The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) held its annual meeting on October 1-2 in Salinitas, El Salvador. The AC is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU and consists of the three IARU international officers and two representatives from each of the three IARU regional organizations. The IARU Region 2 General Assembly -- held October 4-8 -- also in Salinitas, will immediately follow the AC meeting.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, along with IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, and IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, were in attendance. IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, and IARU Region 1 Secretary Dennis Green, ZS4BS, represented IARU Region 1. IARU Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, IARU Region 2 Secretary Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK, and IARU Region 2 Treasurer Noel Donawa, 9Y4NED, represented IARU Region 2. IARU Region 3 Chairman of Directors Michael Owen, VK3KI, and IARU Region 3 Secretary Jay Oka, JA1TRC, represented IARU Region 3. David Sumner, K1ZZ attended as recording secretary.

The Administrative Council acted on the following items:

• In light of developments since the 2009 AC meeting, the Council reviewed and updated IARU positions on relevant agenda items for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), as well as desired agenda items for future WRCs. The AC Reviewed the progress on the action plan for developing support for Amateur Radio frequency allocations, and the plan was updated for the period through WRC-12.
• The AC identified the upcoming meetings of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meetings where IARU representation will be required, and reviewed the plans for representation at these meetings, as well as at WRC-12.
• The AC reviewed and updated the working document that sets out the spectrum requirements of the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services. They identified the need for a new strategy with regard to retaining access to bands above 148 MHz and agreed that a committee of experts will be formed to develop recommendations for the AC.
• The IARU 2025 Committee -- which is developing a concept for a new organizational structure for the IARU -- delivered its report to the AC. The Council thanked the committee for its work and asked the committee to refine its report into a form that can be presented to IARU Member-Societies for their consideration.
• The AC identified a need for an IARU coordinator with a broad focus with respect to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues. A subcommittee of the AC is to develop suitable terms of reference.
• The AC agreed that the IARU President will serve as facilitator for discussions between the regional organizations, including the regional Monitoring System coordinators, as to develop improvements in the IARU Monitoring System.
• The AC congratulated the Qatar Amateur Radio Society, IARU Region 1 and everyone else who contributed to its success for the Regional Conference on Amateur Radio held in Doha in April. Follow-up work is proceeding.
• The AC thanked both the DX Code of Conduct Project (a group of Amateur Radio operators who have taken the initiative to improve on-the-air operating practices) and The Arcala Project (developers of an innovative program to reach young people), encouraging them to continue their work.
• The administration of the IARU HF World Championship by the ARRL as International Secretariat (IS) was affirmed. It was noted that if changes in the contest rules are proposed, the IS may wish to consult with the AC.
• The AC discussed the IARU’s future involvement in the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (GAREC) Conference. Additional information will be sought from the organizers.
• The IS presented the budget for 2011-2013, which the AC reviewed and adopted. The budget is based upon anticipated financial contributions from the three regional organizations to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy. IARU participation in ITU Telecom World 2011, and support for the maintenance and continued development of the International Beacon Project, are included in the budget.
• The AC adopted the theme “Amateur Radio: The First Technology-Based Social Network” for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2011.
• At its 2009 meeting, the AC had adopted a protocol to deal with cases where IARU Member-Societies appear to have ceased to exist, and had implemented the protocol with respect to Member-Societies in Papua New Guinea, Burma/Myanmar and French Polynesia. In the case of French Polynesia, the AC received a communication, indicating the continued existence of its Member-Society. The AC noted that the Papua New Guinea Amateur Radio Society (PNGARS) and Burma Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (BARTS) are deemed to no longer exist.
• The AC received reports from its IARU international coordinators and advisers: International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; EMC Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY; International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS, and Interim Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG. The coordinators and advisers had agreed to continue to serve and all were reappointed, with Skolaut continuing to serve until a replacement is appointed.

The next scheduled in-person meeting of the AC will be held in the vicinity of Sun City, South Africa, on August 19-20, 2011, in conjunction with the IARU Region 1 Conference, scheduled for August 13-18, 2011.