Increased EMR knowledge in VK syllabus

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has amended the Amateur Radio regulations syllabus, to expand the demonstrated knowledge of Electromagnetic Radiation or EMR. Safety has been on ACMA's agenda for a considerable time, and it is seeking to minimise risk and promote safety across all its operations, including Amateur Radio. The process to include EMR in the existing Amateur Radio Syllabus at all three licence levels, commenced about 18 months ago.

One of the outcomes of the high-power trial for VK Advance Licence holders, the ACMA in consultation with the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), found that EMR knowledge could be increased. The teaching of prospective radio amateurs already includes the importance to keep all persons (and animals) a safe distance from antennas, their orientation, the role of Effective Radiated Power, and radio wave danger with higher frequencies and power levels.

The ACMA has gone further with its amended syllabus to spell out that knowledge of EMR is a condition for all classes of amateur licence, and recall where to locate the ACMA document titled "EMR Assessment Guide for Amateur Radio". It also wants known that the "Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency" (ARPANSA) sets the standard for Maximum Exposure Levels, 100 kHz to 300 GHz, its principles and methods of measurement.

New licence assessment papers from the WIA Exam Service issued to assessors from June 2014 will reflect the new EMR provisions. The additional teaching time should be minor, but it will reflect knowledge of the licence requirements
and community concern about radiation from transmitters.

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