International Amateur Radio Union Preparing for WRC-23 01/12/2021
Preparations continue on the part of the International Amateur Radio Union (
IARU) to represent the interests of the amateur and amateur-satellite services at World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) sponsors WRCs, typically every 4 years, to consider revisions to the international
Radio Regulations that define frequency allocations for various radio services.
“As an incumbent radio service with allocations at intervals throughout the radio spectrum, the amateur service faces challenges at every WRC,” IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, said. “Successfully defending our existing access to the spectrum is a significant accomplishment at any WRC, but sometimes it is possible also to improve our existing allocations. WRC-19 resulted in major improvements in 50 MHz allocations in Region 1. Without any doubt, this could not have happened without the
Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2021 Show 01/11/2021
Dayton Hamvention® will not take place for the second year.
“Unfortunately, several setbacks in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic make necessary the difficult decision to cancel Hamvention 2021,” a January 11 announcement from the Hamvention Executive Committee said. Sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (
DARA), Hamvention was set to take place May 21 – 23 in Xenia, Ohio.
“Hundreds of volunteers have been working to do everything necessary to bring this Hamvention to the many amateur radio enthusiasts and vendors who support the Dayton Hamvention. Vaccine distribution both in the United States and around the world is lagging behind what was planned. In addition, the emergence of a more communicable form of the COVID-19 virus increases the potential for further public health problems in the next few months. We make this difficult decision for the safety of our guests and vendors. Those who had thei
01/11/2021
Former Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) President John Farrell “Hoppy” Hopwood, VE7RD, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, died on December 8. He was 91. Hopwood was instrumental in the founding of RAC and was inducted in 2015 as a member of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.
Hopwood spent his career in telecommunications, once working as a telegraph lineman. In 1971, he formed a Systems Coordination Centre (SCC) to help British Columbia Telephone Company and other large business users to install new telecom networks, and he managed the SCC until he retired in 1992.
Licensed in 1955, Hopwood was an early member of the Canadian Radio Relay League (CRRL), the Canadian Amateur Radio Federation (CARF), and ARRL. As Vice President of CARF, Hopwood encouraged the CARF and CRRL boards to resume talks to consider creating one national society.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
FCC to Require Email Address on Applications Starting on June 29, 2021 12/31/2020
Effective on June 29, 2021, amateur radio licensees and candidates must provide the FCC with an email address on all applications. If no email address is included, the FCC may dismiss the application as “defective.”
On September 16, the FCC adopted a
Report and Order (
R&O) in WT Docket 19-212 on “Completing the Transition to Electronic Filing, Licenses and Authorizations, and Correspondence in the Wireless Radio Services.” The
R&O was
published on December 29 in the
Federal Register. The FCC has already begun strongly encouraging applicants to provide an email address. Once an email address is provided, the FCC will email a link to an official electronic copy of the license grant. An official copy will also be available at any time by accessing the licensee’s password-protected Universal Licensing System (ULS) account.