We may be seeing more radiolocation signals in the 1900-2000 kHz segment.
See the following ET Docket No. 02-16 REPORT AND ORDER. Thanks to WB6TZA and
AA1K for bringing this to our attention. A few years ago there were
half-dozen or so radiolocation beacons in the segment. One by one, they have
fallen silent, and now the only remaining one is on 1953.3 kc/s, plus a very
weak one sometimes heard on 1999, possibly located outside the USA.
While this docket deals primarily with HF broadcasting matters, it addresses
the possible reallocation of new radiolocation stations to 1900-2000, and
contains the latest table of HF allocations. The entire dockment in
Micro$oft Word format may be viewed at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-39A1.doc
It is lengthy, but makes interesting reading in its entirety. The excerpts
below deal with the reallocation of radiolocation stations still licensed to
operate in the expanded AM band, and the possible impact on 1900-2000.
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Amendment of Parts 2, 73, 74, 80, 90, and 97 of the Commissions Rules to
Implement Decisions from World Radiocommunication Conferences Concerning
Frequency Bands Below 28000 kHz
ET Docket No. 02-16REPORT AND ORDER
Adopted: February 25, 2003 Released: March 3, 2003
By the Commission:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraph
I. INTRODUCTION
II. DISCUSSION
A. International Broadcast Stations
B. AM Expanded Band
C. Continued Use of the Frequencies 26110 kHz, 26130 kHz, 26150 kHz, and
26170 kHz by Broadcast Auxiliary Remote Pickup Stations
D. Maritime Services
E. Aeronautical Fixed Service
F. Amateur Service
APPENDIX B: FINAL RULES
I. INTRODUCTION
1. By this action, we are amending Parts 2, 73, 74, 80, 90, and 97 of our
Rules to implement domestically various allocation decisions from
International Telecommunication Union ("ITU") World Radiocommunication
Conferences1 concerning the frequency bands below 28000 kilohertz ("kHz").
This proceeding was initiated on our own motion and in response to a request
from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
to implement international allocation changes that had not previously been
addressed.
2. The most significant action taken here is the reallocation of several
bands of high frequency ("HF") spectrum from the fixed and mobile services
to the broadcasting service. Specifically, we are making an additional 1640
kilohertz of spectrum available exclusively for use by international
broadcast stations, with 850 kilohertz immediately available and the
remainder available after a transition period that ends April 1, 2007. Until
the completion of the transition period, fixed and mobile stations will be
allowed to continue to operate on a primary basis; after that date, these
stations will be allowed to continue to operate on the condition that
"harmful interference" is not caused to the broadcasting service.
In
addition, we are updating the Commissions rules for international broadcast
stations (Part 73, Subpart F) in order to add the new frequency bands and to
otherwise conform to international regulations.
3. We are also making various minor amendments to the United States Table of
Frequency Allocations ("U.S. Table") and to several of our service rules.
First, we are clarifying the status of land mobile and radiolocation
services operating in the AM Expanded Band (1605-1705 kHz), particularly, by
removing service rules for allocations that are no longer available. We are
also permitting stations in the Part 90 Industrial/Business Pool of the
private land mobile service and radiolocation service that are assigned
frequencies in the band 1605-1705 kHz to continue to operate until the end
of their current license term on a non-interference basis ("NIB") to AM
radio stations and travelers' information stations ("TIS"), without an
opportunity for renewal... The actions herein will update our Rules for
frequency bands below 28000 kHz so that they are more consistent with
international regulations, update various rule parts to effect the
allocation changes, and otherwise update rules that have not recently been
reviewed. ONLY ONE COMMENT WAS FILED (emphasis ours), and it supported
certain aspects of the Notice.
II. DISCUSSION
(snip paragraphs related to HF broadcasting)
B. AM Expanded Band
16. In 1983, the Commission began a process to improve and revitalize the AM
broadcast radio service that included the expansion of its available
frequencies from 535-1605 kHz to include the 1605-1705 kHz band (AM
Expanded Band). At that time, the primary fixed, land mobile, maritime
mobile, aeronautical radionavigation, and radiolocation allocations were
deleted from the band 1605-1705 kHz. However, the service rules for these
operations, which reference frequencies in this band, were inadvertently
left in place. Therefore, in the Notice, the Commission proposed further
changes to its Rules to clear the AM Expanded Band for broadcast operations.
17. Specifically, the Commission proposed to remove the frequency references
to the band 1605-1705 kHz from Parts 74 and 90 of the Rules. In conjunction
with this proposal, the Commission froze non-TIS mobile authorizations in
this band. It also proposed to delete the secondary status radiolocation
service from this band in the U.S. Table and remove related service rules
from Part 90. While our Rules have allowed requests by radiolocation
stations operating in the band 1605-1705 kHz to be relocated to the band
1900-2000 kHz, two non-U.S. Government radiolocation licensees continue to
operate in this lower spectrum. In the Notice, the Commission proposed to
permit non-U.S. industrial/Business Pool mobile and radiolocation stations
in this band to continue operation until the end of their current license
term on a non-interference basis (NIB) to AM and TIS stations, without an
opportunity for renewal. It also proposed a transition plan for Federal
radiolocation operations in this band to protect AM radio and TIS reception.
These proposals were intended to open the AM Expanded Band for increased
domestic broadcast use, protect the technical integrity of the AM Expanded
Band, and minimize the impact on services being removed from the band.
18. We find that the public interest would be served by adopting the
proposals for this band to provide additional cleared spectrum for the AM
broadcast service to improve the technical integrity of the service and to
remove conflicting regulations from our Rules. We also note that no
commenting party addressed our proposals for the AM Expanded Band. As
proposed in the Notice, we are removing obsolete service rules and frequency
references for Parts 74 and 90 in this band in order to prevent incompatible
frequency authorizations. We are
taking this action in follow-up to the Commissions deletion of the land
mobile allocation from the band 1605-1705 kHz in 1983, in which frequencies
within this band were inadvertently left in place in Parts 74 and 90 of our
Rules. Specifically, we are removing the frequencies 1606 kHz, 1622 kHz, and
1646 kHz from Section 74.402(a)(1); the frequency 1630 kHz from Section
90.20(c)(3); the frequencies 1614 kHz, 1628 kHz, 1652 kHz, 1676 kHz, and
1700 kHz from Section 90.35(b)(3); and the band 1605-1705 kHz from Section
90.263. Consistent with our action removing frequencies 1606 kHz, 1622 kHz,
and 1646 kHz from Section 74.402(a)(1), we are also eliminating all
references to those frequencies from Sections 74.402(a) and 74.402(e)(1) and
Section 74.462(b). As proposed in the Notice, mobile TIS stations will
continue to be authorized throughout the AM Expanded Band as specified in
Part 90 and U.S. Government TIS stations operating on 1610 kHz will have
primary status.
19. While there are currently no Public Safety or remote pickup licensees
operating in the AM Expanded Band, four Industrial/Business Pool and two
non-U.S. Government radiolocation licensees operate in this band. As
proposed, we are permitting these currently licensed stations to continue to
operate on a non-interference basis to AM radio and TIS stations, until the
end of their current license term with no provision for renewal. If we
determine that any of the stations in the Industrial/Business Pool or
radiolocation service is causing interference to either an AM radio or TIS
station, we will require that Industrial/Business or radiolocation station
to immediately cease transmission. We find that there is sufficient
alternative spectrum to meet the needs of licensees affected by this change
and the Commissions staff will work with those licensees to help them find
suitable alternative channels if the licensee desires. Also, no application
fee will be charged to licensees of affected stations that apply for a
modification to obtain alternative channels before the end of their license
term.
20. In order to protect the technical integrity of the AM Expanded Band, we
are deleting from the U.S. Table the U.S. Government and non-U.S. Government
secondary radiolocation allocation in the band 1605-1705 kHz. We find that
these radiolocation operations can be relocated to the band 1900-2000 kHz
without significant impact to current operations. Consistent with this
action, we are removing the band 1605-1705 kHz from the Radiolocation
Service Frequency Table in Section 90.103 of our Rules and deleting unneeded
assignment limitations. Finally, we have had discussions with NTIA
concerning the U.S. Governments radiolocation assignments in the sub-band
1615-1705 kHz. NTIA has agreed to relocate all U.S. Government stations
currently operating in the AM Expanded Band. NTIA has also agreed to
relocate all of these assignments within one year of the adoption date of
this Report and Order. We are allowing these U.S. Government radiolocation
stations to continue to operate during this one-year transition period on
the condition that harmful interference is not caused to AM or TIS stations.
Consistent with our agreement with NTIA, we are modifying footnote US238, as
follows, to remove the secondary radiolocation allocation and allow U.S.
Government radiolocation service to operate for one year:
US238 On the condition that harmful interference is not caused to the
reception of AM broadcast stations or to travelers information stations,
U.S. Government stations in the band 1615-1705 kHz may continue operations
until February 25, 2004.
(snipped paragraphs relating to other services)
19. Section 90.103 is amended by revising the table in paragraph (b), by
revising paragraph (c)(4), and by removing paragraphs (28) and (29).
§ 90.103 Radiolocation Service.
(b) Frequencies available. * * *
RADIOLOCATION SERVICE FREQUENCY TABLE
Frequency or Band Class of station(s) Limitation
Kilohertz
70 to 90
.. Radiolocation land or mobile 1
90 to 110
Radiolocation land
2
110 to 130
.. Radiolocation land or mobile 1
1705 to 1715
..
.do..
4, 5, 6
1715 to 1750
..
.do..
5, 6
1750 to 1800
..
.do..
5, 6, 7
* * *
(c) * * * * *
(4) The non-Federal Government radiolocation service in this band is on a
secondary basis to stations in
the aeronautical radionavigation service operating on 1708 kHz.
* * * * *
(28) [Reserved]
(29) [Reserved]
* * * * *
20. Section 90.263 is amended by revising the third sentence to read as
follows:
§ 90.263 Substitution of frequencies below 25 MHz.
* * * In such cases, a substitute frequency, if found to be available, may
be assigned from the following
bands: 1705-1750 kHz, 2107-2170 kHz, 2194-2495 kHz, 2506-2850 kHz, 3155-3400
kHz, or 4438-4650 kHz. * * *
* * * * *
PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
21. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows:
AUTHORITY: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303. Interpret or
apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068,
1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted.
22. Section 97.401 is amended by removing paragraph (b) and by redesignating
paragraphs (c) and (d) as (b) and
(c), respectively.
(end of text)
Don K4KYV
_________________________________________________________________
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