[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15686-15688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7296]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 2, 80, and 97

[ET Docket No. 93-40; FCC 95-113]


Allocation of the 219-220 MHz Band for Use by the Amateur Radio 
Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: By this Report and Order (Order), the Commission establishes 
regulations for amateur point-to-point fixed digital message forwarding 
systems, including intercity packet backbone networks. This action 
provides the Amateur Radio Service use of the 219-220 MHz band on a 
secondary basis.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 26, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas P. Derenge, (202) 776-1621, Office of Engineering and 
Technology, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order 
adopted March 14, 1995, and released March 17, 1995. A Summary of the 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making initiating this proceeding may be found 
at 58 FR 17180 (April 1, 1993). This action will not add to or decrease 
the public reporting burden. The full text of the Commission decision 
is available for inspection and copying during regular business hours 
in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street NW., Washington, 
DC. The complete text of this decision also may be purchased from the 
Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription 
Services, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Summary of Order

    The Order adopts rules that include a spectrum allocation on a 
secondary basis, safeguards to protect other services from 
interference, and technical standards for amateur operations in the 
219-220 MHz band. This action is expected to provide spectrum to the 
amateur radio service for point-to-point fixed digital message 
forwarding systems, including intercity packet backbone networks. The 
spectrum is needed to alleviate frequency congestion that amateurs are 
experiencing in certain areas of the country in the 222-225 MHz band 
and to facilitate establishment of regional and nationwide backbone 
networks for amateur packet communications. These networks could also 
be used for emergency preparedness and national defense communications. 
Amateur may also use this spectrum to develop and experiment with new 
technologies to further the radio art. Additionally, the rules adopted 
should prevent harmful interference to the primary services on and 
adjacent to the 219-220 MHz band.
    2. Specifically, in the Order the Commission allocated ten 100 
kilohertz channels from 219 MHz to 220 MHz. Amateur operations at 219-
220 MHz are authorized to operate at powers up to 50 watts (PEP) 
without data rate limitations. This band is restricted to amateurs 
holding Technician or higher class licenses.
    3. The secondary status of the allocation prohibits amateur 
operations from causing interference to primary services. However, it 
does not protect secondary amateur operations from interference. The 
Order also protects Automated Maritime Telecommunications Service 
(AMTS) by requiring amateurs to notify AMTS licenses 30 days prior to 
initiation of operations if the amateur operation is within 640 
kilometers of an AMTS base station. Additionally, amateur stations 
within 80 kilometers of an AMTS base station must obtain written 
approval from the AMTS licensee prior to operating in the 219-220 MHz 
band.
    4. Amateurs wishing to utilize the 219-220 MHz band must notify the 
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) 30 days prior to institution of 
operation. The ARRL will maintain a database of all amateur and AMTS 
operations in the 219-220 MHz band. Therefore, the ARRL database would 
serve as a nationwide point of contact to provide coordination 
information and to aid in investigation of interference problems, in 
the unlikely event such problems occur. Amateur operators are 
encouraged to seek coordination assistance from a local amateur 
coordinator.
    5. Ordering Clauses. Accordingly, it is ordered, that the American 
Radio Relay League, Inc. is designated as the national contact point 
for all amateur operations in the 219-220 MHz band and is responsible 
for maintaining a database of all amateur operations in the 219-220 MHz 
band as well as any other primary service operating in that band.
    6. Further, it is ordered, that Parts 2, 80, and 97 of the 
Commission's rules ARE AMENDED as specified below, effective April 26, 
1995. This action is taken pursuant to Sections 4(i), 7(a), 302, 
303(c), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), and 307 of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 157(a), 302, 303(c), 
303(f), 303(g), and 303(r).

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 2

    Radio.

47 CFR Part 80

    Radio, Vessels.

47 CFR Part 97

    Radio, Civil defense, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Volunteers.

    Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.

Amendatory Text

    Parts 2, 80, and 97 of chapter I of title 47 of the Code of Federal 
Regulation are amended as follows:

PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL 
RULES AND REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation in part 2 continues to read:

    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 2.106, the Table of Frequency Allocations, is amended as 
follows:
    a. In the 216-220 MHz band, columns 4 through 6 in the United 
States table are revised:
    b. Non-Government footnote NG152 is added:
Sec. 2.106  Table of Frequency Allocations.

* * * * *

                                                                        
[[Page 15687]]
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                        
                        International table                                       United States table                       FCC use designators         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Government           Non-government                                          
 Region 1--allocation   Region 2--allocation   Region 3--allocation ----------------------------------------------      Rule part(s)        Special-use 
         MHz                    MHz                    MHz               Allocation MHz         Allocation MHz                              frequencies 
(1)                    (2)..................  (3)..................  (4)..................  (5)..................  (6)..................             (7)
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                        
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  
                                                                     216-220 MARITIME       216-220 MARITIME       MARITIME (80).                       
                                                                      MOBILE. Aeronautical-  MOBILE. Aeronautical-  Private Land Mobile                 
                                                                      Mobile. Fixed. Land    Mobile. Fixed. Land    (90). Personal Radio                
                                                                      Mobile.                Mobile.                Service (95).                       
                                                                      Radiolocation.                                Amateur (97).                       
                                                                     627, US210, US229,     627, US210, US229,                                          
                                                                      US274, US317, G2.      US274, US317, NG152.                                       
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  

* * * * *
Non-Government (NG) Footnotes

* * * * *
    NG152  The band 219-220 MHz is also allocated to the amateur 
service on a secondary basis for stations participating, as forwarding 
stations, in point-to-point fixed digital message forwarding systems, 
including intercity packet backbone networks.
* * * * *

PART 80--STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for part 80 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 
U.S.C. 154, 303, unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 
1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 UST 
3450, 3 UST 4726, 12 UST 2377.

    2. Section 80.385 is amended by adding a new paragraph (a)(3) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 80.385  Frequencies for automated systems.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (3) Channels in the 219-220 MHz band are also used on a secondary, 
non-interference basis by amateur stations participating in digital 
message forwarding systems. Amateur stations may not cause harmful 
interference to AMTS operations and must accept any harmful 
interference from AMTS operation. Amateur stations within 80 km (50 
miles) of an AMTS coast station must obtain written approval from the 
AMTS licensee prior to operating in the 219-220 MHz band. Amateur 
stations within 640 km (398 miles) of an AMTS coast station must notify 
the AMTS licensee in writing at least 30 days prior to initiation of 
operations in the 219-220 MHz band. All amateur stations must notify 
the American Radio Relay League in writing at least 30 days prior to 
initiation of operations in the 219-220 MHz band (ARRL, 225 Main St., 
Newington, CT 06111-1494).
* * * * *

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 97.201(b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 97.201  Auxiliary station.

* * * * *
    (b) An auxiliary station may transmit only on the 1.25 m and 
shorter wavelength bands, except the 219-220 MHz, 222.000-222.150 MHz, 
431-433 MHz, and 435-438 MHz segments.
* * * * *
    3. Section 97.301(a) is amended by revising the third entry in the 
VHF Wavelength band to read as follows:


Sec. 97.301  Authorized frequency bands.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Wavelength band                       ITU region   ITU region   ITU region       Sharing    
--------------------------------------------------------      1            2            3       requirements see
                                                        ---------------------------------------    Sec. 97.303  
                          VHF                                MHz          MHz          MHz         (paragraph)  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                
        *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *        
                                                        *                                                       
1.25 m.................................................  ...........      219-220  ...........  (a), (e).       
    Do.................................................  ...........      222-225  ...........  (a).            
                                                                                                                
        *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *        
                                                        *                                                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    4. Section 97.303(e) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 97.303  Frequency sharing requirements.

* * * * *
    (e) In the 1.25 m band:
    (1) Use of the 219-220 MHz segment is limited to amateur stations 
participating, as forwarding stations, in point-to-point fixed digital 
message forwarding systems, including intercity packet backbone 
networks. It is not available for other purposes.
    (2) No 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 
(AMTS), television broadcasting on channels 11 and 13, Interactive 
Video and Data [[Page 15688]] Service systems, Land Mobile Services 
systems, or any other service having a primary allocation in or 
adjacent to the band.
    (3) No amateur station may transmit in the 219-220 MHz segment 
unless the licensee has given written notification of the station's 
specific geographic location for such transmissions in order to be 
incorporated into a data base that has been made available to the 
public. The notification must be given at least 30 days prior to making 
such transmissions. The notification must be given to: The American 
Radio Relay, Inc., 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494.
    (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 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. AMTS Coast Station locations may be obtained 
either from:

The American Radio Relay, 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 unless the 
amateur station licensee holds written approval from that AMTS 
licensee.
* * * * *
    5. The table in Section 97.305(c) is amended by revising the third 
entry in the VHF wavelength band to read as follows:


Sec. 97.305  Authorized emission types.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Standards see 
 Wavelength band      Frequencies      Emission types    Sec. 97.307(f),
                                         authorized         paragraph   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
       *                  *                  *                  *       
1.25 m...........  219-220 MHz......  Data............  (13).           
    Do...........  222-225 MHz......  MCW, phone,       (2), (6), (8).  
                                       image, RTTY,                     
                                       data, test.                      
                                                                        
       *                  *                  *                  *       
                  *                  *                  *               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Section 97.307(f)(13) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 97.307  Emission standards.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (13) A data emission using an unspecified digital code under the 
limitations listed in Sec. 97.309(b) also may be transmitted. The 
authorized bandwidth is 100 kHz.
    7. Section 97.313(h) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 97.313  Transmitter power standards.

* * * * *
    (h) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W 
PEP on the 219-220 MHz segment of the 1.25 m band.

[FR Doc. 95-7296 Filed 3-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M