Minutes released for the 62nd WG FM meeting Athens 2008

The minutes for the CEPT Frequency Management Working Group meeting held from 11th to 15th February in Athens have been released.

Among the points that reference Amateur Radio allocations are:

3 EC Telecom Policy and Follow-up
A regulatory opinion of the RSC by written procedure is also being planned for the draft Commission Decision on Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) in 3.4-3.8 GHz;

4 Report from ECC Plenary
The ECC endorsed the conclusions of WG FM that there was no need to amend ECC/DEC(04)10 on 24 GHz SRR;

5.11 Update of the ECA
(5) Mr. Ritchie (Ireland) presented Doc. FM(08)025 which proposed that the meeting consider making a secondary allocation to the Amateur Service in the 70 – 70.5 MHz band.

(6) Estonia informed the meeting that from the beginning of 2008 part of the spectrum in the 70 MHz band is allocated to the radio amateur service on a secondary basis.

(7) While there were a number of countries (7) that currently allow or intend to allow secondary access to amateurs in this band there was insufficient support to take the proposal forward. WG FM agreed instead to the addition of a note taking into account the growing allocation of this band to amateurs in the next draft of the ECA.

6.3 Outcome of WRC-07
WG FM should consider the need for new regulations for IMT in the bands 450-470 MHz and 2300-2400 MHz;

Although not related to Amateur Radio these points may be also be of interest:

5.2.4 VHF DMR
Questionnaire on licence exempt digital PMR in the VHF range.

149.01875 - 149.11875 MHz (100 kHz) and 169.6125 - 169.8125 MHz (200 kHz) where considered likely.

5.2.2 Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) digital Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) applications in bands within the 380 - 470 MHz range

5.4.3 Revised Terms of Reference for FM PT45
(6) Switzerland proposed to amend the ToR's to extend the studies for "future possibilities for the Digitalisation of the FM Band II" (Doc FM(08)022) to take account that there exists a number of other digital Broadcasting Systems for the Band II in addition to DRM+.

5.5.2.1 RSCOM related matters
(10) Channelling Arrangement for hearing aids for the 169 MHz band:

The minutes of the the meeting can be downloaded from the European Radiocommunicatiions Office (ERO) website by the following procedure:

1) Go to http://www.ero.dk/
2) From the "ECC Activities" drop-down menu select "Meetings Documents"
3) Ignore the Username/Password fields they are not required
4) In the field "Select Group" choose "FM Working Group"
5) In the field "Select Year" choose "2008"
6) Click on "Athens Feb"
7) Click on "Report"
8) Select the tick box for "Minutes of the 62nd WG FM Meeting Athens 2008"
9) Click the "Download Selected" button at the top of the page