Third party communications regarding tsunami disaster areas

In the wake of the Tsunami/Earthquake Disaster, and in response to questions from Canadian radio amateurs, Industry Canada has advised the RAC as follows:

Canada has no objections to its licensed radio amateurs passing international communications on behalf of third parties in support of an emergency or disaster relief in the countries affected by the recent tsunami and earthquake, provided that the affected country allows its radio amateurs to carry on such a communication.

This is in keeping with the recent "FINAL ACTS WRC-03 WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE (GENEVA, 2003)" where paragraph 25.3 (2) states that "Amateur stations may be used for transmitting international communications on behalf of third parties only in case of emergencies or disaster relief. An administration may
determine the applicability of this provision to amateur stations under its jurisdiction."

Under normal circumstances, Canadian radio amateurs must respect the third-party agreements and arrangements noted in Industry Canada's Radiocommunication Information Circular RIC-3 - Issue 2, dated April 2002.

Canada has concluded agreements or arrangements with the following countries to permit the transmission and reception of international communications by Canadian amateurs on behalf of third parties: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Under normal circumstances radio amateurs in
Canada are obliged to respect these agreements.

Source: Radio Amateurs of Canada

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