SB QST @ ARL $ARLB036
ARLB036 World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 rescheduled for 
Geneva

ZCZC AG36
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 36  ARLB036
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  June 18, 2002
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB036
ARLB036 World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 rescheduled for 
Geneva

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rescinded the invitation earlier this month, citing economic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.''

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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