==> wrc-07 week 3: hf broadcasting empty-handed; no 5 mhz amateur
allocation
as the international telecommunication union's 2007 world
radiocommunication conference (wrc-07) in geneva headed toward its
fourth and final week, the proponents of additional allocations to hf
broadcasting conceded defeat and accepted that there will be no
additional allocations made to hfbc at this conference. the slim
possibility of a 5 mhz allocation to the amateur service also evaporated
late friday evening, according to iaru secretary david sumner, k1zz.
hfbc has been a contentious issue at itu conferences for decades. at
wrc-07, additional hfbc allocations between 4 and 10 mhz were supported
by 25 european administrations and a few outside europe but were
strongly opposed by every other regional organization. opposition to
additional hfbc allocations was based mainly on a desire to protect
military and other government fixed and mobile communications, although
some of the administrations that were the most outspoken opponents of
hfbc expansion authorize hfbc stations under their jurisdiction to
operate out-of-band in the fixed and mobile allocations. some hfbc
proponents predict that the unsatisfactory outcome of the conference on
this issue will lead to even more out-of-band broadcasting.
a footnote specifically authorizing administrations to allow amateur
stations to use spot frequencies in the 5 mhz range was considered
friday evening (geneva time) at the sub working group level as one of
the last items of business concerning the 4-10 mhz range. the footnote
failed to attract sufficient support and was withdrawn from
consideration by its sponsor, the european regional organization (cept).
this has no effect on the administrations that have authorized amateur
operations under the no-interference provisions of radio regulation 4.4.
on a more positive note for radio amateurs, a secondary allocation of
135.7-137.8 khz to the amateur service was approved on first reading in
plenary on friday afternoon, november 9. this marks the first time since
allocations to radio services began that the amateur service has had an
allocation below the medium wave broadcasting band. the effective date
is not yet set, but is likely to be the date of entry into force of the
final acts of the conference. of course, amateurs must wait until their
own administrations authorize the new allocation before they can use it.
some administrations, while not wishing to block the international
allocation, have indicated a reluctance to implement it in their
countries because of various interference concerns.
work continues on the agenda for future wrcs, tentatively scheduled for
2011 and 2015. there are many more proposals for agenda items for the
next conference than can be accommodated, so only those with broad
support are likely to be included. committee work on the future agendas
is scheduled for completion early next week.
members of the core team of the international amateur radio union (iaru)
continue to attend the relevant meetings and work the halls on behalf of
the amateur and amateur-satellite services. support from numerous
members of national delegations remains a vital component of this
effort.
on tuesday evening, november 6, the international amateur radio club,
4u1itu, held a dinner with a new amateur licensee, itu secretary-general
hamadoun toure, hb9eht as the guest of honor. there were 43 members and
guests present, including wrc-07 delegates from more than a dozen
countries -- several heads and deputy heads of delegation among them.
the club station is active on the air under the special call sign
4u1wrc.
