The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) held its annual meeting on August 19-20 in Sun City, South Africa. The AC is responsible for the policy and management of the IARU and consists of the three IARU international officers and two representatives from each of the three IARU regional organizations.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, along with IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, and IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, were in attendance. IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, IARU Region 1 Vice President Tafa Diop, 6W1KI, and IARU Region 1 Executive Committee Member Colin Thomas, G3PSM, represented IARU Region 1. IARU Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AM and IARU Region 2 Secretary Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK represented IARU Region 2. IARU Region 3 Chairman of Directors Michael Owen, VK3KI, and IARU Region 3 Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, represented IARU Region 3. David Sumner, K1ZZ, attended as recording secretary.

The Administrative Council acted on the following items:

• IARU positions on relevant agenda items for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) were reviewed and updated in light of developments since the 2010 AC meeting. Desired agenda items for future WRCs were considered. Progress on the action plan for developing support for Amateur Radio frequency allocations was reviewed and the plan was updated for the period through the end of 2012.
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meetings at which IARU representation will be required for the coming year were identified. Plans for representation at these meetings, as well as at WRC-12 and Telecom World 2011 were reviewed.
• The working document that sets out the spectrum requirements of the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services was reviewed and updated.
• A Spectrum Futures Committee was named to develop strategies for retaining access to bands above 148 MHz for the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services globally. The committee is to review current IARU policies, seek input from stakeholders and formulate recommendations to the AC by March 1, 2012.
• The AC requested that the IARU 2025 Committee develop an alternative financial model for its proposed new organizational structure for the IARU, based on feedback from Member-Societies.
• The AC continued its review of the role of the IARU in emergency communications, noting the performance of radio amateurs in responding to recent disasters in several parts of the world.
• An encouraging report was received from Region 1 with respect to recent progress in developing Amateur Radio in Ethiopia.
• Terms of reference were adopted for a new volunteer position of IARU Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Coordinator. Regional representatives were requested to identify qualified candidates for the position.
• Discussions continued with respect to improvements in the IARU Monitoring System. It was agreed that consultation with regional coordinators would continue with the objective of concluding action on this item by November 1, 2011.
• The Administrative Council endorsed the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC 2014), to be held in New England in conjunction with the IARU HF World Championship.
• The budget for 2012-2014 as presented by the International Secretariat was reviewed and adopted; the ARRL serves as the IARU International Secretariat. The budget is based upon anticipated financial contributions from the three regional organizations to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy. Support for the maintenance and continued development of the International Beacon Project are included in the budget.
• The theme Amateur Radio Satellites: Celebrating 50 Years in Space was adopted for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2012.
• Reports of the IARU international coordinators and advisers were received. They are International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; EMC Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY; International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS, and Interim Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG. Van de Groenendaal presented his report in person.
• Tafa Diop, 6W1KI, was named an IARU Technical Representative. He is retiring as Region 1 Vice President and was thanked for his many years of service and willingness to continue serving IARU. Two volunteer Expert Consultants were also named: Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, and Bram van den Berg, PB0AOK.

The next scheduled in-person meeting of the AC will be held in the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, in November 2012 in conjunction with the IARU Region 3 Conference. A meeting by videoconference is planned following WRC-12.