IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, draws attention to the problem of some amateur radio operators in the CQWW 160-Meter SSB contest operating outside the Amateur band.

On the IARU Region 1 website he writes:

It was disappointing to notice that numerous contest stations from Region 1 violated their national regulations by transmitting out of band during last weekend's CQ World Wide 160-Meter SSB Contest. While I can have some understanding that the IARU bandplan for top band is not followed during this major contest, I totally disagree that contest stations transmit outside bands allocated to the amateur service. For a station transmitting in LSB on 160 meters this is below 1813 kHz (for transceivers with carrier readout).

The amateur service has always been known as a self regulating service, which has helped us in our negotiations with administrations.

A behaviour as shown last weekend will certainly not help us in the future. I call upon all contesters to reinstate our values.

Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T
IARU Region 1 President