05/02/2016
The deadline is June 1 for US radio amateurs to submit suggestions to the ARRL
Board of Directors' HF Band Planning Committee regarding possible changes to
the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU[1]) Region 2 Band Plan[2]. That
band plan and other significant Amateur Radio spectrum issues will be on the
agenda for the IARU Region 2 General Assembly in Chile this fall. The ARRL
joins other IARU member societies in the Americas in seeking input from the
amateur community on the Region 2 HF Band Plan. The HF Band Planning Committee
will review the current plan, consider comments from US radio amateurs, and
recommend any changes to the ARRL Board for submission to IARU Region 2.
"The ARRL HF Band Planning Committee wants to stress that the IARU Region 2
Band Plan is a voluntary guideline and does not supersede FCC regulations
related to spectrum usage," Committee Chairman and ARRL Second Vice President
Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, noted. He also pointed out two other issues for radio
amateurs to consider.
Most Region 2 countries outside the US do not have the sort of detailed
sub-band regulations contained in the FCC's Part 97. For radio amateurs in
these countries, the Region 2 Band Plan may serve as the only source of
guidance on spectrum usage.
The designation of a calling frequency or band segment for a particular purpose
or mode in any IARU band plan does not convey any special rights or exclusivity
of use. On the other hand the absence of a calling frequency or band segment
associated with a particular purpose or mode should not suggest that these have
been overlooked or are viewed negatively.
The Committee urges US radio amateurs who are considering suggesting revisions
to the IARU Region 2 Band Plan first to study the existing IARU Region 2 Band
Plan[3]. They then should formulate a clear statement of any proposed changes,
including a brief explanation of why each particular change would benefit all
IARU Region 2 spectrum users. Participants should include name and call sign.
Submit[4] input via e-mail by June 1, 2016. Messages will be automatically
acknowledged.
Radio amateurs licensed in Region 2 countries other than the US should contact
their own IARU member society[5] for information on how to participate in the
band-planning process.
The 19th IARU Region 2 General Assembly[6] will take place in mid-October in
Viña del Mar, Chile. Held every 3 years, the Region 2 Conference is attended by
delegations from IARU member societies in throughout the Americas.
[1] http://www.iaru.org/
[2] http://www.iaru-r2.org/band-plan/
[3] http://www.iaru-r2.org/band-plan/
[4] mailto:bandplan2016@arrl.org
[5] http://www.iaru-r2.org/directory/
[6] http://chile2016.info/en/
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