SB QST @ ARL $ARLB100
ARLB100 Morse requirement stays

ZCZC AG67
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 100  ARLB100
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  October 31, 1995
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB100
ARLB100 More requirement stays

On October 23, the 1995 World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-95,
opened in Geneva.  As described in November 1995 QST, page 106, one
of the matters expected to be raised at the conference was a New
Zealand proposal to delete from the radio regulations of the
International Telecommunication Union the requirement that amateurs
demonstrate Morse code ability in order to be licensed to operate
below 30 MHz.

On Tuesday morning, October 31, New Zealand offered its proposal in
Working Party 4C.  While some other administrations expressed
support, most who asked for the floor either opposed the change or
said the time was not right and the issue needed further study
within the amateur community.

Summarizing the discussion, the chairman of the Working Party said
that most comments opposed the proposal and that he would send the
matter to the Working Group of the Plenary, which is responsible for
agendas of future conferences, to consider adding it to a future
agenda in 1997, 1999, or later.  This was acceptable to New Zealand.

WRC-95 is scheduled to complete its work on November 17.  No
conference decision is final until it has been approved in final
form by the Plenary, usually late in the conference.

Amateur Radio is represented at the ITU by the International Amateur
Radio Union.  Present at WRC-95 are IARU president Richard Baldwin,
W1RU, secretary Larry Price, W4RA, and Region 1 vice chairman
Wojciech Nietyksza, SP5FM.  ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul
Rinaldo, W4RI, is a member of the United States delegation, and
other national delegations also have Amateur Radio representatives.
NNNN
/EX