Wednesday, May 21, 2008

ITU Chief Links Contesting, Emergency Communications

The Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) says contesting is among '”the best training for all of us” in emergency communications, in an article in the June 2008 issue of CQ Magazine. In an interview with International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Secretary Dave Summer, K1ZZ, ITU Secretary-General Dr. Hamadoun I. Toure', HB9EHT, says "participation in radioamateur contests, field days or any amateur service exercises and activities are the best training for all of us, and during non-disaster periods it's also a great fun and sport competition -- part of our hobby." See the May 2008 issue of QST for the full interview.

Also, those at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention Contest Dinner, Saturday night, May 17, heard FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, make similar comments. He praised contests as an effective training activity for emergency communications operators.

73, Marsh, KA5M

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