[600MRG] FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters

[Ralph Wallio, W0RPK]

FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters

http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-to-permit-amateur-access-to-2200-and-630-meters

04/28/2015

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.