Students from Thailand, Ghana, and Papua New Guinea attended the 31st United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) Amateur Radio Administration Course (ARAC) September 29-October 3 at ARRL Headquarters. Two participants got their US Amateur Radio licenses as the course wrapped up. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, coordinated the session and administered the course, which is designed for government officials in developing countries who regulate and manage Amateur Radio. ARRL Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Meeting Planner Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ, coordinated the League’s participation with USTTI and hosted the students. Program participants work in their respective government’s telecommunication offices, where they have responsibilities for Amateur Radio licensing and regulation as well as preparation for international conferences.

“Our students — Annop Nittaya, HS1PLO, and Virat Uansri from Thailand, Peter Djakwah, KM4EQL, of Ghana, and Oki Gari, KM4EQM, of Papua New Guinea — were already quite knowledgeable about Amateur Radio, and are committed to the further development of Amateur Radio in their countries,” Price said. “All left with a profound understanding of the unique nature and needs of the Amateur Radio Service.”

The ARAC curriculum covers a variety of Amateur Radio topics and concerns, including licensing, spectrum requirements, disaster communications, and antenna requirements. The curriculum also covers the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and its regulations, as well as the process leading to the upcoming 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).

Several ARRL staff members delivered classroom presentations within their areas of expertise. Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, taught a unit on Amateur Radio’s public service, emergency, and disaster communication capabilities. ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, and ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, discussed licensing, examination and regulatory issues. Membership and Volunteer Programs Assistant Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, talked about developing Amateur Radio capabilities through club activity.

ARRL Laboratory Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM, assisted by ARRL Laboratory Volunteers Lori Kosior, KB1ZML, and Pete Turbide, W1PT, supervised each student’s successful assembly of a 40 meter receiver kit. Each student took his assembled receiver home.

The students had a particular interest in licensing, and Djakwah and Gari took examinations for the United States Technician license during their time at ARRL Headquarters. An ARRL VEC team comprising Somma, Corey, Field Organization Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, and Outgoing QSL Bureau Associate Rose-Anne Lawrence, KB1DMW, administered the test, which both passed.

USTTI is a non-profit joint venture of leading US-based communications, IT corporations, and federal government officials, who collectively provide tuition-free management, policy and technical training for talented professionals from the developing world. The ARRL hosts a course on Amateur Radio to introduce or further educate regulators and other spectrum users to its needs and unique issues. The next ARAC course is planned for the fall of 2015.