[CW] ARRL Board requests policy recommendations to implement WRC-03 results

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

They're seeking input from the membership so they can act?

Why don't I believe this?  ARRL a division of NCI - No Code International?

73

DR
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist@www.arrl.org
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 1:22 PM
Subject: ARLB050 ARRL Board requests policy recommendations to implement
WRC-03 results

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB050 ARLB050 ARRL Board requests policy recommendations to
implement WRC-03 results

ZCZC AG50 QST de W1AW 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.

NNNN /EX