SB QST @ ARL $ARLB034   
   ARLB034 World Radiocommunication Conference Approves Global 60 Meter   
   Allocation!   
      
   ZCZC AG34   
   QST de W1AW   
   ARRL Bulletin 34  ARLB034   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington CT  November 19, 2015   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB034   
   ARLB034 World Radiocommunication Conference Approves Global 60 Meter   
   Allocation!   
      
   The Plenary Meeting of the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15)   
   in Geneva has approved an allocation of 5351.5-5366.5 kHz to the Amateur   
   Service on a secondary basis with a power limit of 15 W effective isotropic   
   radiated power (EIRP). The November 18 decision on Agenda Item 1.4 was adopted   
   on two back-to-back readings. Some Region 2 countries, but not the US, will be   
   permitted up to 25 W EIRP. With this action, and despite conditions that are   
   more restrictive than had been hoped at the start of the Conference, the   
   Amateur Service has obtained its first new global HF allocation since 1979.   
   The new band will not become available until and unless the FCC adopts the   
   Acts of the Conference and establishes operating rules. Until then, the five   
   discrete channels will remain in place.   
      
   The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) team in Geneva is now focusing   
   its efforts on tweaking the agenda for WRC-19. It is likely, but not certain,   
   that the agenda will include an effort to   
   harmonize the Amateur Radio allocation at 50 MHz. A proposed agenda item to   
   align the 160 meter allocation in Region 1 with the rest of the world is no   
   longer under active consideration.   
      
   The WRC-19 agenda will also likely pose spectrum defense challenges, including   
   the possible consideration of the 144 MHz and 430 MHz Amateur Radio   
   allocations for sharing with the space operations   
   service, and the possible consideration of one or more bands above 10 GHz for   
   5G smartphone use. The bounds of these potential defensive items, however, are   
   still under discussion.   
      
   The IARU team continues to monitor several other WRC-15 items that appear to   
   be headed toward acceptable conclusions. WRC-15 continues through the signing   
   of the Final Acts on November 27.   
      
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   "So let me ask you a question about this brave new world of yours. When you've   
   killed all the bad guys, and when it's all perfect, and just and fair, and   
   when you have finally got it exactly the way you want it, what are you going   
   to do with the people like you? The trouble makers. How are you going to   
   protect your glorious revolution from the next one?"   
   - The twelfth Doctor   
      
   ... Friends don't let friends drink and drive!   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)