RSGB proposes 500 kHz amateur band for UK

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) has proposed allowing radio amateurs in the UK to operate either 501-504 kHz or 508-515 kHz at a power of 10 W EIRP.

"The allocation, if accepted, would extend amateurs' experimental work on other low and medium frequencies and thus aid understanding of propagation in those parts of the spectrum," the RSGB said.

The RSGB proposed the two band options since they are no longer used for maritime telegraphy in the Western Hemisphere, their usage for nondirectional aeronautical beacons is being phased out and the frequencies also are not likely to be reallocated to another service anytime in the near future.

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) recently announced plans to request the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) to establish an experimental amateur allocation at 500 kHz.

The RSGB says its proposal was drafted in consultation with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1500 kHz Working group, formed following World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) by the RSGB and chaired by the Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs UBA. The Working Group includes representatives from all
three IARU regions. The IARU also favors a worldwide Amateur Radio band at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz and is seeking support for such an allocation at WRC-07.

Further details of the RSGB 500 kHz proposal are on the RSGB Spectrum Forum Web site.

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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