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WRC 2007

WRC 2007. The inside story. Part I Preparations. In Canada, on behalf of RAC, Jim VE3IQ has worked for the past 4 years with Industry Canada and other spectrum users to influence the Canadian position at the WRC.

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WRC 2007

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  1. WRC 2007 The inside story

  2. Part IPreparations • In Canada, on behalf of RAC, Jim VE3IQ has worked for the past 4 years with Industry Canada and other spectrum users to influence the Canadian position at the WRC. • At the same time, in Geneva, Ken VE3PU attended four years of studies and negotiations to establish the IARU position and influence the rest of the world. • In the Americas, Daniel Lamoureux VE2KA attended meetings for both RAC and the IARU to influence the Region’s position

  3. What was at stake? • Expansion of the HF broadcast bands and possible loss of the 7200-7300 kHz primary allocation in our Region • Expansion of 40 metres to 300 kHz worldwide (primary) • A new band at 2200 metres (secondary) • A new band at 60 metres (secondary) • Agenda for the next conference

  4. Regions The ITU is organized in three regions. Canada is in Region 2

  5. Power Blocs • In order to have more influence at a WRC, countries with common interests work together to submit joint or “common” proposals

  6. IARU forecast at May 2007 RAC Board meeting • Loss of 7200-7300 in our Region - less than 30% • 300 kHz at 40 metres - less than 10% • 2200 Metres – better than 50% • 60 metres – maybe 10% • Next conference ???

  7. Where was our support ? • Protection of 7200-7300 – Canada, CITEL • Worldwide 300 kHz at 40 metres – none ! • 135 kHz band – Canada, CITEL, CEPT, ATU, RCC, APT • 5 MHz band –25 European countries, Mexico, Iran and Georgia

  8. Where was the opposition? • Protection of 7200-7300 kHz - USA ?? • Worldwide 300 kHz at 40 metres – opposed by Canada, and all power blocs • 135 kHz band –opposed by Arab bloc • 5 MHz band – opposed by Canada, USA, RCC, some CEPT countries, CITEL, ARB, APT, ATU

  9. What did we have going for us? • The IARU is well respected in the ITU. • In the Radio Sector, for both our technical and diplomatic activities • In the Development Sector for the work done by Larry Price W4RA, Tim Ellam VE6SH and Hans Zimmerman F5VKP. • Larry’s participation as an observer at Council, etc • Daniel’s participation in CITEL • Former ITU Director Bob Jones VE7RWJ on IARU team

  10. What did we have going for us? • There were many radio amateurs on national delegations which understand, and are sympathetic to our needs. • Very good PR at the conference including Amateur display in German emergency communications van. • RAC supported the IARU position and continued to press the Canadian delegation to support us should the opportunity arise.

  11. How did we “sell” our case? • Amateur radio as a service • Emergency and disaster relief communications, on the spot during first hours after a disaster. • Ability to communicate under adverse propagation conditions

  12. What does NOT sell internationally? • Amateur radio as a “hobby” - rag chewing • Amateurs as innovators of new technology • Amateurs as skilled operators - DXing, contests, etc • Amateur radio as an educational resource

  13. What did RAC do? • Publicized ARES and other disaster communications capabilities on the air, in TCA and on the web site • Continued to press Canada and other administrations to support the IARU position at the WRC • Sought DARF support to attend more international meetings • Supported the IARU – both financially through annual membership, and by publicizing its good works.

  14. Part IIThe WRC story

  15. Over 2800 delegates, from some 180 countries around the world descended on Geneva in October. • The IARU team at the conference, headed by Larry Price W4RA, included: -Paul Rinaldo W4RI,-Hans Zimmermann F5VKP , -Reinaldo Leandro YV5AMH, and -Ken Pulfer VE3PU. -In addition, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, and Tim Ellam, VE6SH joined the team for part of the time. • Former ITU Director Bob Jones VE7RWJ provided support and advice to the IARU team.

  16. A few of the other radio amateurs representing their national societies at the conference: • Walt Ireland WB7CSL and Jon Siverling WB3ERA, USA • Colin Thomas G3PSM,  Great Britain     • Ole  Garpestad LA2RR, Norway • Keith Malcolm VK1ZK,  Australia • Jim Dean VE3IQ, Canada • Peter Lake ZL2AZ, New Zealand • Tafa Diop  6W1KI, Senegal, and   • Jay Oka JA1TRC, Japan  • Trond Olsen LA8XM Norway

  17. To start things off, an article was included in the current ITU News magazine, distributed to all delegates, describing what the amateur radio community hoped to gain at this WRC. • There was a flier in every delegate's mailbox describing amateur radio and what it does for the community. • And there was a trailer parked just outside the WRC entrance displaying emergency and disaster communications equipment, manned by two German radio amateurs

  18. The local amateur radio club put the special call sign 4U1WRC on the air for the duration of the conference. • And to top it all off, the most senior official in the ITU, Dr Hammadoun Touré, the Secretary General , proudly announced in his opening address to the conference that he had just acquired his amateur radio licence, with the call sign HB9EHT.

  19. WRC Proposals • In the conference input documents, there were some new proposals for items affecting amateur radio • CEPT and Mexico proposed a 60 metre amateur band as had been recommended by the IARU. • Iran and Georgia also proposed 60 metres, but with some qualifications. • Several Arab countries broke ranks and supported the 135 kHz amateur proposal

  20. IARU team • While the IARU started out with a strong team, we ran into problems. • During the second week, our head of delegation Larry Price, W4RA suffered a small stroke, which put him in the hospital. He was well enough during the third week to travel, and returned home to the USA. • The President of Region 2, Reinaldo Leandro of Venezuela also had to return home because of a medical emergency in his family.

  21. IARU team • Tim Ellam VE6SH had to return to Calgary at the end of the second week because of an urgent matter in his day job. • And finally, Dave Sumner K1ZZ, and Hans Zimmerman F5VKP, returned home in the middle of the third week as originally planned. • So the IARU was reduced to just Paul Rinaldo W4RI, and Ken Pulfer VE3PU

  22. A 135 kHz (2200 metre) band • Usually the first week of a conference is taken up by receptions and allocation of documents to committees. This time more progress was made. • By the end of the first week, two meetings (chaired by Suneil Kanjeekal of Canada) had been held on the 135 kHz proposal, and it was widely supported.

  23. 135 kHz • 5.4C03 Stations in the amateur service using frequencies in the band 135.7-137.8 kHz shall not exceed a maximum radiated power of 1 W(e.i.r.p.) and shall not cause harmful interference to stations of the radionavigation service operating in countries listed in No. 5.67.    

  24. 135 kHz • The IARU was not allowed to intervene during meetings, so we concentrated on intensive lobbying with all the participants including Canada • Several amateurs on national delegations spoke at the meetings, but lacking experience in the political issues involved, many did more harm than good. Jim's participation was essential.

  25. 135 kHz • By Friday, Europe dropped their e.r.p. requirement and everything had been resolved except for a few remaining hold-out Arab countries. • Much lobbying went on to try to get the Arabs to change their minds. Former Director Bob Jones VE7RWJ on the IARU team, was very effective, as was Jan Verduijn of the Netherlands, and of course Suneil Kanjeekal and Jim Dean of Canada.

  26. 135 kHz • 5.4C04 The use of the band 135.7-137.8 kHz in Algeria, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan and Tunisia is limited to the fixed and maritime mobile services. • The amateur service shall not be used in the above-mentioned countries in the band 135.7-137.8 kHz, and this should be taken into account by the countries authorizing such use.    

  27. 135 kHz • It took a week to find the wording for the 135 kHz footnote which was acceptable. Even so, one country recorded their inability to go along with the proposal. • The proposal then moved up the chain of committees to reach approval in plenary on Friday of the third week. • The challenge for RAC now will be to convince Industry Canada to allow use of the band in our country, in spite of objections from Hydro Quebec, that 135 kHz may interfere with their power line control systems

  28. IARC Dinner • During the third week of the conference, the International Amateur Radio Club arranged for a dinner for visiting amateurs. • About 50 amateurs attended, with the guest of honour being Dr Touré, HB9EHT, the Secretary General of the ITU. • It was a very enjoyable social evening, and amongst other things, Dr Touré signed 4U1WRC QSL cards for all amateurs present.

  29. HF Bands • Only one meeting was held on the 4-10 MHz agenda item during the first week, and, as expected, going was very difficult. • Rumours abounded. It was said that the US was ready to offer 7200 to 7300 kHz in Region 2 to the broadcasters in exchange for concessions • Broadcast representatives informed us that they would not accept 7200 to 7300, and if they did have to make sacrifices, 60 metres would be the first to go.

  30. HF Bands • By the end of the second week there was still no progress towards resolving the differences over new broadcast allocations. • It was also pretty clear that no new amateur spectrum at 7 MHz would be considered, but that a 5 MHz band was still a possibility once the broadcast question was resolved

  31. HF Bands • On Wednesday of the third week, things came to a head. • The Chairman of the conference met with a small group of regional representatives and informed them that, since there was still no progress towards a compromise, and he wished to avoid the need to call for a vote in plenary, he would encourage broadcast to withdraw their request for more spectrum.

  32. HF Bands • On Thursday CEPT declined to withdraw it’s proposal, but did reluctantly agree to support the no-change option. (A very subtle distinction !!) • The remaining HF issues were then tackled at the working level on Thursday and on Friday. • The amateur 60 metre band was postponed until almost the end. A fallback proposal for selected spot frequencies was quickly prepared

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