Agenda item 1.23

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Agenda item 1.23 Amateur service secondary
allocation

• Presenter Dale Hughes

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Agenda item 1.23

• to consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in
  parts of the band 415-526.5 kHz to the amateur
  service on a secondary basis, taking into account
  the need to protect existing services
• Why?
• Sufficiently different characteristics to
  adjacent amateur service allocations at 137 kHz
  1.8 MHz to fill a gap.

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Australia's position going into WRC-12

• Allocation was supported
• Existing users (NDBs) must be protected from
  harmful interference.
• Protection measures for existing users were
  agreed.
• Due to incumbent users a subset of the band was
  the most likely outcome so either WRC method
  was acceptable.

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Progress during WRC-12 1

• At first, very slow progress at Sub Working Group
  level.
• General agreement between the affirmative side
  about frequency band limits, but
• Strong opposition from a number of countries to
  any allocation with delaying tactics employed to
  prevent any progress.

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Progress during WRC-12 2

• A drafting group was formed to develop a
  document that contained both positions.
• Again more argument and delaying tactics
• Change of CEPT and APG positions meant progress,
  but reduced bandwidth.
• Power limits and geographic spacing limits
  suggested, resisted accepted.

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Progress during WRC-12 3

• No consensus at Sub Working Group level.
• Elevated to Com4 level and passed after
  discussion.
• Attempt by one administration at plenary to
  impose very restrictive protection measures
  overcome.
• Affirmative position accepted and passed by
  plenary session.

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Outcome

• WRC outcome is in line with the original
  Australian position
• A new secondary allocation for the amateur
  service between 472 and 479 kHz
• 5 W e.i.r.p. limit and other protection measures.

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Future impact

• Will allow the amateur service to develop skills
  and expertise at medium frequencies.
• Will enhance capability for disaster relief and
  emergency communications.
• Provide opportunity for
• research and development of new communications
  modes to cope with weak signals and high noise
  levels,
• research of propagation characteristics.

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Thanks go to

• The ACMA for
• their leadership, organization and support
  activities at WRC-12 and the community
  participation process in the WRC preparatory
  phase.
• The Wireless Institute of Australia for its
  untiring support of the amateur radio service.
• The WRC delegates and ARSG members for their
  support and enthusiasm.
• Acknowledging the late Mr. Keith Malcolm.