Students from the Caribbean and South America attended the 30th United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) Amateur Radio Administration Course (ARAC) September 30-October 4 at ARRL Headquarters. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, coordinated the session and administered the course, designed government officials in developing countries who regulate and manage Amateur Radio. ARRL Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Meeting Planner Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ, coordinated the League’s participation with USTTI and hosted the students. Those taking part in the program work in their respective government’s telecommunication offices, where they have responsibilities for Amateur Radio licensing and regulation as well as preparation for international conferences. 

“Our students — Ishmael Cadogan, 8P6PE, from Barbados and Dorian Angulo and Franklin Palate, both from Ecuador — made the trek to Newington this year,” said Price. “All three students were experienced regulators, and in Mr. Cadogan’s case, an experienced radio amateur,” Price added. “All were already quite knowledgeable about Amateur Radio, and left with a deeper understanding of the unique nature of the Amateur Radio Service.”

The ARAC curriculum covers a variety of Amateur Radio topics and concerns, including licensing, spectrum requirements, disaster communications, and antenna requirements. The curriculum also covers the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and its regulations, as well as the process leading to the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-15).

ARRL staff members delivered classroom presentations within their areas of expertise. Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, taught a unit on Amateur Radio’s emergency communication capabilities, while QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, covered digital communication and Amateur Radio satellites. ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, discussed licensing, examination and regulatory issues. Laboratory Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM, supervised each student’s successful assembly of a 40 meter receiver kit, that each student got to take home.

USTTI is a non-profit joint venture of leading US-based communications, IT corporations and leaders of the federal government, who collectively provide tuition-free management, policy and technical training for talented professionals from the developing world. The ARRL hosts a course on Amateur Radio to introduce or further educate regulators and other spectrum users to its needs and unique issues. The next ARAC course is slated for fall 2014.