International Radiotelegraph Convention (1912)

[1] The convention was scheduled before the Titanic disaster but met shortly after, and the sinking was an important factor in the deliberations.

Significant additional new regulations were added to the international standards adopted at the 1906 Convention, including: In addition, the delegates unanimously adopted a resolution that: "The International Radio-Telegraphic Conference having examined the measures to be taken with the view of preventing disasters at sea and of rendering assistance in such cases, expresses the opinion that, in the general interests of navigation, there should be imposed on certain classes of ships the obligation to carry a radio-telegraphic installation.

As the Conference has no power to impose this obligation, it expresses the wish that the measures necessary to this end should be instituted by the Governments.

Starting with the 1912 Convention, initial letters were allotted to the various signatories, including "A", "D" and "KAA–KCZ" to Germany and protectorates, "B", "G" and "M" to Great Britain plus "CAA–CMZ" to its associated jurisdictions, "F" and "UAA–UMZ" to France and its colonies, and "KDA–KZZ", "N" and "W" to the United States.

[9] A third International Radiotelegraph Convention, initially proposed to take place in 1917 but delayed until 1927, was held in Washington, DC, which adopted regulations which became effective on January 1, 1929.