G[mloulnal - Quarter Century Wireless Association

By fohn Kelleher W4ZC
wRc-20,03
Some good news and some bad news
Tlrcfollowingitemftom o recentARRLSpxiol Bulldinisof greotintetutond imprtorce
inthstitportandsa soltrtion otlutg losttotlc ptoblemof on o@uateand
excltsive omotanr ollxation, ,nryruly wolAn&, near 7 MHz.ft moy atso inauae Ae
deldion of o requirementin the lru RodiooRegulationsfor Morsecode prcficiency
FCC Begins WRC-2OO3 Preparations
In preparation for the next \7orld Radiocommunication
Conference in 2003, the FCC's VRC-03 Advisory Committee
met for the first time January 30 at FCC Headquarters in Washington.
The FCC International Bureau's Planning and Negotiations
Division has primary responsibiliry for guiding the FCC's
WRC-03 efforts.
A \trRC-O3 \(eb site has been ser up ar http://www.fcc.gov/
wrc-03 along with a mailbox for the committee, wrc03@fcc.gov.
The Advisory Committee provides an opportuniry for interests
outside the federal governmenr to develop and debate
US draft proposals for possible adoption by the FCC, the Nationa-l
Telecommunications and Information administration and
the US Department of State.
\fT.C-03 will deal with wide-ranging telecommunications
issues, including IMT:2000 or so-called "third-generation" or
"3G" cellular telephone devices, fixed services, mobile and fixedsatellite
issues, HF broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and regulatory
matters.
Amateur Radio-related issues on the \7RC-03 agenda include
the revision of Articie 525 of the international Radio
Regulations,the basic rules for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite
services. This includes the issue of whether to retain the
treary requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency for
access to amateur bands below 30 MHz.
\fRC-03 also will review the terms and definitions of Articie
S 1 to the extent required as a consequence of any changes
made in Article S25. Among other things, Article S1 contains
the definition of the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services.
In addition, \7RC-03 participants are expected to review the
provisions of Article S19 concerning the formation of cali signs
in the amateur services, in order to provide flexibility for administrations.
\fRC-03 will consider realignment of amareur and broad-
t6 QCWA fournal - Summer 2001
casting bands around 7 MHz on a worldwide basis. The longstanding
problem was identified in a \7r\RC-92 recommendition
that called for realignment ar a future conference. The International
Amateur Radio Union is committed to supporting a
"harmonized" worldwide 300-kHz allocation in the viciniry-of
7 MHz.
An examination of the adequacy of HF broadcasting allocations
from approximately 4 rc 10 MHz also is on the agenda.
Conference participants also will consider abandoning an earlier
commitment for HF broadcasters to shift from double to
single-sideband AM modulation and move instead to digital
modulation.
Among other issues that could affectAmateur Radio, \XRC-
03 will consider allocations for non-geostationary, non-voice
mobile satellites (the so-called "Little LEOS") below 1 GHz, as
well as spectrum above 1 GHz for feeder links. In addition, the
conference will consider Earth Exploration-Satellite Service in
the 420 to 47}-MHzband.
ARRL Technicai Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, \f4RI,
says that most of the issues of concern to amateurs have been
assigned to the \X/RC-03 Advisory Committee's Informal \7orking
Group 6. ARRL tchnical Relations Specialist \7alt Ireland,
\7B7CSL, has been appointed as vice chairman of I'S7G-6.
funaldo says Ireland's presence "will be key in seeing that amateur
issues have fair rrearment." He said Ireland's experience
with the Voice of America also will be helpful in deaiing with
HF broadcasting issues being considered by the panel.
\fRC-03 is scheduled to begin June 9, 2003, and conrinue
until July 4,2003. A firm location has not yer been established,
but the conference is expected to take place in Venezuela.
Old So1 and the ionosphere
There is evidence that the peak of solar sunspors occurred
in February 2001, and that we are now entering the 7-yeaar
(approximatell) period when sunspots will gradually decline.
73, Jack