[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15382-15386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8385]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 2 and 97
[ET Docket No. 93-40; FCC 96-25]
Allocation of the 219-220 MHz Band for Use by the Amateur Radio
Service
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; petition for reconsideration.
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SUMMARY: By this Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O), the Commission
addresses the Petition for Reconsideration (Petition), filed by Fred
Daniel d/b/a Orion Telecom (Orion). Orion's Petition requests that the
Commission rescind the 219-220 MHz allocation to the Amateur Radio
Service or, alternatively, modify the rules to provide additional
protection for Automated Maritime Telecommunications Systems (AMTS)
operations. This MO&O affirms the Commission's decision to allocate the
219-220 MHz band to the Amateur Radio Service on a secondary basis; and
also amends the amateur rules to reflect the frequency upon which the
AMTS stations operate. Finally, the MO&O updates and corrects the Table
of Frequency Allocations.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 8, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Derenge (202) 418-2451,
[[Page 15383]]
Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications
Commission, Washington, DC 20554.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's MO&O
adopted January 25, 1996, and released March 22, 1996. The complete
MO&O is available for inspection and copying during normal business
hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., and also may be purchased from the Commission's
duplication contractor, International Transcription Service, (202) 857-
3800, 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, Washington DC 20037.
Summary of MO&O
1. In its Petition, Orion argues that the Commission should rescind
the allocation, even on a secondary basis, of the 219-220 MHz band to
the Amateur Radio Service because the exclusion distance of 80 km
between AMTS and amateur operations, adopted in the Report and Order
(R&O), 60 FR 15686, March 27, 1995, is insufficient to protect primary
AMTS operations from harmful amateur interference. In denying the
petition, the Commission determined that it is appropriate and
desirable to provide a secondary allocation for amateur point-to-point
fixed digital message forwarding systems at 219-220 MHz. The Commission
states that the 80 km exclusion distance, 640 km notification distance,
and other interference safeguards adopted in the R&O are sufficient to
protect AMTS operations from potential interference caused by amateur
operations. As stated in the R&O, these distances were derived as a
result of technical studies and a consensus between the American Radio
Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) and Waterway Communications Systems, Inc., an
AMTS provider. Additionally, the Commission points out that Orion
failed to provide any technical showing that the regulations adopted in
the R&O are not sufficient to protect AMTS operations from amateur
interference.
2. In the event the allocation is not rescinded, Orion requests
that the governing rules be amended to provide better protection for
AMTS operations. Specifically, it requests that the rules provide
interference protection to remote receivers, which may be located
several miles from their coast stations. Additionally, Orion requests
that the Commission's rules require amateur operations in the 219-220
MHz band to use interference avoidance techniques such as directional
antennas, frequency separation, and cross polarization of signals.
Orion also states that although the text of the R&O provides that
amateurs must immediately either resolve any interference to AMTS
licensees or else cease operation, Part 97 failed to include that
requirement. Orion argues that amateur equipment used in the 219-220
MHz band should be type accepted in order to ensure that amateur
operators use high quality equipment that will not interfere with
commercial spectrum users. Additionally, Orion requests that the
amateur rules specify the bands of AMTS operation to aid amateur
operators in locating AMTS coast stations.
3. Finally, Orion argues that the required notification to AMTS
licensees by amateur operators should contain the specific technical
parameters of the proposed amateur operation. In particular, Orion
states that the notification should include: 1) the center frequency of
the proposed amateur channel, 2) the effective radiated power in the
direction of the AMTS station, 3) a plot of the horizontal radiation
pattern for the proposed antenna, 4) the height of the proposed antenna
above ground, 5) the height of the proposed antenna above average
terrain, 6) a description of the proposed emission, and 7) a telephone
number at which the amateur operator can be reached at any time during
the amateur's operation in the band. Orion states that this information
is necessary to enable amateurs to evaluate their potential for
interference to other operations and is similarly needed by AMTS
licensees in the event interference to their operations occur.
4. The MO&O states that the rules already in place to protect AMTS
coast stations are sufficient to protect remote receivers because coast
stations and remote receivers are typically in close proximity to one
another. Additionally, once notification is provided to the AMTS
licensee, the licensee can easily inform the amateur operator of remote
receiver locations. The Commission also states that requiring specific
interference avoidance techniques for amateur operations is
unnecessary. Instead of requiring amateurs to use specific techniques,
amateur operators are permitted the flexibility to use whatever
techniques they deem appropriate to avoid interference to AMTS.
5. The Commission concludes that Orion's assertion that Part 97 of
the rules does not reflect the requirement specified in the R&O that
``amateurs will be required to resolve immediately any complaint of
interference to an AMTS station or, alternatively, to cease operation''
is incorrect. Section 97.303(e)(2) states that ``[n]o amateur station
transmitting in the 219-220 MHz segment shall cause harmful
interference to, nor is protected from interference due to operation of
Automated Maritime Telecommunications Systems. . . .'' The language of
this rule clearly holds amateur operators responsible for avoiding
interference to AMTS operations. In addition, the MO&O denies Orion's
request that amateur equipment be type accepted. There is no evidence
that amateur equipment has a history of being defective or that there
is a need to require type acceptance for operations in the 219-220 MHz
band. The Commission concludes that a type acceptance procedure for
amateur 219-220 MHz band equipment would be unnecessarily burdensome.
6. The MO&O adopts Orion's suggestion that the amateur rules
specify the bands of operation for AMTS in order to enable amateur
operators to identify more readily all relevant AMTS operations. The
Commission agrees with Orion that reference must be made to licensed
operations in both the 217-218 MHz and 219-220 MHz bands in order to
protect AMTS systems and therefore amends Sections 97.303(e)(4) and
97.303(e)(5) accordingly.
7. Finally, the Commission agrees with Orion that amateurs'
notifications to AMTS licensees should include sufficient technical
information to facilitate coordination between amateur and AMTS
operations. However, the Commission states that the notification form
developed by ARRL in response to the rules adopted in the R&O provides
sufficient information for this coordination process. Therefore, the
Commission do not believe that it is necessary at this time to amend
the rules to specify that amateurs provide specific technical
information, as requested by Orion. If the current coordination
procedures do not prove satisfactory, this issue will be revisited.
8. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
Section 603, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was incorporated in the
Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), and R&O in ET Docket 93-40.
Written comments on the proposals in the NPRM, including the Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis, were requested and a final analysis was provided
in the R&O.
A. Need for and Objective of Rules: The objective of this action is
to provide a secondary allocation for the Amateur Radio Service which
will permit amateur operators to establish point-to-point fixed digital
message forwarding systems without interfering with primary services.
The Commission
[[Page 15384]]
believes that the rules are sufficient to permit amateurs to share the
spectrum, while the flexibility of the rules will in large part provide
amateurs with the operational freedom to which they are accustomed.
B. Issues Raised by the Public in Response to the Final Analysis:
No party suggested modifications specifically to the regulatory
flexibility analysis.
C. Any Significant Alternative Minimizing Impact on Small Entities
and Consistent with Stated Objectives: This action may provide new
marketing opportunities for amateur radio equipment manufacturers, some
of which may be small businesses.
9. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that Parts 2 and 97 of the
Commission's rules ARE AMENDED as set forth below, effective May 8,
1996. Furthermore, IT IS ORDERED, that the Petition for Reconsideration
filed by Fred Daniel d/b/a Orion Telecom IS GRANTED, to the extent
described above, and IS DENIED in all other respects. This action is
taken pursuant to Sections 4(i), 7(a), 302, 303(c), 303(f), 303(g), and
303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i),
157(a), 302, 303(c), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r).
List of Subjects
47 CFR Part 2
Radio.
47 CFR Part 97
Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Rule Changes
Parts 2 and 97 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations are
amended as follows:
PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL
RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. The authority citation for Part 2 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 4, 302, 303, and 307 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154, 302, 303 and 307,
unless otherwise noted.
2. Section 2.104(a) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 2.104 International Table of Frequency Allocations.
(a) The International Table of Frequency Allocations (columns 1, 2
and 3 of Sec. 2.106) is included for informational purposes only.
* * * * *
3. Section 2.106, the Table of Frequency Allocations, is amended as
follows:
a. The entries for 174-216 MHz, 174-223 MHz, 216-220 MHz, 220-222
MHz, 222-225 MHz, 223-230 MHz, 225-235 MHz, 225.0-328.6 MHz, 230-235
MHz, 235-267 MHz, 267-272 MHz, 272-273 MHz, 273-322 MHz, and 322.0-
328.6 MHz are removed and new entries for 174-216 MHz, 216-220 MHz,
220-222 MHz, 222-223 MHz, 223-225 MHz, 225-230 MHz, 230-235 MHz, 235-
267 MHz, 267-272 MHz, 272-273 MHz, 273-312 MHz, 312-315 MHz, 315-322
MHz, and 322-328.6 MHz are added in numerical order.
b. International Footnote Nos. 633 and 634 are removed.
c. International Footnote Nos. 621, 622, 627, and 635 are revised.
d. International Footnote No. 641A is added.
The additions and revisions read as follows:
Sec. 2.106 Table of Frequency Allocations.
* * * * *
International table United States table FCC use designators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government Non-
Region 2-- Region 3-- --------------- Government
Region 1-- allocation MHz allocation MHz --------------- Rule Special-use
allocation MHz Allocation Allocation part(s) frequencies
MHz MHz
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
174-216 174-216 174-216 174-216 174-216
BROADCASTING BROADCASTING FIXED BROADCASTING RADIO
BROADCAST
(TV) (73)
Fixed MOBILE Auxiliary
Broadcasti
ng (74)
Mobile BROADCASTING
621 623 628 629 620 619 624 625 626 NG115 NG128
630 NG149
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
216-220 216-220 216-220 216-220 216-220
BROADCASTING FIXED FIXED MARITIME MARITIME MARITIME
MOBILE MOBILE (80)
MARITIME MOBILE MOBILE Aeronautical Aeronautical Private
Mobile Mobile Land
Mobile
(90)
Radiolocation BROADCASTING Fixed Fixed Personal
627 Radio
Service
(95)
Land Mobile Land Mobile Amateur
(97)
Radiolocation
627
621 623 628 629 627A 619 624 625 626 US210 US229 627 US210
630 US274 US317 US229 US274
G2 US317 NG152
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
220-222 220-222 220-222 220-222 220-222
BROADCASTING AMATEUR FIXED LAND MOBILE LAND MOBILE PRIVATE
LAND
MOBILE
(90)
FIXED MOBILE Radiolocation
627
MOBILE BROADCASTING
Radiolocation
627
[[Page 15385]]
621 623 628 629 619 624 625 626 G2 627
630
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222-223 222-223 222-223 222-223 222-223
BROADCASTING AMATEUR FIXED Radiolocation AMATEUR AMATEUR
627 (97)
FIXED MOBILE
MOBILE BROADCASTING
Radiolocation
627
621 623 628 629 619 624 625 626 G2 627
630
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
223-225 223-225 223-225 223-225 223-225
BROADCASTING AMATEUR FIXED Radiolocation AMATEUR AMATEUR
627 (97)
FIXED FIXED MOBILE
MOBILE MOBILE BROADCASTING
Radiolocation AERONAUTICAL
627 RADIONAVIGATION
Radiolocation
622 628 629 631 636 637 G2 627
632 635
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
225-230 225-230 225-230 225-230 225-230
BROADCASTING FIXED FIXED FIXED
FIXED MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
MOBILE BROADCASTING
AERONAUTICAL
RADIONAVIGATION
Radiolocation
622 628 629 631 636 637 G27
632 635
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
230-235 230-235 230-235 230-235 230-235
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
AERONAUTICAL
RADIONAVIGATION
629 632 635 638 637 G27
639
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235-267 235-267 235-267 235-267 235-267
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
501 592 635 640 501 592 635 640 501 592 635 640 501 592 642 501 592 642
641 642 641 642 641 642 G27 G100
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267-272 267-272 267-272 267-272 267-272
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
Space Operation Space Operation Space Operation
(space-to-Earth) (space-to- (space-to-
Earth) Earth)
641 643 641 643 641 643 G27 G100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
272-273 272-273 272-273 272-273 272-273
SPACE OPERATION SPACE OPERATION SPACE OPERATION FIXED MOBILE
(space-to-Earth) (space-to- (space-to-
Earth) Earth)
FIXED FIXED FIXED MOBILE
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
641 641 641 G27 G100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
273-312 273-312 273-312 273-312 273-312
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
[[Page 15386]]
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
641 641 641 G27 G100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
312-315 312-315 312-315 312-315 312-315
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
Mobile-Satellite Mobile-Satellite Mobile-Satellite
(Earth-to-space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to-
space) space)
641 641A 641 641A 641 641A G27 G1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
315-322 315-322 315-322 315-322 315-322
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
641 641 641 G27 G100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
322-328.6 322-328.6 322-328.6 322-328.6 322-328.6
FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED
MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE
RADIO ASTRONOMY RADIO ASTRONOMY RADIO ASTRONOMY
644 644 644 644 G27 644
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
International Footnotes
* * * * *
621 Additional allocation: in the Federal Republic of Germany,
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Israel, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway, the Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, Sweden, and Switzerland, the band 174-223 MHz is also
allocated to the land mobile service on a permitted basis. However,
the stations of the land mobile service shall not cause harmful
interference to, or claim protection from, broadcasting stations,
existing or planned, in countries other than those listed in this
footnote.
622 Different category of service: in the Federal Republic of
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Israel,
Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, the
Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland,
the band 223-230 MHz is allocated to the land mobile service on a
permitted basis (see No. 425). However, the stations of the land
mobile service shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim
protection from, broadcasting stations, existing or planned, in
countries other than those listed in this footnote.
* * * * *
627 In Region 2, no new stations in the radiolocation service
may be authorized in the band 216-225 MHz. Stations authorized prior
to 1 January 1990 may continue to operate on a secondary basis.
* * * * *
635 Alternative allocation: in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe,
the bands 223-238 MHz and 246-254 MHz are allocated to the
broadcasting service on a primary basis, subject to agreement
obtained under the provisions set forth in Article 14.
* * * * *
641A The bands 312-315 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 387-390 MHz
(space-to-Earth) in the mobile-satellite service may also be used by
non-geostationary-satellite systems. Such use is subject to the
application of the coordination and notification procedures set
forth in Resolution 46 (WARC-92).
* * * * *
PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
1. 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.
2. Section 97.303 is amended by revising paragraphs (e)(4) and
(e)(5) to read as follows:
Sec. 97.303 Frequency sharing requirements.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(4) No amateur station may transmit in the 219-220 MHz segment from
a location that is within 640 km of an AMTS Coast Station that uses
frequencies in the 217-218/219-220 MHz AMTS bands unless the amateur
station licensee has given written notification of the station's
specific geographic location for such transmissions to the AMTS
licensee. The notification must be given at least 30 days prior to
making such transmissions. The location of AMTS Coast Stations using
the 217-218/219-220 MHz channels may be obtained from either:
The American Radio Relay League, Inc., 225 Main Street, Newington,
CT 06111-1494;
or
Interactive Systems, Inc., Suite 1103, 1601 North Kent Street,
Arlington, VA 22209; Fax: (703) 812-8275; Phone: (703) 812-8270.
(5) No amateur station may transmit in the 219-220 MHz segment from
a location that is within 80 km of an AMTS Coast Station that uses
frequencies in the 217-218/219-220 MHz AMTS bands unless that amateur
station licensee holds written approval from that AMTS licensee. The
location of AMTS Coast Stations using the 217-218/219-220 MHz channels
may be obtained as noted in paragraph (e)(4) of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 96-8385 Filed 4-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
