Telecommunications regulators from Mexico and Belize have been attending an Amateur Radio Administration Course (ARAC) this week in Mexico City. International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 (IARU R2), the Mexican Federation of Radio Amateurs (FMRE), and the ARRL sponsored the sessions. Presiding at the opening ceremony was Rafael Eslava Herrada, who heads the Concessions and Services Unit of Mexico’s telecoms regulator, the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT).

Regulators from the Public Utilities Commission of Belize and Mexico’s IFT attended the course. The objective of the course was for regulators to be able to help create, administer, and foster an Amateur Radio Service within their home countries. The course is designed for those who regulate and manage Amateur Radio. It was taught in both English and Spanish.

Among others, course topics included:

• Organization of ITU and IARU
• Nature of Amateur Radio Services
• ITU Radio Regulations
• Amateur Radio Activities and Allocations
• How society can benefit from Amateur Radio
• National Licensing and Regulations
• Amateur Radio examinations
• Emergency Communications
• Satellites and the Amateur Satellite Service
• Electromagnetic Compatibility

The course took place February 17-19.