Wireless Institute of Australia Highlights Concerns Regarding IARU Restructuring Plan

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) released a statement earlier this week highlighting concerns regarding the proposal to restructure the IARU into a single entity. While WIA acknowledged many benefits to the proposed changes, there were several areas WIA considered drawbacks. Concerns included potential risk of regional underrepresentation, financial implications, and increased administration requirements.

WIA also voiced proposed remedies to their concerns including regional specific advisory groups, flexible fee structures, and safeguards around virtual participation, among others.

The WIA remains committed to the mission and success of the IARU. However, unless and until our concerns are addresses in detail we are not in favour of the proposal as it is currently presented.

A copy of the full WIA response is available for download (PDF).

Local, County, and State Governments Proclaim Value of Amateur Radio

The Amateur Radio Service is of great value to communities around the nation. Through served agencies, the trained corps of technical and civic-minded operators provide a no-cost service to the public that has shown to be valuable before and When All Else Fails®.

The 2025 hurricane season has been forecast to be above normal by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As we saw just last year in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, ham radio saves lives through volunteers who use their skills and equipment during emergencies by providing surface weather observations, relaying messages from shelters, and providing health and welfare information to concerned loved ones.

“While ARRL Field Day is a fun, social, occasion to get together and get on the air, it also serves as an opportunity to test equipment in a way that it would be needed in a time of crisis. The same people who come to visit your site under blue skies are the community members who would be served in an identical manner during and after an emergency”

— Sierra Harrop, W5DX - ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager

In recognition of the value of amateur radio, government officials at all levels have issued proclamations and citations across the country. On the ARRL amateur radio proclamations page, you can see the many official documents that have been sent to us at ARRL Headquarters.

“We all know how great the ham community is, but seeing all the proclamations come in around Field Day gives perspective to the efforts of radio amateurs. To have a governor or a councilmember recognize June as Amateur Radio Month truly honors the impact hams have on their community,”

— Sierra Harrop, W5DX - ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager

Indiana Emcomm Group in Debate Over Digital Switch

With emergency communications embracing digital modes more and more, operators increasingly find themselves navigating the tricky landscape of system access and compatibility. 

In April of this year, the Dubois County Office of Emergency Management in Indiana made the decision to migrate from analogue FM to C4FM digital for their 147.195 repeater during activations. The change was made to reduce noise during operation and increase the quality of the copy.

“Our new Fusion repeater system was thoroughly tested to confirm its superior performance when using C4FM.”

— Gary Fritz, WB9LIB

When the announcement was made to the Patoka Valley Amateur Radio Club, not all the club members were enthusiastic. Since some of them did not own a Fusion-compatible radio, this decision would exclude them from emergency operations with SKYWARN.

Fritz told AR Newsline that the change has brought about the desired results in message quality, as proven by recent SKYWARN activation during severe weather.

“We found that by using C4FM, combined with a reasonable reduction in repeater transmit power, our units are now able to check in crystal clear from locations that were previously impossible.”

— Gary Fritz, WB9LIB

A number of local amateurs remain unconvinced regarding the move to digital. Reuben Montgomery, KA9RCM, told Newsline that his main concern is centred primarily on the lack of access to emergency communications by hams without Fusion radios and by visitors who are passing through the area. With the variety of digital platforms, he also sees great difficulty in picking one mode to the exclusion of all others. Regarding participation, Fritz reported that a staff of trained EMA weather spotters comprise the vast majority of those participating in local SKYWARN nets, which are 100% focused on in-county reports when they are under a warning.

Fritz also said that the public and all amateur radio operators can continue to monitor net communications through audio streaming over Broadcastify.