5MHz & 500kHz annoucement

Radio Society of Great Britain spectrum director Colin Thomas, G3PSM, has announced that progress is being made in both extending radio amateurs’ access to 5MHz and on the RSGB’s proposal for amateur radio access to frequencies in the 500kHz region.

Speaking at the society’s annual general meeting on 6 May, he said that the RSGB had recently submitted proposals to the Ministry of Defence and Ofcom for extending amateur access to 5MHz beyond June 2006. The proposals are in accordance with the IARU’s strategy of achieving an amateur radio allocation at 5MHz.

On the subject of 500kHz, Colin said that discussions were progressing on an RSGB proposal sent to Ofcom in 2004. He was hopeful that the society would be granted its first choice – an allocation between 501 and 504kHz.

He also said that there was a possibility of the spot frequency at 500kHz being designated a maritime memorial frequency, but warned that this would be dependent on the length of time certain countries continued to use 500kHz as an emergency maritime frequency.

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB