 rules," a Board resolution declared. A report on the policy
recommendations is due next January. The Board expressed gratitude
to the IARU and ARRL WRC-03 team for its "tireless and dedicated
efforts in promoting Amateur Radio" and congratulated it for
achieving the IARU's goals at the month-long international
conference, which wrapped up in Geneva July 4.
Delegates to WRC-03 reached a compromise on a 200-kHz worldwide
allocation--7000 to 7200 kHz--effective in 2009, with no change to
the existing 300-kHz allocation in the US or elsewhere in Region 2.
The conference also eliminated the requirement that amateur
applicants prove Morse code proficiency to operate below 30 MHz,
leaving it up to individual administrations to retain or drop Morse
as an exam element. WRC-03 decisions also resulted in changes
affecting international third-party traffic, guidelines for
standards of competence of amateur licensees, and recognition of the
licenses of visiting amateurs.
The Board also implemented some recommendations of the wide-ranging
Final Report of the Volunteer Resources Committee to the ARRL Board
of Directors--an Evaluation of the ARRL's Field Organization. The
committee, chaired by ARRL Midwest Division Director Wade Walstrom,
W0EJ, concluded that the state of the ARRL Field Organization is
"fair," but not sufficient to meet the League's obligation to
provide emergency communications, especially at the national level.
In light of the report, the Board called for a comprehensive system
to enhance the communications capabilities of the Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES). There are situations, the Board
said--especially given the League's new Citizen Corps partnership
with the Department of Homeland Security--when ARES "must have the
capability to pass traffic across the nation quickly and
accurately."
The Board also called on all 71 Section Emergency Coordinators to
develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive Section Emergency
Plan by year's end. Additionally, the Board asked Sumner to formally
establish leadership training courses as a part of routine Section
Manager orientation.
In response to the so-called "Minute 56" report initiated at last
July's meeting, the Board voted to initiate a process to revise ARRL
band plans for amateur allocations between 902 MHz and 24.25 GHz.
"New band plans will be developed using as a goal the full amateur
deployment of each band," the Board said. The Board voted
unanimously to authorize President Haynie--with assistance from
Imlay and Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, "to
explore specific terms of expanded partnering plans with the
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC). Such
cooperation could involve greater integration of amateur operation
in the bands from 902 MHz to 24.25 GHz in public safety and homeland
security communications."
Citing the Amateur Radio tradition of Elmering (mentoring) new and
prospective amateurs, the Board okayed a resolution instructing the
VRC to develop two or more viable options for an ARRL Volunteer
Mentor program that would provide for "the promotion, support and
growth of mentoring in Amateur Radio." The VRC is to present its
options at the Board's January meeting.
Additional details are on the ARRL Web site. The minutes of the July
ARRL Board of Directors meeting will be posted on the ARRL Web site
as soon as they are available.
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