[bulletins] Fw: [arnewsline] Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1730 - October 8 2010

[Randy Allen - KA0AZS]

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Subject: [arnewsline] Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1730 - October 8 2010


      
      
      Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1730 - October 8 2010

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1730 with a release date of Friday, October 8 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
 
The following is a Q-S-T.  The IARU Administrative Council meets in El Salvador to prepare for W-R-C 12; a true world-wide ham license could be on its way; license restructuring comes to South Africa and Indonesia to launch a pair of ham-sats in 2011. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1730 coming your way right now.


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RADIO POLITICS:  IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL UPDATES WRC-12 PLANNING 

The Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union or IARU held its annual meeting on October 1st and 2nd in El Salvador.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, takes a look at what was accomplished:
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The Administrative Council is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU.  It is made up of the three IARU international officers and two representatives from each of the three regional organizations.  And this group covered a lot of ground in the two days that they were allotted to them.   

Perhaps most important issue faced was the IARU positions on relevant agenda items for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference also known as WRC-12.  These items were reviewed and updated in light of developments since the 2009 Administrative Council meeting.  Desired agenda items for future World Radiocommunication Conference were also considered while progress on the action plan for developing support for amateur radio frequency allocations were reviewed and the plan updated for the period through the WRC-12 meeting. 

With electromagnetic compatibility issues becoming more and more of a problem for radio amateurs world-wide, a need was identified for an IARU coordinator to handle this issue.  A sub-committee of the Administrative Council will develop suitable terms of reference for this. 
Future involvement by the IARU in the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications or GAREC Conference was discussed.  The decision was to request additional information from the conference organizers. 

The theme "Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network" was adopted for the next World Amateur Radio Day.  That's slated for April 18, 2011. 

Lastly, a report was received from the IARU 2025 Committee, which is developing a concept for a new organizational structure for the IARU.  The committee was asked to refine its report into a form that can be presented to member-societies for their consideration. 

This is only a quick overview of what was discussed at the conference.  For a more detailed report, please take your web browser to tinyurl.com/2ayetpw

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seely, KI7UP, watching the ham radio political scene from Scottsdale, Arizona.
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The next scheduled in-person meeting of the IARU Administrative Council will be held in the vicinity of Sun City, South Africa, on August 19th and 20th of 2011.  This, in conjunction with the IARU Region 1 Conference that will take place August 13th to the 18th at or near the same location.   (Southgate)

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RADIO POLITICS:  WORLD HAM RADIO LICENSE MAY BE ON ITS WAY

In other news out of the conference, Radio Amateurs of Canada reports that a true world wide ham radio license could be in the hobby's future.  

Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA, is the Vice President International Affairs for Radio Amateurs of Canada.  He says that El Salvador's Superintendent of Communications surprised everyone at the end of his speech by announcing that his nation had decided to sign the International Amateur Radio Permit or IARP Agreement. 

For those of you not aware, the IARP Agreement is designed to allow ham radio operation in certain countries of the Americas without seeking a special license or permit to enter and operate from that country.  According to Lamoureux, this move by El Salvador is a very significant and means that in a short time the IARPand the pan-European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations or CEPT International Amateur licenses might be harmonized and become one.  (RAC, VE2KA) 

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RADIOS FUTURE:  MAJOR SURVEY OF UK HAMS LAUNCHED BY RSGB

At the recent Radio Society of Great Britain National Hamfest the U-K national society announced the launch a major survey of all United Kingdom radio amateurs.  The objective of the survey is to gather as much information as possible on 21st century amateur radio operation in that nation.  

According to the announcement, the survey, which is internet based, will run for three months.   The data collected will be used to determine the direction that amateur radio takes over the next 10 to 20 years.  

Full details of the survey will shortly appear in the amateur radio press while notices of invitation will be placed on all amateur radio reflectors and will appear shortly on the RSGB website.   (RSGB)

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RESTRUCTURING:  SOUTH AFRICA FACES MAJOR LICENSE STRUCTURE CHANGES

A new round of amateur radio license restructuring appears to be taking pace in South Africa.  This, with word that ICASA, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has published the draft of proposed changes to that nations radio regulations in the September 26th Government Gazette.   We have more in this report from Bruce Tennant, K6PZW:

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According to the South African Radio League, there are some significant changes to regulations pertaining to telecommunications in general and amateur radio in particular contained in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa draft rules revision proposal.  These include the disappearance of the Zed R license prefix and, with that, the requirements for one of the five upgrade criteria.  

Those having passed the Class A examination will be allocated a Zed-S callsign. The South African Radio League says that it plans to discuss with ICASA the procedure by which Zed-R license holders will be able to upgrade to Zed-S at the next liaison meeting. 

But this is not where the restructuring will end.  If placed into communications law, there will be a new age restriction placed on the South African class B license.  The Class B license will be available only to those under the age of 20.  Holders of this license will be expected to take and pass the nations class A examination before they reach age 25.  After that, the Class B license along with its Zed U prefix will be cancelled.

As to reaction from the South African ham radio community?  The South African Radio League says that these are significant changes to regulations affecting to amateur radio in that nation.  It says that the organization will study the draft regulations and will hold a discussion during the President's Net.  That's slated to be held on Sunday, October 17th.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles

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The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa says that it will be holding a public hearing on the new rules on December 1st and 2nd.  Soon after that date the final regulations are expected to be enacted into law.   (SARL)

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