5.1.1 International allocations and use: 44-54 MHz

⁷The current television use has historically been recognised internationally by special Footnotes in the ITU Radio Regulations (5.162 covering 44-47 MHz and 5.166 covering 50-51 MHz). Further Footnote provisions provide for Fixed and Mobile services in the 51-53 MHz band (Footnote 5.166) and 53-54 MHz (Footnote 5.170). The television use has effectively displaced or limited Fixed and Mobile services in the range 44-47 MHz, which have in turn displaced or limited Amateur use in the range 51-54 MHz.

In the absence of television use after DSO, these Footnotes are no longer required in their present form and the government should therefore consider seeking their removal or modification at the next Treaty negotiation in 2012.

The preferred modification would be to delete Footnote 5.162 and 5.166, and expanding the range allocated to Fixed and Mobile services in Footnote 5.170 from 51-53 MHz to 51-54 MHz. These changes remove the Broadcasting allocation, restore Amateur to 50-54 MHz and continue shared use of Fixed and Mobile services in the 51-54 MHz range. On the assumption that these changes can be achieved, there would be scope for national licensing changes to allow enhanced Amateur use in the 50-51 MHz band on a sole Primary basis. Such a change would make this New Zealand use compatible with the ITU-Radio Regulations Table of Allocations.

Question 1

Do you agree with licensing Amateur radio use in the 50-51 MHz band on a sole Primary basis?

Question 2

Do you agree with licensing Amateur radio use in the 51-54 MHz band on a shared basis with Fixed and Mobile services?

Footnote

⁷ This frequency range is slightly wider than currently used for television, but it is necessary to consider the wider range because of the structure of the international Radio Regulations Footnotes.