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G4EBT > NEWS 06.01.09 23:23l 139 Lines 5809 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 799994G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: ACMA Publishes Revisions to RF Spectrum
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<F5GOV<F4BWT<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 090106/1922Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:22745 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:799994G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : NEWS@WW
Tony, VK7AX wrote:-
Re the ACMA Bandplan:
>This is the first step in authorising access to the new LF band for
>advanced licence holders...
Presumably this is the 135.7-137.8 kHz band?
Several European countries have already allocated 135.7-137.8 kHz to
amateur radio use based on CEPT/ERC Recommendation 62-01 E ("Use of
the band 135.7-137.8 kHz by the Amateur Service", Mainz 1997).
(UK amateurs have had it for some time - not really a mainstream
activity).
The allocation is on a secondary basis with a maximum e.r.p. power of 1 W.
Otherwise the band 130-148.5 is allocated on a primary base to the
Maritime Mobile Service and the Fixed Service. (Main users are naval
one-way transmissions and radiolocation systems).
The International Telecommunication Union's 2007 World Radiocommunication
Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva agreed a secondary allocation 135.7-137.8
kHz to amateur radio on Friday Nov 9 2007.
The ACMA had advised that once the final WRC documents had been received
from the ITU, it would draft amendments to the ARSP to enable a public
consultation period to take place towards the end of 2008.
After consideration of comments received, the ACMA had said it hoped to
publish the new plan and the changes in subordinate legislation (the LCD)
by early 2009, so it seems that stage has now been reached.
In looking at this news item I noted several differences on the WIA
website between the VK and UK licence structure, albeit at first sight
they did seem to mirror each other.
There are no technical or geographical reasons for the differences, which
in the ACMA's case, depart from broad modern regulatory principles, but
it's for each country's regulatory body to set out the licence terms.
I suspect that such restrictions as do apply which aren't proportionate to
risks, are there not so much at the behest of the ACMA, but the influence
of the WIA in wanting to have an "incentive licensing scheme" ("give them
too much at the outset and they'll have it all on a plate and won't want
to work hard for a full licence").
The sentiments which underpin this view are well enough understood, and
have been widely voiced by UK amateurs, especially "the old guard", but
this has no sustainable regulatory logic.
It has to be said that the 2003 Linton-Harrison paper Amateur Radio and
the Challenge of Change, which advised the WIA and brought about the
revised licence structure accurately assessed the state of the hobby, and
a way ahead, was excellent.
That paper reviewed amateur radio, past, present and future, authored
by two long-time radio amateurs which found that major changes were
desperately needed if the hobby is to survive.
The authors - Jim Linton VK3PC and Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, through their
research, demonstrated that Amateur radio in Australia, as elsewhere in
the world, has been in decline from the 1990s.
They proposed a way forward to address that situation.
Their paper recommended major changes to the Australian amateur radio
examination and licensing system. The theme of the paper was that amateur
radio in Australia needs sustainable growth.
(Whether that can be accomplished in the age of internet is another
thing).
They felt that it's important to encourage people into the hobby who
retain their licence and their interest in amateur radio as a hobby that
continues to interest and challenge them in the longer term.
The paper stated that it isn't only a matter of amateur licensee numbers,
but also the need to boost on-air activity. With fewer radio amateurs each
year, and very few newcomers getting on the air at every opportunity with
infectious enthusiasm, there's less activity.
Less activity results in existing radio amateurs finding amateur radio
less interesting and their activity drops off too. In recent years it's
led some to become inactive or to leave the hobby and cancel their
licence.
A point is reached (even more so in Australia due to its geography),
at which on-air activity loses its critical mass, as 2M/70cms has done
in much of the UK.
The paper also touched on declining interest in science and technology and
in technical education in Australia, and how amateur radio could help
boost the attractiveness science and engineering as a career option for
young people.
Again, this decline in interest in science and technology mirrors the UK
and many other countries whose manufacturing base (and with it, R & D,)
have declined.
Linton-Harrison contended that the licensing system and exam syllabuses
had become irrelevant because they were well behind the times. They felt
that the whole licensing structure, the exam system and syllabuses needed
a fundamental rethink.
They concluded that the amateur radio community and the Wireless Institute
of Australia must act to revitalise the amateur radio licensing system at
the earliest opportunity. If action was not taken, the continued decline
of amateur radio would lead to its ultimate demise.
They stressed that it was essential that a new system of examination for
amateur licences must take into account prevailing social conditions, with
an eye to the future - not the past.
Also, that Australia must embrace the ITU Recommendation on amateur
qualifications of August 2001 - and reflect these in its licensing
system as quickly as possible. Due in no small part to the efforts
of Jim Linton and Roger Harrison, that's since been accomplished.
For anyone interested I'll mention the licence
differences between the UK and VK in another bull.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
British Vintage Wireless Society Member
G-QRP Club Member, No: 1339
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 17:29 on 2009-Jan-06
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
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