Defence of Amateur Radio Fund Stay tuned for information on World Radio Conference 2023 (WRC-23)

Thank you for your support!

Serge Bertuzzo, VA3SB
RAC International Affairs Officer

The sole purpose of the Defence of Amateur Radio Fund (DARF) Trust is to support the travel expenses of a certified Amateur(s) as a member of the Canadian official delegation at the International Telecommunication Union’s World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) and Preparatory Meetings which are usually held in Geneva, Switzerland.

World Radiocommunication Conferences – organized and held by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) every four years – update the Radio Regulations, the international treaty that, among other things, sets out the frequencies on which radio services such as the Amateur Radio Service may operate.

The RAC delegate’s role is to assist our regulator – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) – with all WRC agenda issues that may influence allocations to the Amateur Radio Service. This may include helping defend existing Amateur bands from being reallocated or being subject to harmful sharing by other interested parties. There may also be an agenda item offering the opportunity to advocate for a new allocation or to defend the use of existing Amateur Radio spectrum by other Services seeking to gain access to the spectrum.

Radio Amateurs have a seat at the table – in fact, there is a specific Working Party which includes the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Service in its title – but they need to be able to participate directly. While allowing RAC membership of the Canadian delegation, ISED does not provide any funds towards their participation. As most of these meetings are usually held in Geneva, one of the most expensive cities in the world, DARF’s funding is essential.

The DARF Trust’s role is to provide funding for our delegate’s travel and living expenses in order to attend these various conferences. Without DARF, there would be no Canadian Amateur presence at these international meetings or in the many pre-meetings that take place developing and working out what ultimately becomes Canada’s position.

Due to the global pandemic, participation in ITU activities in 2021 was again unique. All ITU-related meetings were held virtually – an option adopted out of necessity but which has shown the limitations of resolving issues without face-to-face contact.

Although no travel-related expenses were incurred in 2021, WRC representatives Paul Coverdale, VE3ICV and Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, have continued to be actively involved as part of the Canadian official delegation to many domestic and ITU Preparatory Meetings. It is expected that once the vaccines become widely available, face-to-face meetings will resume. This is expected to be the case by mid to end of 2022.

Canada is one of a small number of countries – Australia, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil – who regularly include a Radio Amateur in their official delegation.

Over the years, Canada has contributed strongly and gained an excellent reputation. These Amateur delegates work closely with each other and with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) representatives including IARU President, Tim Ellam, VE6SH. This is important, as WRC decisions are ultimately made only by the ITU Member States.

The IARU is one of many industry Sector Members representing various special interests – telecommunications companies, marine and air carriers, etc – that attend ITU meetings, but have no vote.

Throughout the ITU Study Cycle preparatory process, our delegates to the Preparatory Meetings regularly keep us all up to date – through ongoing articles in The Canadian Amateur, on the RAC website and via Twitter – on the issues and processes that ultimately determine Amateur Radio spectrum around the world.

The DARF Trust was created by Tom Atkins, VE3CDM and Bill Loucks, VE3AR, in 1991 to provide funding to ensure that a Canadian Radio Amateur would be part of these critical processes. Over the years, this need has only grown more critical with the explosion of mobile services and the need for more spectrum to service.

Issues related to Amateur Radio which have been worked on during 2021 include:

• pressure from the IMT industry on Amateur allocations in the 3300-3500 MHz and 10-10.5 GHz bands;
• possible interference at the bottom end of the 50-54 MHz band from spaceborne radar sounders; and
• possible restrictions on Amateur operation in the 1240-1300 MHz frequency band due to instances of interference with the radio-navigation satellite service (Galileo, GPS etc).

Another potential threat to the Amateur Radio Service is Wireless Power Transmission for Electric Vehicles (WPT-EV), which is a new technology that will form part of the infrastructure options for electric vehicle charging.

WPT-EV will use high power levels of radio frequency energy (typically up to 22 kW) coupled from a primary charging coil located on the ground under the vehicle, to a secondary coil mounted on the underside of the vehicle.

Energy is transferred across the airgap between these two coils to charge the vehicle battery pack. The operating frequency will be in the 79 to 90 kHz range for passenger car charging. For domestic (home) WPT-EV systems, the maximum power is not clear but seems likely to be between 7 and 11 kW.

While many radiocommunications services are likely to be significantly impacted by wireless charging technologies, the Amateur Radio Service – including Radio Amateurs of Canada – has been at the forefront in pointing out the interference potential in recent international meetings.

DARF is an independent legal Trust, which is administered by RAC to ensure that any funds disbursed are only used for the purposes allowed by the Trust as follows:

1) Ensure that there are sufficient funds on hand for the Amateur delegate’s expenses to attend WRC meetings.

2) If sufficient funds are on hand, to also support travel to Preparatory Meetings when issues directly affecting Amateur Radio spectrum are being debated.

While it may seem that this is a once-every-four-year expense limited to participation in the Conference, the most potential impact RAC and the other Amateur representatives may have occurs during the many preparatory sessions where the real work to shape, negotiate and defend allocations take place.

Our delegates typically attend two of these meetings each year, each lasting 10 to 12 days. Even with discounted airfare and hotel rates, it is expensive to send a person to Geneva to work and live for two to four weeks each year.

If you have not contributed to DARF, please consider making a personal donation and suggest a club donation to DARF at your next meeting. Donations of any amount are welcome. Every dollar helps and will only go to defending and expanding our access to spectrum.

We especially thank those clubs and individual Amateurs who have made their DARF contribution. Your support is much appreciated. Special thanks to the following individuals and clubs for their generous donations:

Individuals:

Debra Bee, VE7IEH $41.20
Francois Daigneault, VE2AAY $100
Gordon Curling, VE3KKL $150
Rod Wilson, $100
Richard Parlby, VE7ZEP $25
Stiig Larsen, VE3LBX $20
Bill Nasho, VE3KCH $16.72
Tom Nanson, VE6JTN $50
Paul Wickwire, VE6SC $182.40
James Thompson, VE3BCA $100
Gregory Popelas, VA3CBN $100
Wayne Stacey, VE3QO $25
David Steels, VE3UZ $200
Joseph Rajhard, VA6ABI $20
Don Moman, VE6JY $100
Mitchell Goodjohn, VE6SM $50
Robert Paxton, VE7RPX $25

Amateur Radio Clubs:

Burlington Amateur Radio Club $200
Calgary Communications Club $220
Central Toronto Amateur Radio Club $500
QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151  $500
Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club $600

The summary provided in the above table shows that DARF is still viable and will be able to support our delegate for several years to come. However, inflation and the trend that new donations are less than expenses continues to be worrisome in the longer term.

The insatiable demand for mobile device connectivity means continued and increasing pressure on spectrum from large corporate and government interests. Only a strong Amateur presence at the ITU table to defend the bands we already have will protect the future of Amateur Radio. Without the funds to work with, our voices will not be heard. So once again, please consider a donation.

Donations can be made online by clicking on the “Donate” button on the RAC website or sent to RAC HQ. One easy way to donate is to include an extra $10 or $20 or more when you renew your RAC membership.

Please make your cheque payable to “Radio Amateurs of Canada” and note in the memo field “DARF donation”.

Call or email RAC HQ at if you wish to donate by other payment methods or have a question on how to donate.

For more information about DARF and the World Radiocommunication Conferences please visit: https://www.rac.ca/darf/ and https://www.rac.ca/wrc/

73, Serge Bertuzzo, VA3SB
RAC International Affairs OfficerWi