[amsat-bb] Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space

[Arthur Feller]

On 8 Jun 2008, at 07:54, John Marranca, Jr wrote:

> Am I missing something here?

I think so.

Let's take a look at the definition of the amateur service.

"Amateur Service:  A radiocommunication service for the purpose of
self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried  
out
by amateurs, that is, duly authorised persons interested in radio  
technique
solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest."  [RR 1.56]

Most folks around the world read this as meaning that amateurs are:

[1] "duly authorized," that is, licensed

[2] "persons," that is, individual, human type people (not families,  
clubs, schools, or corporations)

	[NOTE:  Even club station licenses have a licensed individual, who is  
individually responsible for operation of the club station, serving as  
trustee of the license.]

[3] "with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest," that is,  
only for themselves and without compensation of any kind.

In this world of very high priced access to radio frequencies, our  
amateur service is quite unique.  Our access is by examination and not  
a fee.  The frequencies are available to us, individual people.  The  
frequencies are not available to any kind of group or institution or  
corporation.  These frequencies are not available who stand to gain  
from their use beyond their own personal interest.  (An experimental  
service is available for commercial interests.)

To me, our frequency allocations require protection from those who  
look them as frequencies of convenience, that is, a way to avoid going  
through the normal licensing and frequency coordination process.

Suggest reading this paper submitted to the IARU Region 1 meeting.  http://www.ok2kkw.com/iaru/ct08_c5_03%20iaru%20c5%20support%20for%20satellite%20frequency%20coordination.pdf

It's easy to look to someone with money, like a school, to provide  
amateurs with resources we may not be able to afford readily.  In my  
personal opinion, the price may be too high to assure an amateur  
service in years to come.

FWIW, the IARU Panel does not try to judge whether a frequency  
coordination request is legitimate, in terms of the radio  
regulations.  Rather, guidance from the IARU to the Panel is that such  
a determination is a matter for administrations, that is, the part of  
each government responsible for complying with obligations undertaken  
in the International Telecommunication Convention.  The best the Panel  
can hope to do is try to keep the bands reasonably well organized so  
as to maximize use and minimize interference.  Not an easy task.

Just one guy's ramblings.  I hope you find them helpful.

73, art.....
W4ART  Arlington VA

Life is short.  Be swift to love!  Make haste to be kind!
         - Henri Frederic Amiel, philosopher and writer (1821-1881)