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NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 18, 2002--ARRL has learned that World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, next June and July. The conference was set to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, but the Venezuelan National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) rescinded the invitation earlier this month, citing economic concerns. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to issue a formal announcement regarding the new WRC-03 venue in the near future.
"The ITU staff has managed to arrange suitable meeting space in Geneva for the dates that were originally agreed," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, who will serve as administrative officer for the International Amateur Radio Union delegation to the conference. "It is quite an accomplishment for them to have achieved this on such short notice, and those of us who will be attending the conference appreciate the uncertainty being removed." Sumner said that while the new WRC-03 arrangements have not yet been formally ratified, planning for the global gathering will be able to go forward in the meantime.
Several issues of importance to radio amateurs are on the conference agenda, including harmonization of the 7-MHz amateur and broadcasting allocations. Other Amateur Radio-related issues on the WRC-03 agenda include the revision of Article 25 of the international Radio Regulations--the basic rules for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services. Among other issues, this includes the issue of whether to retain the treaty requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency for access to amateur bands below 30 MHz.
WRC-03 will take place in Geneva from June 9 until July 4, 2003.
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