The World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from October 28 to November 22, 2019.
On this webpage you will find updates as we countdown to WRC-19.
Our delegate, Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, the RAC Special Advisor at World Radiocommunication Conferences, regularly keeps us all up to date – through articles in The Canadian Amateur and on the RAC website – on the issues and processes that ultimately determine Amateur Radio frequencies around the world.
We are pleased to be able to share some of these articles with you at the links provided below.
Articles by Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN:
- “The Importance of Showing Up” (PDF file; 319 KB)
- “An Amateur Radio Approach to Spectrum Sharing Studies” (PDF file; 1.7 MB)
What are World Radio Communication Conferences?
The International Telecommunications Union describes World Radiocommunication Conferences as follows:
“World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) are held every three to four years.
It is the job of WRC to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits.
Revisions are made on the basis of an agenda determined by the ITU Council, which takes into account recommendations made by previous World Radiocommunication Conferences.
The general scope of the agenda of World Radiocommunication Conferences is established four to six years in advance, with the final agenda set by the ITU Council two years before the conference, with the concurrence of a majority of Member States.”
The World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from October 28 to November 22, 2019.
Our Canadian Delegate: Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN
Our delegate, Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, the RAC Special Advisor at World Radiocommunication Conferences, regularly keeps us all up to date – through articles in The Canadian Amateur and on the RAC website – on the issues and processes that ultimately determine Amateur Radio frequencies around the world.
In the November-December 2014 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine, Bryan wrote an article about “An Amateur Radio Approach to Spectrum Sharing Studies”. A PDF version of the article is available at the preceding link and is also provided at the bottom of this page.
Between one WRC and the next are many preparatory sessions where the real work to shape, negotiate and defend allocations take place. Our delegate typically attends two of these meetings each year, each lasting 10 to 12 days and from 2016 to 2019, Bryan has travelled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the Preparatory Meetings for the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19). You can find more information about these meetings at the links below.
In 1991, the Defence of Amateur Radio Fund (DARF), was created by Tom Atkins, VE3CDM (SK) and Bill Loucks, VE3AR (SK), to provide funding to ensure that a Canadian Radio Amateur would be part of these critical processes. Over the years, this need has only grown more critical with the explosion of mobile services and the need for more spectrum to service them.
Note: It costs a lot to send a person to Geneva to work and live for almost a month, even with discounted airfare and hotel rates. If you have not contributed to the Defence of Amateur Radio Fund (DARF), please consider making a personal donation and also suggest a club donation to DARF at your next club meeting. For more information visit https://darf.rac.ca.
World Radiocommunication Conferences Preparatory Meetings:
The following links provide information about Bryan Rawlings representation at the Preparatory Meetings:
For more information about World Radiocommunication Conferences and their Preparatory Meetings visit:
World Radio Communication Conferences: WRC
Calendar of Events: https://www.itu.int/en/events/Pages/Calendar-Events.aspx?sector=ITU-R
Previous Media Releases:
Media Releases: Two Metres Reallocation Proposal
July 3, 2019
Radio Amateurs of Canada has received several requests for more information in response to reports on some websites and discussions on email lists of a proposal to reallocate 144 MHz – 146MHz from the Amateur Radio Service to the Aeronautical Mobile Service.
The following has been prepared by Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, RAC’s representative at the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference and the domestic and International meetings leading up to that meeting.
Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
President
Radio Amateurs of Canada
Two Metres: Reallocation?
There is concern – understandably – in the Amateur community over a proposal by France to reallocate 144 – 146 MHz to the aeronautical navigation service to accommodate the growing number of aircraft employing new navigation tracking and communication aids.
Here is a brief summary of what and where this proposal is:
The French administration have proposed a new primary allocation to the aeronautical mobile service in 144 to 146 MHz which is the entirety of the Amateur two-metre band in ITU Region 1 (Europe, the Mid-East and Africa). Their proposal was most recently considered at a meeting in Prague of a subcommittee of the Conseil Europeen des Postes et Radiocommunication (CEPT). The CEPT comprises 48 European states.
What is under consideration specifically is that an agenda item to this effect be included for the World Radiocommunication Conference tentatively planned for 2023. The WRC-23 agenda will be decided at the conclusion of the next WRC which begins October 28 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was present as an observer at the Prague meeting and energetically opposed the French proposal. In the event, only Germany among the delegates opposed the French proposal. The issue will now be taken up at a higher level CEPT meeting in August. Belgium has apparently joined Germany in opposition. Should the number of administrations opposing the French proposal reach eight the proposal will fail to move forward. The IARU and European Amateurs are now actively seeking the support of other administrations to oppose the French proposal.
Formally, the proposal is not on the agenda of any other regional groups preparing for WRC-19. RAC has made known to our regulator, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, that we support the IARU’s opposition to the French proposal and its actions to defend Amateur Radio’s worldwide primary allocation and that we would oppose any similar proposal for reallocation in Region 2 (the Americas). The Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones (CITEL) of the Organization of American States will meet in Ottawa in mid-August. The IARU will again be an observer and RAC will be represented in the Canadian delegation.
This issue is a clear illustration of the importance of Amateurs and their national associations being vigilant and taking part in the regional and international regulatory conferences which can determine the fate of our most-cherished Amateur bands. For a more-complete description of these processes read the article “The Importance of Showing Up” (now available here in PDF format) which was published in the May-June 2019 issue of The Canadian Amateur.
Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN
RAC WRC Special Advisor