Hams in the U.S.
will soon have two new bands on which to operate, experiment and contribute to
the collective knowledge of "the radio art." In a Report and Order
issued on March 30, the FCC approved creation of secondary amateur allocations
at 135.7-137.8 kHz (2200 meters) and 472-479 kHz (630 meters), the first
amateur bands with wavelengths above 200 meters since the dawn of radio
regulation.
The new bands come with lots
of strings attached, since they will be shared with "PLC" systems
used by electric utilities to control the nation's power grid. Hams will be
limited to fixed station operation, antennas no higher than 60 meters (196
feet) above ground and radiated power limits of 1 watt effective isotropic
radiated power (EIRP) on 2200 meters and 5 watts EIRP on 630 meters (1 watt in
some parts of Alaska). Plus, operation on these bands will not be allowed
within one kilometer of electric transmission lines using PLC and advance notice
of all planned operation to the PLC network coordinator will be required.
Access to the bands will be open to all hams holding a General Class or higher
license, and any mode may be used as long as it fits within the bands' very
narrow bandwidths.
An effective date was not
announced since additional government approvals will be required before the
rules can be finalized. CQ will have
more about the order and its implications in the next "MF & LF
Operating" column in the July issue (the column debuts in the upcoming April issue). The complete text of the Report & Order (which is over 60 pages long) may be found at <https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-33A1.docx>.
