The FCC has proposed adding 255 MHz of spectrum from 5,470 to 5,725 MHz to existing National Information Infrastructure allocations at 5,150 to 5,350 MHz and 5,725 to 5,825 MHz. The text of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making was not available on the FCC Web site when this was written, so additional technical details are not available. The May 15 Public Notice is available at
On May 14, the FCC released aReport and Order providing additional allocations for the Amateur Radio Service. The FCC denied requests for low frequency allocations in the 135.7 to 137.8 kHz and 160-190 kHz band, but authorized USB only operation on five frequencies in the 5 MHz region. The frequencies are 5332 kHz, 5348 kHz, 5368 kHz, 5373 kHz and 5405 kHz. Operation is limited to maximum transmitter power output of 50 W peak envelope power or, if a gain antenna is used, an effective radiated power no greater than 50 W effective radiated power. The FCC also upgraded Amateur Radio Service (except amateur-satellite service) status from 2400 to 2402 MHz band from secondary to primary status, with the provision that stations must accept harmful interference caused by proper operation of industrial, scientific and medical devices operating within the band. Amateur radio operations in the 2390-2417 MHz are primary and are protected from interference from Part 15 devices.
The new Amateur Radio Service rules take effect 30 days after the Report and Order is published in the Federal Register.
