SB QST @ ARL $ARLB037
ARLB037 IARU Praises Favorable WRC-15 Result Regarding Use of
Amateur Bands for Non-Amateur Satellites

ZCZC AG37
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 37  ARLB037
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  December 8, 2015
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB037
ARLB037 IARU Praises Favorable WRC-15 Result Regarding Use of
Amateur Bands for Non-Amateur Satellites

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has welcomed the
exclusion from consideration of all existing Amateur and
Amateur-Satellite frequency allocations for potential use by
non-amateur satellites. World Radiocommunication Conference 2015
(WRC-15) last month in Geneva recommended an agenda item for the
next WRC in 2019 involving spectrum studies for short-mission
satellites that removes from consideration the Amateur-Satellite
allocations at 2 meters and 70 centimeters.

"This is an excellent result for the amateur services and clearly
shows that non-amateur satellite constructors need to consider
spectrum other than the very limited and congested segments that are
available for amateur satellites at 144 MHz and 435 MHz," said IARU
President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA.

WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.7 calls on delegates "to study the spectrum
needs for telemetry, tracking and command in the space operation
service for non-GSO satellites with short duration missions, to
assess the suitability of existing allocations to the space
operation service and, if necessary, to consider new allocations, in
accordance with Resolution COM6/19 (WRC-15)."

Resolution COM6/19 specifies 150.05-174 MHz and 400.15-420 MHz as
the frequency ranges that may be considered for possible new
allocations.

One factor the conference considered in deciding on those particular
frequency ranges was that, contrary to the provisions of the ITU
Radio Regulations defining the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite
services, "some non-amateur satellites have used frequencies for
telemetry, tracking and command in the frequency bands 144-146 MHz
and 435-438 MHz which are allocated to the Amateur-Satellite
Service."
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