Organization of American States Department of<br />Human Development
Spectrum Management in the Civil Sector

NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS TO OAS SCHOLARSHIPS

PLEASE READ BEFORE STARTING

The application must be completed in its entirety before exiting the site or submitting the form. The information you enter can be saved as you are working on it during this session. However, information cannot be saved for another session before the application is submitted. We strongly suggest that you print a blank application form, prepare the narrative information in a separate Word document which you can copy and paste into the on-line application form, and fill out the other data by hand on the application form before you begin to fill out the form on line. Once you access and open the form, it can remain open (without exiting or submitting it) indefinitely, so you will have time to fill out the form and check your information before submitting it. No changes will be permitted after you submit the form.

This application must be completed on-line.


OEA – CITEL
Professional Development Scholarship Program

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            OAS/DHDEE/CIR.001/2014

“Spectrum Management in the Civil Sector” [1]

1. Study venue: USTTI – 1150 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington DC 20036. Suite 702

2. Offered by: Federal Communications Commission and Comsearch e-mail: [email protected]

3. Coordinator: James O’Connor, USTTI Curriculum Coordinator, Email: [email protected] Phone: (202) 785-7373, Fax: (202) 785 1930

4. Modality: On site

5. Start and end dates: April 7 to April 18, 2014

6. Course duration: Two weeks

7. Language: English

8. Objective: This course is intended to provide information and material for the national civilian telecommunications spectrum manager that will enable the making of logical spectrum related decisions that are well grounded in basic technical procedures. The course will provide information on: (1) the development of sound civilian telecommunications policy; (2) public sector telecommunications law; (3) national telecommunications rules and regulations; (4) elements and use of radio, television, wireline or fiber-optic carrier, and satellite carrier licensee data bases; (5) criteria for the assignment of frequency authorizations in both national and international communications services; and (6) the general methodology for approval of transmitting and radiating equipment. It will include discussions with telecommunications industry leaders and will provide exposure to state-of-the-art systems in advanced communications technology from those in industry who are involved on a day to day basis.

9. Participant Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: (1) understand the appropriate principles of national civilian radio spectrum management systems; (2) understand the automated station and equipment authorization process; (3) learn how to deal with the general public for information dissemination and radio interference complaint purposes; and (4) initiate or review civilian statutory and regulatory policies for new or expanded radio services, and be aware of the latest technology in telecommunications arenas.

10. Methodology: Participants will receive instruction from FCC staff in Washington, DC; Columbia, MD; and Gettysburg, PA; and by Comsearch, the course co-sponsor, in communications engineering. Course time will be divided into classroom work in Washington with sponsors, a tour of the FCC Laboratory in Columbia, MD, where equipment radiation measurement and authorization work is accomplished, and a visit to the automated FCC license issuance processing line in Gettysburg, PA.

11. Eligibility Requirements:

a. Be a citizen or permanent resident of an OAS Member State (Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba[2], Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela) with the exception of the United States since is the host country.

b. Participant profile: Managerial with technical emphasis of the telecommunications sector, such as stakeholder analysis and consensus development, with an emphasis on policymaking processes in the regional and global environment during technology transitions and work in spectrum management related areas.

c. English proficiency. To be considered for admission, scores must be submitted from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Exceptions may be made for applicants who hold a degree from a university located in a country in which English is the official language and also the language of instruction at the university. The minimum scores for admission consideration are:

    • Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0
    • TOEFL: 550 on paper-based or 80 on Internet-based test.

d. Submission of completed application form by the deadline set by the National Liaison Organization (ONE).[3] It is the candidate’s responsibility to ascertain the deadline set by the ONE in his or her country of residence.

e. In addition to the OAS application, applicants must also submit a formal application through the USTTI. Applications may be filed through USTTI’s web site: http://ustti.org

Please Note: If you were awarded an OAS Professional Development Scholarship in the past twelve (12) months or if you currently hold an OAS Scholarship for Academic Studies, you are NOT eligible to apply for another Professional Development Scholarship.

12. OAS Scholarship Selection Criteria: In accordance with article 4.2 of the Manual of Procedures of the Scholarship and Training Programs of the OAS, OAS scholarships shall be granted based on the following criteria:

  • The objectives and priorities established in the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development;
  • The training priorities of the member states;
  • The merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background;
  • The financial need of the candidate; and
  • An extensive and equitable geographic distribution for the benefit of all member states and that takes into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies.

13. Scholarship Benefits:

For successful candidates

  • OAS/PDSP will cover round trip economy class air tickets from country of origin or residence to Washington, DC, United States of America. Funds for terminal and in-transit expenses are NOT provided.
  • USTTI will provide: a) a stipend of $400.00 to offset hotel and living expenses; b) waiving the $150.00 administrative fee; c) Health insurance with international coverage for the duration of the course in Washington DC which includes emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and emergency medical meetings.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS CORRESPONDING TO THE 2014 REGULAR BUDGET

14. Responsibilities of the selected candidates:

  • Based on shared accommodations and on arrival date of Sunday, April 6th, 2014 and departure date of Saturday, April 19th, 2014 the additional amount needed for this course is USD$1,225.00. (Please be advised that the accommodation that is being provided requires participants to share hotel rooms).
  • The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance to the OAS General Secretariat Office in their respective countries and through the ONE in order for the OAS to proceed with making the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between their country of origin or residence and the study location or, if the scholarship is refused, to appoint another candidate.
  • The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship by signing and returning to Department of Human Development, Education and Employment-DHDEE-their completed “form of acceptance of the scholarship award”; only after this has been done will the OAS proceed with the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between the scholarship recipient’s country of origin and the study location.
  • Upon selection, candidates must accept the scholarship by confirming their availability to follow the course during the period indicated and their acceptance of the duly provided conditions of study.
  • Selected scholarship recipients are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa(s) to enter the country of study and the corresponding transit(s). The OAS will not be responsible for any costs related to obtaining visas or transfer documentation.
  • Each scholarship recipient is responsible for arriving in time for the commencement of activities on the date established by the institution offering the course or program.
  • If the scholarship recipient fails to travel on the scheduled dates, or change routes, after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has purchased his/her travel ticket, he/she will be responsible for paying the difference in ticket costs in order to arrive at the course site in time. The scholarship recipient will furthermore have to reimburse the GS/OAS the total cost of the airfare for his/her travel from his/her country of residence to the site where the Professional Development Course will take place and back if, after the ticket has been purchased, he/she declines the scholarship without written authorization from the Department of Human Development, Education and Employment
  • The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra costs for accommodation during the scholarship recipient’s travel to and from the country where the course will be held.
  • If the fellow declines, cancels or terminates the Scholarship after the course or program has started without providing the GS/OAS with a compelling reason, he or she will have to reimburse GS/OAS the total amount of incurred costs/expenses.

15. Certification: The participants will receive a diploma from the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI), regional Training Center of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL).

16. Application Process:

  1. Select the course: http://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/professionaldev.asp
  2. After having read the course information thoroughly, click “Continue/Continuar” at the end of the page.
  3. Complete application form.
  4. After completing application form click “Send / Enviar” at the end of the page 5.
  5. A copy of the application form will be sent automatically to your e-mail account.
  6. Print and sign application form e-mailed to your account.
  7. Submit signed form and required documents with the Professional Development Scholarships Forms & Documents in the following link: http://www.oas.org/es/becas/PDSP/Formularios_becas_PDSP.pdf to the (ONE) in your country: http://www.oas.org/es/becas/programaregular/one.asp

Any questions regarding submission of applications for this course should be sent to: [email protected]


[1] The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (“GS/OAS”) reserves the right to cancel this scholarship announcement at any time. Moreover, the OAS, GS/OAS, and its personnel are not liable for any actions taken in reliance on or otherwise based upon information in this announcement.

[2] On June 3, 2009, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas adopted resolution AG/RES. 2438 (XXXIX-O/09), which resolves that the 1962 Resolution that excluded the Government of Cuba from its participation in the inter-American system, ceases to have effect in the Organization of American States (OAS). The 2009 resolution states that the participation of the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba, and in accordance with the practices, purposes, and principles of the OAS.

[3] The deadline for presentation of applications to the (ONE) differs from country to country and should therefore be confirmed with the relevant ONE in the applicant's country of origin or permanent residence.

If you are ready to fill out the application form from beginning to end,
please click the "Continue" button below.