THE KYOTO DECLARATION

As directors of the world's radio observatories, we note the increasing use of the radio spectrum by commercial and other interests. While recognizing the economic importance of such use, we are concerned that it should not harm radio astronomy, a uniquely powerful means for the study of the Universe. To protect the benefits of radio astronomy to humankind, we resolve to undertake the following initiatives. We will conduct a programme of activities to educate our fellow scientists, the telecommunications industry, and the general public to the necessity of protecting radio astronomy's spectrum requirements. Further, we will study technical means to mitigate the problem of interference.

We endorse the formation of the OECD Megascience Forum Working Group on Radio Astronomy and will support it in its efforts to inform science policy makers of radio astronomy's concerns in the area of spectrum management. Additionally, we will all intensify participation in the regulatory processes conducted through IUCAF (the Inter Union Committee on the Allocation of Frequencies) and by the International Telecommunications Union and its member nations' agencies by increasing the number of personnel and resources devoted to spectrum management.

In order to make our actions more effective we agree to increase the level of co-ordination between the world's radio observatories so that we can present a common position on issues of radio spectrum management. In North America and Europe co-ordinating groups already exist (CORF, the Committee on Radio Frequencies, and CRAF, the Committee for Radio Astronomy Frequencies) and we endorse proposals to generate similar co-ordinating groups in the Asia-Pacific region and in South America.

Kyoto, Japan, at the XXIIIrd General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, August 1997.

DECLARATION signed by:

Baudry, A. - Observatoire de Bordeaux, France
Blitz, L. - Univ. of California, Berkeley CA, US
Butcher, H.R. - Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy
Booth, R.S. - Swedish National Facility for Radio Astronomy, OSO
Bronfman, L. - Universidad de Chile
Davies, R.D. - Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, Jodrell Bank, UK
Dewdney, P. - Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, DRAO, Canada
van Driel, W. - Station de Radioastronomie, Nançay, France
Ekers, R.D. - Australia Telescope National Facility
Goldsmith, P. - Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico
Gomez-Gonzales, J. - Cientro Astronomica de Yebes, Spain
Green, A. - Molonglo Observatory, Australia
Grewing, M. - Institute de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique, IRAM, France
Hills, R. - Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, UK
Hirabayashi, H. - Institute of Space & Astronautical Science, ISAS, Japan
Ishiguro, M. - Nobeyama Radio Observatory, Japan
Johnston, K. - U.S. Naval Observatory, US
Kandalyan, R. - Byurakan Observatory, Armenia
Kapahi, N.R. - National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR, India
Kuiper, T. - Jet Propulsion Laboratory, DSN, US
Lo, K.Y. - Academia Sinicia, ASIAA, Taiwan
Mattila, K. - Helsinki University Observatory, Finland
McCulloch, P. - Univ. of Tasmania, Australia
Morton, D.C. - Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, DRAO, Canada
Nicolson, G. - Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, South Africa
Padrielli, L. - Istituto di Radioastronomia, CNR, Italy
Robson, I. - James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, JCTM, Hawaii, US
Salah, J. - MIT Haystack Observatory, US
Sargent, A. - California Institute of Technology, US
Schilizzi, R.T. - Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, JIVE, Netherlands
Shapiro, I. - Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, US
Snyder, L.E. - Univ. of Illinois, US
Urpo, S. - Metsahovi Radio Research Station, Finland
Vanden Bout, P. - National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US
Wielebinski, R. - Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Germany
Zhao, Junliang - Shanghai Observatory, China