2014-04-29
The Canadian Amateur Radio Regulatory Advisory Board (CARAB), comprised of members of the RAC Executive and senior Industry Canada representatives, met in Ottawa on April 23rd.
In attendance for RAC was Geoff Bawden VE4BAW (President), Glenn MacDonell VE3XRA (Vice-President and Regulatory Affairs Officer), George Gorsline VE3YV (International affairs Officer) and Marcel D. Mongeon VA3DDD (Honourary Legal Counsel).
Industry Canada representation consisted of Lynne Fancy (Senior Director Spectrum Development and Operations), Caroline Kennedy (Manager) and Stephen Williams (Policy Analyst).
Some of the items that were raised and discussed included:
- Ongoing RAC and IC synergies on International files in World Radio Conference context, specifically work on a 60m amateur allocation proposal.
- Revamp of amateur exam question bank.
- Confirmation by IC that the consultation on the new antenna siting policy was seeking comments on the removal of the exemption for broadcasting undertakings and telecommunications carriers.
- Recent updates to RBR-4, still more work to be done; importance of this guidance document to hams was emphasized.
- Discussed outdated Morse code applicability to Canada-US reciprocity and CEPT operating permits; work in progress by IC.
- Two-letter amateur call sign shortage in certain provinces. Options discussed including current certificate data purging criteria.
- Process for non-amateur intrusion into amateur frequencies raised by RAC with examples over recent years. IC use of spectrum discussed.
The Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board (CARAB) is a consultative group consisting of members of the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) and the Spectrum Operations Branch of Industry Canada (IC). Its function is to provide a forum between Canadian radio amateurs and the regulator. The first CARAB meeting took place in 1993. CARAB is co-chaired by the RAC President and a Senior IC Director.