The Xth Plenary Assembly of the CCIR

The paper is based on a lecture given to the IEE Electronics Division on 10th April 1963 and outlines some of the more important results achieved by the Xth Plenary Assembly of the CCIR held at Geneva from the 16th January to 15th February 1963. As a preliminary, the organisation and functions of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency of the United Nations, are briefly considered, and the role of the CCIR in studying technical and operating questions in the radio field and making recommendations to the ITU is explained. Some of the more important results achieved by the Xth Plenary Assembly through its 14 Study Groups, which cover the whole radio field, are summarised. In particular, the work of Study Group IV which deals with space systems is examined in some detail, and the major technical contributions being made by this Group, which was set up only some four years ago, are emphasised. Many of the technical recommendations already made will have a major influence on the Extraordinary Administrative Radio Conference to be held at Geneva in the latter part of 1963. The tasks of this conference will include the provision of frequency allocations for operational communication systems employing artificial earth satellites as relays. Another aspect of the work of the Xth Plenary Assembly is in the field of technical assistance to under-developed countries. In this connection a study was made of the minimum performance specifications required for low-cost broadcasting receivers suitable for large-scale production; the object being to place within the range of the populations of new and developing countries, simple and robust broadcasting receivers of low cost. Specifications were prepared for three types of set: m.f., m.f./h.f. and v.h.f. receivers. As indicated in the paper, the Xth Plenary Assembly was an unqualified success and the technical recommendations, of which 101 were made, will assist in, and influence, the development of radio-communicat- ion systems.