The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 conference will be held later this year in Mexico. The Region 2 conference -- held every three years -- is attended by delegations from the national Amateur Radio societies in the western hemisphere that are members of the IARU. The ARRL is the IARU Member Society for the US.

One of the topics on the conference agenda will be the Region 2 HF band plan. This band plan is “harmonized” with -- spectrum management-speak for “very similar to” -- the IARU Region 1 and Region 3 band plans. Many hams in the US may not know there is such a thing as a Region 2 band plan. Other American hams have heard of it but may not know how -- if at all -- this band plan affects them. Here are important facts for American hams to keep in mind:

• IARU band plans are voluntary guidelines. They do not have the force of FCC regulations. For radio amateurs in the US, IARU band plans are informational, not regulations.
• It would be inappropriate to incorporate Region 2 band plans into the FCC rules, and the ARRL has no plan to petition the FCC to do so.
• Most other countries do not have the detailed sub-band regulations that are in Part 97 of the FCC rules. For radio amateurs in those countries, IARU band plans may offer the only guidance on frequency usage.
• The appearance of a calling frequency or band segment for a particular purpose or mode in the IARU band plan does not convey any special rights or exclusivity of use.
• The absence of a calling frequency or band segment associated with a particular purpose or mode should not be interpreted as disparaging or discouraging that purpose or activity.

The Secretary of IARU Region 2 has asked Member Societies to offer any suggestions they may have about possible changes to the Region 2 band plan. The ARRL is cooperating with this procedure by inviting your input to be sent to the ARRL Board’s HF Band Planning Committee. The committee will review the existing Region 2 band plan, consider input from the amateur community and make recommendations to the ARRL Board of Directors for submission to IARU Region 2.

Radio amateurs in the US who would like to submit input should take the following steps.

1. Study the existing IARU Region 2 band plan posted on the Region 2 website. The Region 1 and Region 3 band plans are also posted there, so be sure you are looking at the band plan for Region 2.

2. Formulate a clear statement of any change you propose. Include a brief explanation of why you think the change would be beneficial. Please include your name and call sign in your message.

3, Send your input via e-mail no later than March 1, 2013. Messages will be automatically acknowledged.

If you live in another country in Region 2, please contact your national Amateur Radio society for information on how to submit input for the band plan process. The contact information for Region 2 Member Societies is posted here.