The IARU Region 1 General Conference, originally scheduled to take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, is taking place online, starting Sunday.

Taking advantage of online access, well over 200 delegates and observers have registered from nearly 50 national societies. Nearly 90 papers are scheduled for discussion. The conference will be formally opened by IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH.

Discussions will take place in four main streams: Organisational and Administrative, HF, VHF+ and EMC. Additional stream meetings will cover spectrum, regulatory and political relations issues and youth initiatives.

Speaking before the Conference starts, IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, said “It is disappointing that we will not be meeting in-person but in these uncertain times, modern technology gives us the opportunity to conduct our business remotely. I am looking forward to a constructive and wide-ranging set of discussions about many of the challenges facing Amateur Radio today. We also intend to hold an in-person event in 2021 which will address, in a workshop environment, some key aspects of amateur radio’s future.”

A day-by-day report of the proceedings at the Conference will be published throughout the coming week, beginning Sunday evening.