SB QST @ ARL $ARLB016   
   ARLB016 FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters   
      
   ZCZC AG16   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 16  ARLB016   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  April 29, 2015   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB016   
   ARLB016 FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters   
      
   Amateur Radio is poised to gain access to two new bands! The FCC has   
   allocated a new LF band, 135.7 to 137.8 kHz, to the Amateur Service   
   on a secondary basis. Allocation of the 2.1 kHz segment, known as   
   2200 meters, was in accordance with the Final Acts of the 2007 World   
   Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). The Commission also has   
   proposed a new secondary 630 meter MF allocation at 472 to 479 kHz   
   to Amateur Radio, implementing decisions made at WRC-12. No Amateur   
   Radio operation will be permitted in either band until the FCC   
   determines, on the basis of comments, the specific Part 97 rules it   
   must frame to permit operation in the new bands. Amateur Radio would   
   share both allocations with unlicensed Part 15 power line carrier   
   (PLC) systems operated by utilities to control the power grid, as   
   well as with other users.   
      
   In addition, the FCC has raised the secondary Amateur Service   
   allocation at 1900 to 2000 kHz to primary, while providing for   
   continued use by currently unlicensed commercial fishing vessels of   
   radio buoys on the "open sea."   
      
   The allocation changes, associated proposed rules, and suggested   
   topics for comment are contained in a 257-page FCC Report and Order,   
   Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing three dockets -   
   ET-12-338, ET-15-99, and IB-06-123 - which affect various radio   
   services in addition to the Amateur Service. The FCC released the   
   document on April 27.   
      
   With respect to the new LF sliver band at 135.7-137.8 kHz, the FCC   
   concluded that Amateur Radio and PLC systems can coexist there.   
   "Since the Commission last considered this issue, amateurs have   
   successfully operated in the band under experimental licenses   
   without reported PLC interference," the FCC said. "We are also   
   encouraged by the fact that numerous fixed radionavigation beacons,   
   which operate at much higher powers, share spectrum with PLC systems   
   without reported interference."   
      
   In 2003 the FCC turned down an ARRL proposal to create a 135.7-137.8   
   kHz Amateur Radio allocation, after utilities raised fears of a   
   clash between Amateur Radio and PLC systems operating below the AM   
   broadcast band. This time, the FCC said, "It is clear that we will   
   have to establish appropriate requirements for amateur use of the   
   band, if we are to ensure compatibility with PLC systems." WRC-07   
   set a maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) limit of 1   
   W, which is what the FCC is proposing.   
      
   The FCC said it "explicitly" rejects the suggestion that it choose   
   one use of the spectrum over the other. "Our objective is to   
   allocate spectrum on a secondary basis to amateur stations in a   
   manner...compatible with existing PLC systems," the FCC said.   
   "However, we also expect to permit amateur operators to make use of   
   the allocation in a manner that is less burdensome and more   
   productive than they are currently afforded under the experimental   
   authorization process."   
      
   The Commission said that if it concludes, after considering the   
   record, that Amateur Radio and PLC systems cannot coexist, it would   
   "defer the adoption of service rules, and amateur users will have to   
   continue to use the experimental licensing process to operate in the   
   band."   
      
   With respect to the proposed 630 meter allocation, the FCC has   
   proposed limiting amateur stations in the US to a maximum 5 W EIRP.   
   In the US, 435-495 kHz is allocated to the Maritime Mobile Service   
   on a primary basis for federal and non-federal use, and to the   
   aeronautical radionavigation service on a secondary basis for   
   federal use.   
      
   The ARRL submitted a Petition for Rule Making in 2012 asking the FCC   
   to allocate 472-479 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis   
   and to amend the Part 97 rules to provide for its use. Several   
   countries, including Canada, already have access to the band. The   
   ARRL has pointed out that during its extensive course of   
   experimentation in the spectrum around 500 kHz, no interference   
   reports have been received.   
      
   The FCC said that the "cornerstone" of the technical rules it's   
   proposing for both bands is "physical separation between amateur   
   stations and the transmission lines" carrying PLC signals. "Such a   
   separation, in conjunction with limits on the amateur stations'   
   transmitted EIRP and antenna heights, will enable PLC systems and   
   amateur stations to coexist in these bands," the FCC asserted. "In   
   addition, we propose to limit amateur stations to operations at   
   fixed locations only, to ensure that this separation distance can be   
   maintained reliably."   
      
   The FCC said it wants to hear from both PLC system users and radio   
   amateurs regarding technical requirements it would have to put into   
   place to permit both users to operate comfortably and without   
   compromising the PLC systems. The Commission suggested that other   
   requirements might include limits on antenna heights, transmitter   
   power limits, and operating privilege limits based on license class   
   or mode. The ARRL will file comments in the proceeding.   
      
   The FCC will accept comments for 60 days following publication of   
   the Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in   
   the Federal Register. Reply comments would be due 30 days after the   
   comment deadline.   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
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