International Amateur Radio Union Inter-American Convention on an International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP)
Background Amateurs have a traditional role in public service by being prepared for and providing communication in times of emergencies, conducting experiments, providing training in radio communications, and encouraging international comity.
Background Amateurs sometimes visit other countries and may want to operate their amateur stations during emergencies as members of responder teams. The three types of operating authority are 1) an International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP); 2) a European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) license; and 3) a reciprocal permit from a country which does not participate in either of these two multilateral agreements.
Protocal of Amendment to IARP At its thirty-third regular session, the OAS General Assembly, in resolution AG/RES. 1947 (XXXIII-O/03) adopted the Protocol of Amendment to the Inter-American Convention on the Amateur Radio Permit, intended to grant holders of Radio Amateur Licenses of the member countries of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications the same rights and privileges granted to IARP holders of CITEL member States that become States Parties to the Protocol, while CEPT extends to holders of IARPs the same privileges and exemptions granted to holders of CEPT Radio Amateur Licenses of the member countries of CEPT that have implemented the aforementioned Recommendation. This new procedure will reduce the countries workload and therefore, the cost involved, and will be of fundamental importance, particular in emergencies. The OAS General Secretariat is the depository of the instruments of RA, AC and AD.
Original Convention The Inter-American Convention on Amateur Service was adopted in Lima, Peru, in 1987, at the Fifth Inter-American Telecommunication Conference [CITEL/RES. 130 (V-87)], and amended in 1988, at the First Special Meeting of CITEL [CITEL/RES. 141 (I/E-88)] to permit and facilitate full participation by Member States of CITEL. This Convention provides for the use of amateur radio service by nationals of a Member State in the territory of another Member State. This Convention came into force on February 21, 1990. The OAS General Secretariat is the depository for the original instrument and for the Convention s instruments of ratification and accession. Todate the only Caribbean Countries to sign were Suriname 1987 and Trinidad and Tobago 2001.
Benefits for CTU States to be signatories to the IARP protocal a) The Convention provides for temporary operation of amateur radio stations in one Member State by persons holding IARP permits issued by another member State without need for further review. Any Member State may issue permits to its citizens to operate in another Member State.
b) Facilitates the movement of licensed Radio amateurs for emergency communication in event of Disasters between member States. c) Facilitates Amateur Radio Tourism: 1) Amateur Radio Contesting. 2) Dxpeditions to remote areas and off shore Islands. 3) Above activities offer opportunities for small Hotels.
Present Position Protocol of Amendment: At the CITEL-PCCII meeting on June 28, 2016 in Orlando, FL, the Uruguay Administration presented a proposal to form an ad-hoc group to review the wording of the IARP permit agreement, considering that several years have elapsed since it was originally written and technology has made significant progress since then, seeking to have a document more in tune with current times. The proposal was approved. A revised version was completed by the PCC.II ad-hoc group following consultations done by CITEL secretariat. Minor changes in legal wording at COM/CITEL may be made and approved.
Action required by CTU member States Noting that the objective of the International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) is to allow citizens of any Member State who are authorized to operate in the Amateur Service in their country to operate temporarily in the Amateur Service in any other CITEL Member State we are seeking assurance that all CTU Member States to be signatories to the amended Inter- American International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) at the COM/CITEL when available.
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