 WRC-07
Week 3: HF broadcasting empty-handed, no 5-MHz Amateur Radio 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 radio service
also evaporated late Friday evening.
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 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was withdrawn from consideration by its sponsor, the European regional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 radio 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 dministrations 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 Touré, 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.
David Sumner, K1ZZ
IARU Secretary
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