Do you have something on your mind concerning US regulatory work for the amateur radio service? ORI is here to listen and help you be heard.
ORI is a member of the US Federal Communications Commission Technological Advisory Council.
Open source and amateur voices deserve to be on the council. If you care about spectrum allocation and management, then I invite you to help us make sure that ORI’s voice is strong and well-informed.
I’m one of two representatives from Open Research Institute, which is a member of TAC. ARRL is also an active member of TAC, and we actively support ARRL and work with ARRL’s representative to TAC.
The current term of TAC started 1 October. and will conclude November 2027. The three working groups within TAC are AI/ML Computing, Emerging Wireless Broadband (primarily about 6 G core technology), and Spectrum Management Reform. This last group is where amateur radio and amateur satellite service have the most traction, but there’s relevant tasks for the other two groups. Read more here: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-2027%20Updated%20TAC%20WG%20Tasks%20final.pdf
Would you like to help ORI represent open source and amateur radio on the TAC? Visit our https://openresearch.institute/getting-started page and reach out about Regulatory Work.
ORI will develop our written deliverables to TAC through an open process, with reports published in our newsletter and on GitHub. People interested in defending, protecting, and expanding amateur access to the bands are who ORI wants to include.
TAC is designed to be “a diverse group of leading technology experts”. Consumers, amateurs, scientists, experimenters, cybersecurity researchers, and enthusiasts are the major pathways for future technology experts in the commercial sector. Non-commercial use of the bands is a huge part of how we ensure that our communications sector is “nationally competitive”.
Being competitive is a stated goal of the FCC. Here’s the mission statement of the FCC:
Promote innovation, investment, competition, consumer empowerment, economic growth, and U.S. competitiveness via communications technology.
Let’s work together to make sure that amateur and open source voices are fully heard.