Technical report text on two World Radiocommunication Conference 2007
(WRC-07) agenda items of interest to Amateur Radio has survived the WRC-07
Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM-07). The nearly 600-page Conference
Preparatory Meeting Report (CPM Report) contains "methods" that satisfy the
International Amateur Radio Union's (IARU) desired options for allocations
in the vicinity of 136 kHz, 5 MHz and 7 MHz, thanks to the efforts of the
IARU delegation.

"The IARU was successful in retaining these options in the official report,"
said IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, who headed the IARU delegation to
CPM-07 February 19 until March 2. "Of course, it is a long step to actually
get an allocation at the WRC." Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, also served on the IARU
delegation.

Sponsored by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CPM-07 drew to
Geneva some 1100 delegates from more than 100 countries to finalize and
adopt the massive technical report, in preparation over the past four years.
The CPM Report will guide the work of delegates attending WRC-07 October 22
through November 16. It provides background information on each WRC-07
agenda item, various methods of addressing the agenda items and the
advantages and disadvantages of each.

Agenda Item (AI) 1.13 addresses the allocation of HF spectrum between 4 and
10 MHz, including the possibility of allocation changes in the 40 and 60
meter bands, while AI 1.15 opens the possibility of a secondary ham radio
allocation in the vicinity of 136 kHz. IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ,
concedes that AI 1.13 is "one of the most complex and controversial items"
on the WRC-07 agenda.

"It's anyone's guess as to how the dust might settle come November," he
commented. The CPM Report presents eight methods to satisfy specific parts
of AI 1.13. Methods 6 and 7 are favorable to the Amateur Radio Service.

Method 6 would provide a worldwide secondary amateur allocation of 5.260 to
5.410 MHz "to allow communications at times when propagation conditions do
not permit the use of the presently allocated bands at 3.5 and 7 MHz." On
the down side, the CPM Report said, such a 5 MHz amateur allocation could
impact spectrum available for the Fixed and Mobile and the Broadcasting
services.

Method 7 provides a primary allocation at 7.200 to 7.300 MHz in Regions 1
and 3 "to globally harmonize the Amateur Service allocations." Among Method
7's disadvantages, the CPM Report said it could reduce spectrum now
allocated to HF broadcasting in Regions 1 and 3 and "significantly
complicates the problem of identifying" additional Broadcasting Service
spectrum.

Adoption of Method 7 at WRC-07 would achieve the IARU's goal of a worldwide,
300-kHz Amateur Radio allocation at 7 MHz, however." It essentially
implements the second phase of the work begun at WRC-03, which expanded the
Amateur Radio allocation at 7 MHz by 100 kHz (7.100 to 7.200 MHz) by March
2009." It would have no impact on the current 7.000 to 7.300 MHz 40-meter
allocation in Region 2 (the Americas).
AI 1.15 Method A would establish a secondary amateur allocation at 135.7 to
137.8 kHz in all three Regions "with footnotes ensuring protection of other
services operating in the same band." One alternative footnote would set a
maximum radiated power limit of 1 W EIRP and would require that stations not
cause harmful interference to radionavigation stations in certain countries.
A second alternative footnote doesn't include the 1 W EIRP power limit.
Method B would make no changes to the allocations table. The CPM Report
lists no "foreseen" disadvantages to Method A.

The CPM Report notes that more than 20 countries have established either
domestic amateur allocations or authorized experimental and amateur
communication in the low-frequency range, including 135.7 to 137.8 kHz.

"We were able to achieve at CPM-07 the methods that would result in the
allocations we seek," Sumner explains. "However, it remains for
administrations to propose them if they are to be considered this fall at
WRC-07."

Radio amateurs served on some national delegations to CPM-07. Jon Siverling,
WB3ERA, and Walt Ireland, WB7CSL -- both of the ARRL's Technical Relations
Office near Washington, DC -- represented the League on the US delegation to
CPM-07. Jim Dean, VE3IQ, represented Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) on
Canada's delegation, while Jay Oka, JA1TRC represented the Japan Amateur
Radio League (JARL) on Japan's delegation.