A new entity — the IOTA Foundation — will assume management of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) Islands on the Air (IOTA) Program. Last year the RSGB Board identified a number of challenges facing the program, including the need to provide an online system to track and manage the submission of island credits — similar to the ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW). Since then, a small group of IOTA enthusiasts has been working with the RSGB to ensure that the IOTA program continues to grow and in its role of fostering Amateur Radio DXing and contest activity. The IOTA Foundation is the fruition of that work.

“It will be run by IOTA enthusiasts and will manage the IOTA program in partnership with the [RSGB], the RSGB said in a news release. “One major task for the new organization will be to develop a new online credit system that is due to be completed in 2017. “

The team of Roger Balister, G3KMA; Bob Barden, MD0CCE; Cezar Trifu, VE3LYC, and Johan Willemsen, PA3EXX, will implement the IT changes and form the IOTA Foundation with representation from radio amateurs in the UK and around the world.

“I am delighted with the news announced by the RSGB about the future of IOTA — that, following the initial statement of intent last year, terms of agreement have been fleshed out for the program to be run by a new body in partnership with the RSGB,” Balister said on October 12. He said the team hopes the new entity will become a charitable foundation with the name Islands on the Air Foundation (IOTAF), a separate legal body. “I have to thank the RSGB Board for acknowledging that the future sustainability of IOTA is of paramount importance to thousands of amateurs worldwide and that this must be the overriding consideration.”

Balister said the change was necessary as IOTA has grown from a “niche program” to one that is mainstream and “second only to DXCC as the international driver of activity on our bands.” He said the changes to the program’s management would take place over several months, but IOTA would remain a part of RSGB. He anticipated the online confirmation program to launch in the spring of 2017. (Balister's complete statement is available on the RSGB IOTA website.)

The IOTA Program is an Amateur Radio HF/VHF band activity administered by the RSGB. Established in 1964 it promotes radio contacts with stations located on islands around the world to encourage greater use of the amateur bands. Over the 50+ years of its history, the program has grown to 2500 active island chasers and approximately 15,000 casual participants. -- Thanks to RSGB and The Daily DX