Introduction

On an ongoing basis beginning in July 1990, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council, starting from decisions taken at the regional conferences of the three regional organisations of the IARU, has identified the present and anticipated future requirements for radio spectrum allocations to the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services. The requirements are identified below, so that they may be taken into account in the formulation of national policies with respect to proposed and possible future international allocations conferences.

The position of the IARU on behalf of the worldwide Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services takes into account the following factors, among others:

1. There are presently nearly three million licensed Amateur Radio stations, a number that has been increasing at an annual rate of approximately 7% for several decades. At this rate, in five years there will be approximately four million amateur stations.

2. The number and variety of modes of emission used by radio amateurs also are expanding greatly, creating internal pressures within the Amateur Services for their accommodation along with established modes such as single-sideband telephony and manual Morse telegraphy (CW) operations. These newer modes include digital voice, data and image. Their use improves the efficiency of amateur operations, but also increases the popularity of Amateur Radio and therefore the amount of congestion.

3. Spectrum-efficient modes such as single-sideband telephony, which has been in widespread use in the amateur service for more than forty years, already are employed almost universally in the amateur services. Opportunities for additional spectrum efficiency in amateur operation, at least at MF and HF, are limited at present.

4. While sharing with some other services in some parts of the spectrum is a practical and viable solution for improved utilisation of the spectrum, sharing with the amateur services as a solution to spectrum congestion in other services is limited by factors such as: the widespread geographic distribution of amateur stations, the variety of emissions used by amateur stations, and the relatively low signal levels that amateurs employ.

Spectrum Requirements

Where possible, country footnotes for additional or alternative allocations in bands that are listed in the international Table of Frequency Allocations as Amateur or Amateur-Satellite allocations, should be deleted. Efforts to add the names of countries to such footnotes should be opposed.

A band below 200 kHz

The amateur service seeks a worldwide, shared LF allocation.

This frequency range has characteristics quite unlike those of higher frequencies, and there is considerable interest in LF propagation and experimentation by individuals.

At the present time, there is no ITU global or regional allocation to the amateur service in the low-frequency (LF) band.

IARU Region 1 (Tel-Aviv, 1996) recommended that member societies in Region 1 seek access to a segment, preferably in the vicinity of 136 kHz, on a secondary, non-interference basis. Co-ordinated efforts by IARU Region 1 have led to the adoption by the CEPT European Radiocommunications Committee of Recommendation 62-01:

"1) that the band 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz may be used with a maximum e.r.p. of 1 watt on a secondary basis by the Amateur Service in CEPT countries."

This recommendation came into force in May 1997 and has been implemented by several CEPT countries, either with the specified ERP limit or with a transmitter power limit of 100 watts. It could serve as the basis for an allocation in other geographical areas.

Countries known to permit amateur operation in the band 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz in accordance with ERC/REC 62-01, by special authority or experimental licenses include: Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Some administrations issue experimental licenses to amateurs or otherwise permit LF low-power operation; for example, in 160 -- 190 kHz in the USA and 165 -- 190 kHz in Australia. In New Zealand in 1990, after negotiations by NZART, the band 165 -- 190 kHz became available to radio amateurs with a special permit. In 2001 the permit requirement was removed and the band is now listed as an amateur band.

In a spectrum study, the USA administration approved, in principle, an ARRL requirement for a shared allocation in the vicinity of 160 -- 190 kHz. Subsequently, the ARRL petitioned the FCC for secondary allocations in the bands 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz and 160 -- 190 kHz. In 2002, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making requesting public comment on a proposal to allocate the band 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz to the amateur service while not proposing allocation of the band 160 -- 190 kHz. This matter is still pending.

In CITEL, Canada is raising the possibility of an Inter-American Proposal to WRC-03 for a similar allocation by footnote in Region 2.

In 1999, the Amateur Radio Research and Development Corporation (AMRAD) received an experimental license for operation in the band 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz primarily in locations near Washington, DC. In 2000, several Canadian stations received experimental licenses to operate in this band and have made transoceanic contacts.

Region 3 (Darwin, 2000) recommended that an LF band segment of 15 kHz between 165 and 190 kHz and/or 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz be sought through local administrations throughout Region 3 noting the international communications experiments that have taken and could take place.

Region 2 (Guatemala City, 2001) urged its member-societies to support a coordinated approach to secondary allocations to the Amateur Service in the bands 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz and 160 -- 190 kHz.

1800 -- 2000 kHz

In the vicinity of 1800 kHz, the amateur service requires an exclusive worldwide allocation of 100 kHz and an additional shared worldwide allocation of 100 kHz.

This band is the only medium-frequency (MF) allocation to the amateur service. Its propagation characteristics allow short-range communications during daytime hours and medium and long-range communications during night-time hours. This band is particularly useful during sunspot minima, when the maximum usable frequency (MUF) is below 3500 kHz.

An increasing number of countries in Region 1 are authorising amateur operation above 1850 kHz on a low-power, not-to-interfere basis. WRC-2000 improved the status of the Amateur Service in the band at 1800 kHz in Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

There is reason to believe that the growing use of GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) positioning systems will render obsolete radiolocation systems operating 1900 -- 2000 kHz.

3500 -- 4000 kHz

The amateur service requires a common worldwide exclusive allocation of at least 300 kHz, and retention of the present additional shared allocations in Regions 2 and 3.

This band is used extensively by radio amateurs for contacts over distances of up to 500 km during the day, and for distances of 2000 km and more at night. In many countries the band is heavily populated by networks of amateur stations providing training for emergency communications during disasters, and is heavily utilised during communications emergencies.

WRC-2000 suppressed a longstanding footnote for Canadian domestic broadcasting in the band 3950 -- 4000 kHz.

Item 1.36 of the Agenda for the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference is to "examine the adequacy of the frequency allocations for HF broadcasting from about 4 MHz to 10 MHz, taking into account the seasonal planning procedures adopted by WRC-97..." Any additional allocations to the broadcasting service should not be at the expense of the amateur service. Any increase in broadcasting in one region should not cause interference to amateurs in another region and should not constrain amateur operations in another region.

A band in the vicinity of 5 MHz

A narrow allocation, even on a shared basis, is sought in the vicinity of 5 MHz to assist the amateur service in overcoming a number of difficulties.

Based on the recommendation of the 1978 CCIR Special Preparatory Meeting, the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference accepted the principle that, like other high-frequency radio services, the amateur service should have access to a family of frequency bands so communications can be maintained as propagation conditions change. New exclusive allocations were added in the vicinity of 25 and 18 MHz, and a new allocation secondary to the fixed service was added in the vicinity of 10 MHz, to bridge gaps between the bands then in existence.

Particularly in the higher latitudes, there are many times when the MUF is below 7 MHz but is too far above the next lowest amateur frequency band (3.8 or 4.0 MHz, depending upon the Region) for communication to be supported in that band using typical amateur antennas and power levels. Also, as amateur communication increasingly uses digital rather than analogue modes of emission, inter-symbol distortion caused by multipath propagation becomes a more important factor and requires choice of an operating frequency as near as possible to the MUF.

The USA administration has identified 4945 -- 4995 kHz as a band where it appears possible to satisfy the amateur service requirement. The identification of the specific frequency band is extremely tentative and other, possibly more promising options are being examined.

In April 1999, ARRL received an experimental license for 15 stations to conduct SSB and digital data contacts in the band 5100 -- 5450 kHz. The objectives of this project were to demonstrate 1) propagation differences between the 80, 60 and 40-metre bands to learn if the 60-metre band would enhance public service communications in this region of the spectrum, and 2) interference to the primary services will not be caused. The tests showed that a 60-metre band would provide communications when the neither the 80-metre nor 40-metre bands are reliable and that no interference was caused to incumbent licensees. In 2001, ARRL petitioned the FCC for a domestic secondary allocation in the band 5250 -- 5400 kHz. The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making proposing to allocate the band 5250 -- 5400 kHz to the amateur service. Several federal government agencies have indicated objections and discussions are continuing. In addition, the RSGB has opened discussions with its administration concerning a possible 60-metre amateur allocation. The administration has authorised several spot frequencies for limited use by a limited number of amateur stations.

In Norway access to two frequencies, 5410 and 5420 kHz, has been provided to amateur club stations for emergency communications and training purposes. This access has been extended through 2003.

For many decades, six spot frequencies between 5380 and 5680 kHz have been available to members of New Zealand's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) under specific conditions for emergency tasks.

In Alaska, amateur stations are among those permitted to use 5167.5 kHz for emergency communications.

Consideration of any candidate 60-metre bands for the Amateur Service should bear in mind WRC-2003 agenda item 1.36, above.

7000 -- 7300 kHz

The amateur service seeks an exclusive, worldwide allocation in the vicinity of 7 MHz of no less than 300 kHz.

As the only primary allocation to the amateur service between 4 and 14 MHz, the 7-MHz band is in heavy use 24 hours each day. During daylight hours, the band carries the bulk of amateur sky wave communication over distances of less than 1300 km.

During winter and during periods of low solar activity, and at other times when the MUF falls below 10 MHz, it supports the bulk of amateur intercontinental communication during hours of darkness. As such, the amateur service is heavily dependent upon the 7-MHz band during disasters, when communications provided by radio amateurs may be the only means of maintaining critical communications links. A 300-kHz exclusive worldwide amateur allocation is the minimum requirement that would ensure effective communications support particularly in the event of natural disasters.

Before the 1938 Cairo Conference, this 300-kHz band was a worldwide, exclusive amateur allocation. At Cairo, rising tensions and political interests in Europe and the Far East and the resulting interest in propaganda broadcasting in the period leading up to the Second World War caused the top portion of the band to be made available for broadcasting outside the Americas. Today the international table of frequency allocations provides 300 kHz for the amateur service only in Region 2.

The amateur service requirement continues to be for at least a 300-kHz allocation. This requirement is even greater today than in the past, owing to the increasing number of amateur stations and the expanding diversity of modes of emission used in the amateur service. However, the requirement is being met only in Region 2 and in certain countries in Regions 1 and 3 that permit their amateur stations to operate in 7100 -- 7300 kHz under the provisions of Radio Regulation 4.4, and then only at those times (mostly during daylight hours) when broadcasting interference does not preclude full use of the band by amateur stations. In most countries in Regions 1 and 3, amateurs are limited to the portion of the band that is exclusively amateur, worldwide: 7000 -- 7100 kHz.

In the past, broadcasting in derogation of the ITU Table of Frequency Allocations limited the usefulness of the exclusive amateur allocation in the band 7000 -- 7100 kHz. As a result of ITU Resolution 641 and the co-operation of administrations, broadcasting in the band 7000 -- 7100 kHz has been reduced substantially. Nonetheless, congestion in the amateur service is a significant problem and a return to the previous allocation of 300 kHz, worldwide, in the vicinity of 7 MHz is strongly indicated.

At WARC-92, a USA proposal for allocation of a band above 7200 kHz to HF broadcasting and a consequential allocation of the band 6900 -- 7200 kHz to the amateur services worldwide was not accepted. However, at Mexico's initiative, Recommendation 718 was adopted calling for realignment of the bands around 7 MHz at a future competent conference. The agenda for WRC-2003 includes Recommendation 718.

Discussions since WRC-95 with delegates representing major HF broadcasters indicate some willingness to co-operate with amateurs to the end that amateurs could have the band 6900 -- 7200 kHz and broadcasters could operate above 7200 kHz.

There has been strong opposition to this realignment from fixed service interests, whose primary allocation of 6765 -- 7000 kHz (which is also allocated to the land mobile service on a secondary basis) would be affected.

The WRC-2003 agenda item 1.23 is "to consider realignment of the allocations to the amateur, amateur-satellite and broadcasting services around 7 MHz on a worldwide basis, taking into account Recommendation 718 (WARC-92) 'Alignment of allocations in the 7 MHz band allocated to the amateur service.'"

The ITU working party concerned with the Amateur Services was the responsible group for carrying out the technical studies in support of WRC-2003 agenda item 1.23. The "contributing/interested group" was the working party concerned with broadcasting terrestrial emissions. IARU participated actively in these working parties, their parent study groups and the Conference Preparatory Meeting for WRC-2003. Several methods of satisfying the agenda item were contained in the draft CPM Report.

A related matter is that WRC-2003 agenda item 1.2 calls for the study of new modulation, including digital techniques, in the use of bands allocated to the broadcasting service. High-frequency broadcasters advocate skipping the heretofore- planned change from double sideband (DSB) to single sideband (SSB) analogue and developing digital modulation techniques. The probable effect is additional pressure to expand the HF broadcasting bands to accommodate both analogue DSB and digital transmissions at least for a multi-year migration period. In practice, it may not be possible to eliminate DSB transmissions because of the large number of DSB receivers. Another related WRC-2003 agenda item, 1.36, is to determine the adequacy of broadcasting allocations from about 4 MHz to 10 MHz.

10100 -- 10150 kHz

The amateur service seeks expansion of the present secondary allocation of 10100 -- 10150 kHz to a primary allocation of 10100 -- 10350 kHz.

The band 10100 -- 10150 kHz was newly allocated to the amateur service at WARC-79, on a secondary basis. It is the only HF allocation to the amateur service on a secondary basis. The amateur service has been exceedingly careful to provide protection to the fixed service, which has the allocation on a primary basis. Harmful interference has been avoided by discouraging competitive activities and by avoiding telephony operation, which might cause congestion.

Even with these restrictions, the band has proven highly popular to operators in the amateur service because it provides an essential "bridge" between the 7-MHz and the 14-MHz bands during changing propagation conditions.

The minimum requirements of the amateur service would best be met by a primary allocation of 250 kHz bandwidth, such as the band 10100 -- 10350 kHz.

14000 -- 14350 kHz

The growth of the amateur service and its heavy dependence on this band for international communication using CW, SSB, and digital modes justifies a return to an allocation of 14000 -- 14400 kHz.

This band is undoubtedly the most popular amateur band for international communications. It bears an extremely heavy load of both CW and SSB traffic. In recent years, amateurs have found it increasingly difficult to accommodate the newer digital modes within the 14-MHz allocation, thereby limiting the contribution of the amateur service to the experimentation with new techniques.

At the Washington Conference of 1927 this allocation was established at 14000 -- 14400 kHz, but at the Atlantic City Conference of 1947 it was reduced by 50 kHz, to 14000 -- 14350 kHz.

18068 -- 18168 kHz

The growing needs of the amateur service would best be addressed by an exclusive allocation of 250 kHz in this vicinity.

The band 18068 -- 18168 kHz was allocated to the amateur service at WARC-79, but full implementation was delayed for some ten years pending the re-accommodation of fixed service stations. Now, most ITU member administrations permit their amateurs to use this allocation. It has proven to be very popular with operators who wish to avoid the congestion in the 14-MHz band and who are flexible in selecting the best operating frequency for a given path. Monitoring indicates that amateur utilisation of this band is higher than the utilisation of adjacent bands by other services.

21000 -- 21450 kHz

Retention of this important allocation, which is only barely adequate for amateur service needs, is absolutely essential.

On the basis of congestion during daylight hours when the MUF exceeds 21 MHz, an expansion of this band by 50 kHz could be readily justified. However, in view of the greater importance of meeting other amateur service requirements that are as yet unfulfilled, such an expansion is not of the highest priority.

24890 -- 24990 kHz

The needs of the amateur and amateur-satellite services would be best served by an allocation of 250 kHz in this vicinity.

The band 24890 -- 24990 kHz was allocated to the amateur service at WARC-79, but full implementation was delayed for several years pending re-accommodation of fixed service stations. Now, most administrations permit amateurs to use this allocation. It has proven to be very popular, particularly at those times when the MUF is below the wider and extremely popular 28-MHz band. Monitoring indicates that amateur utilisation of this band is higher than the utilisation of adjacent bands by other services.

28.0 -- 29.7 MHz

Retention of this popular band is essential to the amateur and amateur-satellite services.

This allocation is extensively used for both terrestrial and satellite communications. Modes that cannot be accommodated on lower-frequency bands owing to their inherent bandwidths can be accommodated here, offering (under favourable propagation conditions) the only opportunity for international communication via these modes. While no additional terrestrial allocation is imperative at this time, retention is extremely important for absorbing growth in HF amateur service activity.

29.7 -- 50 MHz

The amateur service requires allocations to narrow bands between 30 and 50 MHz.

As land mobile services vacate the band 29.7 -- 50 MHz and migrate to higher frequencies, there appears to be an opportunity to gain shared allocations in this range for propagation experimentation, e.g., five, 50-kHz slots. The band 29.7 -- 30.0 MHz would be useful for expansion of amateur-satellite operations now occurring immediately below 29.7 MHz. Of particular interest is the ISM band centred at 40.68 MHz. Within the context of European harmonisation IARU Region 1 has sought access to this ISM band, initially for propagation research beacons, and has received some encouragement. The slots above 30 MHz would be useful for the amateur service, where this frequency range is well suited for meteor-scatter propagation.

50 -- 54 MHz

The amateur service requires retention of the exclusive 50-MHz allocation where it now exists, and provision of an allocation of at least 2 MHz in other geographic areas, with at least 500 kHz on an exclusive basis.

This band is used for local amateur communication on an around-the-clock basis, including radio control of objects. Tropospheric scatter and sky-wave propagation (principally sporadic-E and occasional F-layer propagation at sunspot maxima) are used for longer distances, as well as auroral propagation at the higher latitudes. Meteor scatter has been used for Morse code and voice communications primarily during meteor showers. Newer computer-based techniques make meteor scatter a routine propagation mode for distances up to 2000 km.

In Regions 2 and 3, and in some countries in Region 1, there is an allocation of 4 MHz to the amateur service. In some local areas, proximity to television broadcasting on frequencies limits the usefulness of some portions of the band.

In the CEPT process of European harmonisation, IARU Region 1 has achieved an amateur secondary allocation in the band 50 -- 52 MHz in the CEPT European Common Allocation Table (ECA). It has also achieved a CEPT-ERC statement in support of global harmonisation. Action by member-societies could be helpful in accelerating this process through achieving primary status nationally, as had already been accomplished in some countries.

144 -- 148 MHz

The amateur and amateur-satellite service seek retention of 144 -- 146 MHz as a worldwide exclusive allocation, with elimination of the existing footnotes that allow operation by other services in some countries; and retention of 146 -- 148 MHz in Regions 2 (exclusive) and 3.

The 144-MHz allocation is very heavily used by amateur stations throughout the world, employing a variety of modes. The band supports extensive terrestrial voice and data networks, as well as low-Earth-orbit amateur satellites. In many of the more populous areas, occupancy is so heavy that additional stations and new uses of the band cannot be satisfactorily accommodated. Experimentation such as Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication is popular in this band because of the relative absence of noise and the relative ease with which sensitive receiving equipment can be placed into service and maintained. Amateurs have observed propagation phenomena in this band that previously were unknown or were believed to be extremely rare at this order of frequency.

Once thought to be safe against commercial encroachment, except for some illegal use in certain countries, this band has been named a "candidate band" for possible allocation on a shared basis to commercial low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites in the mobile-satellite service (MSS). The IARU strongly opposes this and any other sharing, which would severely restrict opportunities for future amateur use of the band. The exclusivity of this band has also been confirmed by the CEPT countries.

220 -- 225 MHz

Retention of 220 -- 225 MHz as a primary, shared amateur band is vital to the amateurs in Region 2, and would be desirable in Regions 1 and 3 to alleviate congestion in other bands.

The characteristics of the band 220 -- 225 MHz are similar to those of the band 144 -- 148 MHz. However, because the band 144 -- 148 MHz is overcrowded in many areas, the 220-MHz band provides the only opportunity for the use of relatively broadband emissions by the amateur service in a primary VHF allocation. Wide bandwidths are required for efficient transmission of data at rapid rates, and for efficient time sharing of channels. Where allocated, the band is the best solution for the overcrowding of the amateur band 144 -- 148 MHz. Some characteristics of the band 220 -- 225 MHz are unique; for example, radio amateurs have observed the only recorded instances of sporadic-E propagation at this frequency.

420 -- 450 MHz

The amateur services require the establishment of the band 430 -- 440 MHz as a worldwide exclusive band, with continued sharing of 420 -- 430 MHz and 440 -- 450 MHz where now permitted. In addition, the deletion from the Radio Regulations of footnotes for fixed and mobile operation in some countries in the band 430 -- 440 MHz is sought.

This band is particularly important to the amateur services. It is the lowest frequency band in which amateurs can use conventional fast-scan television (6M00C3F emission), and other emissions with similar bandwidths. The band provides reliable local voice and data communication while at the same time affording opportunities for experimentation with various forms of tropospheric propagation and with Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication.

The amateur-satellite service relies heavily on the sub-band 435 -- 438 MHz, which presently is the only space-to-Earth amateur allocation between 146 MHz and 2.4 GHz. Because of the crowding of the existing band 435 -- 438 MHz with unmanned amateur satellites and manned space stations, it is desirable to expand the band to 435 -- 440 MHz when possible.

Because amateurs pursue so many different operating interests in this band, they must observe voluntary sharing arrangements among themselves based on frequency, time, and geography. Highly directive antenna arrays are practical for many applications, and facilitate sharing. However, sharing with other services can impose additional constraints that may severely limit amateur operation, depending on the nature of the other service. To facilitate international communication and experimentation, it is extremely desirable for both the amateur and the amateur-satellite service in all countries to have access to common, exclusive frequency allocations, free of interference from other services and from constraints designed to protect other services from interference. The introduction of additional low-power (unlicensed) short range device transmitters around 433 MHz should be opposed.

Parts of the band have already been studied as MSS candidate bands for allocation at recent WRCs. Administrations have objected to such use as being incompatible with government radiolocation operations in the band 420 -- 450 MHz.

In preparation for WRC-2003 agenda item 1.38, the band 420 -- 470 MHz has been studied in an attempt to accommodate the stated requirement of the earth exploration-satellite service (active) for up to 6 MHz of spectrum for spaceborne sensors capable of penetrating the canopy of forests. The IARU actively participated in this work. Studies indicate that this use would be incompatible with existing and planned amateur and (particularly) amateur-satellite operations.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) proponents are planning to use the bands 423.05 -- 430 MHz and 440 -- 450 MHz in Region 2 countries where these bands are not allocated to the amateur service. (See CITEL/PCC.III/REC.39 (X-98) concerning use of the band 440 -- 450 MHz for FWA.)

Frequencies between 450 MHz and 24 GHz

Between 450 MHz and 24 GHz, amateur allocations have evolved in the following manner. The 1947 Atlantic City Conference adopted worldwide, exclusive allocations for the amateur service in the bands 1215 -- 1300 MHz, 2300 -- 2450 MHz (shared in part with ISM), 5650 -- 5850 MHz (shared with ISM), and 10 -- 10.5 GHz, and exclusive allocations in Region 2 in the band 3300 -- 3500 MHz and the band 5850 -- 5925 MHz.

Subsequently, the radiolocation service was introduced into these bands and the amateur service was made secondary. Additional satellite and terrestrial sharing partners were introduced at subsequent WARCs. The band 1215 -- 1300 MHz was narrowed to 1240 -- 1300 MHz. The Amateur-Satellite Service gained access, on a non-interference or secondary basis, to portions of each of these bands. A new Region 2 secondary allocation in the band 902 -- 928 MHz was added.

Thus, while radio amateurs continue to have access to this portion of the spectrum, the international Table of Frequency Allocations between 450 MHz and 24 GHz does not provide automatically for common worldwide allocations for amateur uses, unlike the frequencies below and above this range.

902 -- 928 MHz

The amateur service seeks retention of the band 902 -- 928 MHz in Region 2 and upgrading the sub-band 902 -- 905 MHz to primary status.

This band is available only in Region 2. It is used for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications and is shared with other services (FIXED, Mobile except aeronautical and Radiolocation). While there are sharing problems in some locations, the band is a valuable resource, where available. New Zealand amateurs enjoy a temporary, domestic secondary allocation of 922 -- 927 MHz limited to 25 watts e.i.r.p.

1240 -- 1300 MHz

The amateur service seeks retention of the band 1240 -- 1300 MHz and upgrading the 1260 -- 1300 MHz segment to primary status. The amateur-satellite service seeks retention of the band 1260 -- 1270 MHz and deletion of the "Earth-to-space only" restriction.

WRC-2000 allocated the band 1240 -- 1300 MHz to the radiodetermination-satellite service for space-to-space use. In addition, WRC-2000 allocated the band 1260 -- 1300 MHz to the radiodetermination-satellite service for space-to-Earth use such as for the European Galileo positioning system. These do not change the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Service allocations but present new sharing situations.

2300 -- 2450 MHz

The amateur service requires retention of access to the band 2300 -- 2450 MHz and upgrading where possible the band 2390 -- 2450 MHz to primary status, and the amateur-satellite service requires retention of the band 2400 -- 2450 MHz.

The band 2300 -- 2450 MHz is allocated to the amateur service on a secondary basis in all three Regions. Actions by WARC-92 and certain administrations in their domestic allocations have reduced the amount of spectrum within this band available to the amateur service. The band 2400 -- 2500 MHz is used for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications and is increasingly being used for (unlicensed) low power devices such as radio local area networks (RLANs) and cordless telephones.

The USA administration has upgraded the amateur service allocation to primary status in the bands 2390 -- 2400 MHz and 2402 -- 2417 MHz. An ARRL petition for the USA administration to upgrade the band 2400 -- 2402 MHz to primary status is pending. The Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) is seeking similar upgrades.

3300-3500 MHz

The amateur service seeks the retention of the secondary allocations of the band 3300 -- 3500 MHz in Regions 2 and 3, and a secondary allocation of the band 3400 -- 3500 MHz throughout Region 1. Further, the amateur service seeks upgrading the allocation status of the sub-band 3400 -- 3410 MHz to primary. The amateur-satellite service seeks to retain its bi-directional (Earth-to-space and space-to-Earth) allocation of the band 3400 -- 3410 MHz in Regions 2 and 3, and to expand this allocation to Region 1.

CEPT DSI Phase I established an amateur service secondary allocation at 3400 -- 3500 MHz. In addition, the following footnote was adopted by the CEPT (numbering of CEPT footnotes is subject to change):

EU17: In the sub-bands 3400 -- 3410 MHz, 5660 -- 5670 MHz, 10.36 -- 10.37 GHz and 10.45 -- 10.46 GHz the amateur service operates on a secondary basis. In making assignments to other services, CEPT administrations are requested wherever possible to maintain these sub-bands in such a way as to facilitate the reception of amateur emissions with minimal power flux densities.

In effect, EU17 encourages administrations to afford some consideration to amateur weak-signal operations in the band sub-band 3400 -- 3410 MHz, among others.

There is a major effort by the telecommunications industry to promote the band 3400 -- 3800 MHz for FWA applications, which could affect amateur uses of the band. Radiolocation interests oppose FWA applications of this band. (CEPT/ERC/REC 14-03 applies to the band 3.41 -- 3.6 GHz.) (See also CITEL/PCC.III/REC 26 (VI-96).)

5650 -- 5925 MHz

The amateur service seeks the retention of at least secondary allocations of the band 5650 -- 5850 MHz in all Regions and upgrade to primary status in the bands 5650 -- 5670 MHz and 5830 -- 5850 MHz. The amateur service seeks the retention of the band 5850 -- 5925 MHz on a secondary basis in Region 2.

The amateur-satellite service seeks to retain access to the band 5650 -- 5670 MHz in the Earth-to-space direction and 5830 -- 5850 MHz in the space-to-Earth direction.

(See CEPT footnote EU17, above, as it applies to the band 5660 -- 5670 MHz.)

An additional CEPT footnote applies:

EU23: In the sub-bands 5660 -- 5670 MHz (Earth to space), 5830 -- 5850 MHz (space to Earth) and 10.45 -- 10.50 GHz the amateur-satellite service operates on a secondary and non-interference basis to other services. In making assignments to other services, CEPT administrations are requested wherever possible to maintain these allocations in such a way as to facilitate the reception of amateur emissions with minimal power flux densities.

At the present time, 5760 -- 5762 MHz is the segment used for amateur weak-signal work.

The ITU is studying use of parts of the 5 -- 6 GHz band for radio local area network (RLAN) use, mostly low-power unlicensed systems used indoors where wall attenuation could reduce interference to users of the spectrum. CEPT has already allocated parts of the 5 GHz band to the mobile service on a primary basis for use by wireless access systems including RLANs. Under agenda item 1.5, WRC-2003 will consider allocations to the 5 GHz band.

10 -- 10.5 GHz

The amateur service seeks to retain at least secondary allocation status in the band 10 -- 10.5 GHz and an upgrade to primary status the sub-band 10.35 -- 10.45 GHz. The amateur-satellite service seeks to retain access to the band 10.45 -- 10.5 GHz and upgrade its status to primary.

(See CEPT footnotes EU17 and EU23, above.)

FWA proponents are planning to use the band 10.15 -- 10.3 GHz paired with 10.5 -- 10.65 GHz. (See CEPT/ERC/REC 14-03 and 12-05.)

At WRC-2000, eight Region 2 countries (not including the USA or Canada) added fixed and mobile allocations to the band 10 -- 10.45 GHz, and in seven Region 2 countries (again not including USA or Canada) to the band 10.45 -- 10.5 GHz. These changes have the effect of bringing these allocations for many Region 2 countries in harmony with the Table of Allocations for Regions 1 and 3.

Frequencies above 24 GHz

In the range 24 -- 275 GHz, the general pattern is for a narrow, exclusive allocation to the two amateur services to be adjacent to a wider allocation shared with other services. This pattern allows amateurs worldwide to pursue their experimental activities within a common frequency allocation, while providing administrations with the flexibility to tailor the width of the amateur allocation and the conditions of sharing in the light of national requirements.

Radio astronomers and other passive science services have developed new spectrum requirements that take into account certain spectral lines (frequencies related to specific elements) and absorption windows (frequencies that are more transparent to radio signals than those above and below).

24 -- 24.05 GHz

The amateur services seek to retain their primary allocations in the band 24 -- 24.05 GHz.

24.05 -- 24.25 GHz

The amateur service seeks to retain its secondary allocation in the band 24.05 -- 24.25 GHz.

47 -- 47.2 GHz

The amateur services seek to retain their primary allocations in the band 47 -- 47.2 GHz.

Frequencies between 71 and 275 GHz

The following table is a comparison of amateur allocations before and after WRC-2000 and new allocations. (Capital letters signify primary allocations. Lower case designates secondary allocations.)

Bands (GHz)	Former Amateur Allocations	New Amateur Allocations
75.5-76	AMATEUR AMATEUR-SATELLITE Space research (space-to-Earth)	A new footnote permits the amateur services to use the band 75.5-76 GHz until 2006.
76-77.5	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite	RADIO ASTRONOMY RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite
77.5-78	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite Space research (space-to-Earth)	AMATEUR AMATEUR-SATELLITE Radio astronomy Space research (space-to-Earth)
78-79	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite Space research (space-to-Earth)	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite Radio astronomy Space research (space-to-Earth)
79-81	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite Space research (space-to-Earth)	RADIO ASTRONOMY RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite Space research (space-to-Earth)
81-81.5		A new footnote allocates this band to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a secondary basis.

119.98-120.02

FIXED EARTH EXPLORATION- SATELLITE (passive) INTER-SATELLITE MOBILE SPACE RESEARCH (passive) Amateur

122.25-123

FIXED INTER-SATELLITE MOBILE Amateur

134-136	AMATEUR AMATEUR-SATELLITE Radio astronomy
136-141	RADIO ASTRONOMY RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite
142-144	AMATEUR AMATEUR-SATELLITE
144-149	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite

241-248	RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite	RADIO ASTRONOMY RADIOLOCATION Amateur Amateur-satellite
248-250	AMATEUR AMATEUR-SATELLITE	AMATEUR AMATEUR-SATELLITE Radio astronomy

The Amateur Services seek to retain the above new allocations or equivalent spectrum.

Frequencies above 275 GHz

WRC-2000 extended the mandate of the ITU Radio Regulations from 275 -- 400 GHz to 275 -- 1000 GHz but did not make any specific allocations to radiocommunication services. However, the conference revised a footnote listing bands above 275 GHz used by passive services that should be avoided by active radiocommunication services. In addition, WRC-2000 adopted preliminary agenda item 2.3 for WRC-07 to review studies and consider allocations in the frequency bands above 275 GHz. The 2002 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference extended the mandate of the ITU to allocate much higher frequencies and studies have begun on frequencies up to 375 THz.

In order to continue with their activities, the amateur services will require allocations of sufficient bandwidth to permit experimentation spaced throughout the range 275 -- 1000 GHz. Studies of amateur services' requirements in this range should be completed in preparation for WRC-2006. The radio astronomy service has indicated a desire to share with the amateur services in this range.

The amateur services seek to obtain not less than 75 GHz of spectrum in the band 275 -- 1000 GHz in order to provide for future development of the amateur services utilising new technologies.

Analysis of attenuation due to gasses and precipitation through the atmosphere indicates that the following bands are better choices than others for the amateur services.

Better bands	Attenuation
(GHz)	(dB/km)
275 -- 300	6
355 -- 400	10
490 -- 510	10
690 - 710	50
800 - 850	50

The following are the bands preferred for the amateur and amateur-satellite services because they are within the better bands identified above and are free of other radio-frequency lines of the greatest importance to the radio astronomy service. Primary allocations within these bands appears feasible, and the bands from 510 GHz and below are the most ideal for the amateur services, based on atmospheric attenuation, and where the bulk of the allocations within these bands is preferred.

Preferred bands for the amateur services (GHz)	Available bandwidth (GHz)
280 -- 294	14
358 -- 363	5
365 -- 371	6
389 -- 400	11
493 -- 496	3
506 -- 510	4
692 -- 710	18
810 -- 850	40

The ITU has begun studies of frequency bands above 3000 GHz (3 THz), considered the beginning of the optical spectrum.

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