The Birth of Italian Amateur Radio: A Look Back and a Visit to ARI Chi

Milan, Italy, November 30, 1925 – A pivotal moment for Italian amateur radio unfolded today. At 2 PM, at the headquarters of the Radio Club Lombardo in Milan, the Radio Club Nazionale Italiano was officially founded. This momentous event, attended by the Executive Commission and delegates from various sections of the R.C.I., marked a new era for radio enthusiasts across Italy.

The Executive Commission, including esteemed figures such as Prof. Eng. Carlo Monti (President), Lawyer Gennaro Melzi, Lawyer L.C. Cattaneo, Eng. Prof. Giuseppe Comboal, and Eng. Eugenio Gnesutta, presided over the gathering. Sections represented included the Radio Club Lombardo, Società Amici delle Radio Comunicazioni di Ferrara (with 150 members!), Radio Club Monzese (110 members), Radio Club Italiano Sezione Como, Radio Club Emiliano, and Gruppo Radiotecnico Milanese. Notably, sections from Chieti, Chiavari, Florence, and Terni also sent their delegates, signifying widespread support for this national initiative.

Why a National Club? The Vision for Italian Amateur Radio

The importance of amateur radio operators – their studies and experiments – has long been recognized internationally. These enthusiasts form a vast experimental base, driven by a passion that leads them to dedicate countless hours, purely for the love of science. While their scientific background might not always be deeply academic, their freedom of ideas, unburdened by strict theory, can often lead to unexpected and groundbreaking results.

This understanding has driven progress in other nations, but Italy's recent decree on radio broadcasting unfortunately overlooked the role of amateurs. This left Italian enthusiasts unable to keep pace with their international counterparts, who benefited from governmental support. It became clear that Italy needed to recognize the immense value of amateur collaboration in scientific radio endeavors.

A Historic Intervention in Rome

Recognizing this critical gap, the Council of the Gruppo Radiotecnico Milanese and the Director of "Le Radio per Tutti" felt compelled to act. They traveled to Rome to consult with government authorities, including Comm. Pession, Senator Corbino, Prof. Vanni (Director of the Military Radio-Telegraphic Institute), and other key figures from the Ministry of Communications.

We're proud to report: they succeeded!

The government representatives warmly received the amateur delegates, expressing gratitude for their initiative and promising their full support for amateur activities. They encouraged the Milanese example to be followed across Italy.

Key Outcomes for Italian Amateurs

Following extensive discussions and minor modifications, the assembly unanimously approved a resolution calling for:

A significant reduction in radio broadcasting subscription fees.
A minimization of government taxes, which are unparalleled in other nations.
The urgent activation of a powerful radio station in Southern Italy, alongside technical and artistic improvements to the Rome station's service.
Modification of technical regulations, especially concerning antenna dimensions and the minimum receivable wavelength (currently 300 meters).
The recognition of a special category of experimental amateurs, who would be permitted to build any reception circuit without mandatory verification.

Crucially, the negotiations in Rome led to three highly significant results:

Formation of the Associazione Dilettanti Radiotecnici Italiani (A.D.R.I.): This association, primarily composed of scholars and experts, will represent amateurs to the government, regulate their activities, and organize collective experimental projects.
Special Reception Licenses: The government has granted A.D.R.I. the authority to issue special licenses for receiving waves below 30 meters to recognized scholars.
Provisional Transmission Licenses: Special provisional government transmission licenses will be granted to scholars who apply to A.D.R.I., pending documentation review and A.D.R.I.'s favorable recommendation to governmental authorities. These applications must specify the purpose of transmission, power used, and chosen wavelength (60, 90, or 130 meters).

The Military Radiotelegraphic Institute, led by Prof. Vanni, has also generously offered important prizes to amateurs who achieve noteworthy results in these tests.

A.D.R.I.'s First Leadership

The provisional commission of A.D.R.I. named its first steering committee:

President: Eugenio Gnesutta
Vice President: Carlo Willis
Secretary: Franco Pugliese
Councilors: Francesco Paolo Pugliese, Galeazzo Boschetti, Ercole Ranzi de Angeli, Giulio Salom (President of the Spezia Section).

Presidents of newly formed sections will also be able to join the Council. The Association's Statute-Regulation will be published soon. For now, the provisional headquarters of A.D.R.I. is at Gruppo Radiotecnico Milanese, Piazza del Duomo 25, Milano.

This is a monumental step forward for Italian amateur radio, and we eagerly await the future contributions of this dedicated community!

Visiting ARI Chieti: "IQ6TH"

Fast forward to today, and the spirit of Italian amateur radio continues to thrive! If you're in the Abruzzo region, consider visiting the ARI Chieti section, known by its call sign IQ6TH.

Location: Via Tiro a Segno 10, 66100 Chieti CH, Italy.
Website: www.arichieti.it
Contact: IW6PWC Di Menna Giacomo Nino
Opening Hours: Fridays from 7:00 PM (19:00).

Whether you're a seasoned operator or just curious about the hobby, ARI Chieti welcomes you to explore the fascinating world of radio communication. Perhaps you can even witness the legacy of the pioneers who laid the groundwork exactly a century ago!