ARLA/CLUSTER: Conselho Administrativo da IARU reúne-se para preparar intervenções na WRC-19

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

IARU AC meeting focuses on WRC-19 and succession planning

The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) held its annual in-person meeting on September 8-9 2018
in Seoul, Republic of Korea, immediately prior to the IARU Region 3
Conference

The AC is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU and
consists of the three IARU international officers and two
representatives from each of the three IARU regional organizations.

With the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) now little more than a
year away, the efforts of two dozen IARU volunteers to defend amateur
radio’s frequency allocations against commercial pressures and to seek
worldwide harmonization of the 50-54 MHz band are reaching a critical
stage. Coordination of this team is an ongoing task leading up to the
ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting in Geneva in February 2019 and to
WRC-19 itself in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, in October and November.

The work involves presenting the IARU positions on the WRC-19 agenda
items to national administrations through the IARU member-societies
and actively participating in the ongoing preparations being done in
regional telecommunications organizations and the ITU
Radiocommunication Sector. The potential for crippling levels of
interference to radiocommunications from High Power Wireless Power
Transfer (WPT) for electric vehicles is high on the list of concerns.

With these challenges in mind the AC reviewed its strategic plan to
develop support for amateur spectrum allocations and approved the
action plan for implementation during the remainder of 2018 and 2019.
To resource the plan, the IARU budget for the years 2019-2021 was
reviewed and adopted. The budget is based upon anticipated financial
contributions from the IARU International Secretariat (IS) and the
three regional organizations and reflects ongoing efforts to minimize
expenses while maintaining the essential activities for achievement of
the plan.

The IARU Constitution and Administrative Council policies define the
process for filling the positions of IARU President and Vice President
for five-year terms. Member-societies and the three IARU regional
organizations are invited to participate in identifying qualified
candidates for consideration in a consultative process between the AC
and the member-society acting as the International Secretariat (IS),
currently the ARRL. This process for the terms of office beginning on
9 May 2019 was initiated at the 2017 meeting of the AC and completed
at the 2018 meeting. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, formally
reported that there was consensus that the incumbent President Tim
Ellam, VE6SH, and Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, should be
nominated for an additional term. These nominations will be submitted
to the IARU member-societies for ratification by mail vote.

Looking to the future, the AC recognized the importance and urgency of
succession planning and assigned it an immediate and high priority.
Individuals with the qualifications, skills, and willingness to fill
volunteer technical and leadership positions must be identified on an
ongoing basis in order to maintain the availability of essential
personnel resources. Training must be provided so that the volunteer
team can function effectively in a rapidly changing regulatory
environment.

The growth of amateur radio, especially how to attract young people,
is a common concern of IARU member-societies. The AC will set out to
identify those barriers to growth that the IARU can assist
member-societies to address and will encourage member-societies to
share successful strategies for growth with one another.

The AC noted with pleasure that considerable progress has been made to
develop consistent branding across the IARU and its three regional
organizations and thanked the team that has been working on a common
design for the four websites. The design was agreed and plans are
underway for implementation in the coming months.

The IARU policy on QSL bureaus has been under review for several
years. While the IARU QSL bureau system continues to be important for
many member-societies and individual amateurs, escalating expenses
represent a growing financial burden for others. Unwanted and
undeliverable QSL cards are increasingly recognized as an
environmental concern. Possible amendments to the policy continue to
be developed for consideration.

In addition to the ITU Radiocommunication Sector the IARU is engaged
with the Development Sector, particularly with regard to emergency
communication. Additional areas of continuing activity that represent
significant effort by volunteer coordinators, advisors, and others
include amateur satellite frequency coordination, electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC), and the International Beacon Project. Reports
from these coordinators and advisors were received with thanks. The AC
agreed to maintain its modest annual financial support of the Beacon
Project.

The AC noted the actions taken by the IS and the regions to address
the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of
the European Union and agreed to review its implications on an ongoing
basis.

After consideration of several possible alternatives the theme for
World Amateur Radio Day, 18 April 2019, was confirmed as “Celebrating
Amateur Radio’s Contribution to Society.”

Attending the meeting were IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Vice
President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; regional
representatives Don Beattie, G3BJ, Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T,
Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AM, Ramón Santoyo, XE1KK, Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN,
and Peter Young, VK3MV. Present as observers were regional executive
committee members Jay Bellows, K0QB, Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, and Don
Wallace, ZL2TLL.

The next in-person meeting of the AC is scheduled to be held
immediately prior to the IARU Region 2 Conference in Lima, Peru at the
end of September 2019. Virtual AC meetings will be held by
teleconference as required.

IARU http://iaru.org/