Topband: 160M allocations in Region 1

[Pete Smith]

Bandplans aside, the ITU Radio Regulations indicate that there are some 
pretty severe regulatory restrictions in Region 1 on the use of 160M by 
amateurs.  I wonder how real the need for these is, particularly as 
LORAN is phasing out.

Footnote 5.100 of the ITU allocation table is perplexing to me.  It says:

" In Region 1, the authorization to use the band 1 810-1 830 kHz by the 
amateur service in countries situated totally or partially north of 40° 
N shall be given only after consultation with the countries mentioned in 
Nos. 5.98 and 5.99 to define the necessary steps to be taken to prevent 
harmful interference between amateur stations and stations of other 
services operating in accordance with Nos. 5.98 and 5.99."

Why 40 degrees north?  It takes little imagination to see that this 
consultation requirement imposes a very substantial drag on efforts to 
free up 160-meter frequencies for ham use, because there are a lot of 
countries listed in those footnotes, and they are truly a motley group.

"5.98      Alternative allocation:  in Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Congo (Rep. of the), Denmark, 
Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, the Russian Federation, Georgia, 
Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldova, the Syrian Arab 
Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey 
and Ukraine, the band 1 810-1 830 kHz is allocated to the fixed and 
mobile, except aeronautical mobile, services on a primary 
basis.     (WRC-03)

5.99      Additional allocation:  in Saudi Arabia, Austria, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Iraq, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Uzbekistan, Slovakia, 
Romania, Serbia and Montenegro. Slovenia, Chad, and Togo, the band 
1 810-1 830 kHz is also allocated to the fixed and mobile, except 
aeronautical mobile, services on a primary basis. (WRC-03)"

-- 
73, Pete N4ZR

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