ARRLWeb: New Foundation License, Amateur Regulatory Changes Introduced in Australia

ARRLWeb: New Foundation License, Amateur Regulatory Changes Introduced in Australia

"New Foundation License, Amateur Regulatory Changes Introduced in Australia

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 26, 2005--Australia has introduced an entry-level Foundation Amateur Radio license and established a new overall licensing and certification structure. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) put the new regulations into effect October 19.

Other rule changes combined Novice and Novice Limited licensees into a new Standard license class, and all Limited, Intermediate and Unrestricted licensees are now Advanced licensees with full amateur privileges.

Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) President Michael Owen, VK3KI, welcomed the 'long-awaited' changes--in particular the new Foundation license--and expressed the hope that they would encourage newcomers.

'We also know that there will be many amateurs operating on the 40 and 20-meter bands for the first time with those bands available to Standard licensees,' he said. 'We urge all amateurs to make all these newcomers welcome.' Owen also praised ACMA for what he called its 'cooperative approach' in establishing examination standards and procedures. "

73 fer nw,
Bob N5IET

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
http://www.n5iet.com/
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.