The
Council of New Zealand's national society, NZART, has decided a review
of the current 70 cm Bandplan is desirable as a conflict with the IARU
Region III Bandplan has been identified by a number of formal complaints
to both NZART and Radio Spectrum Management (RSM).
Council
considers it part of its responsibilities to amateur radio that it
reviews the Bandplans when significant changes occur in the use of the
spectrum.
This
proposed review is now on the agenda of the Council Face to Face (FTF)
meeting in February and it is hoped that submissions will be called for
shortly afterwards. The review is also planned to be a discussion topic
at the Technology Convention in Auckland, where it is anticipated it
will be presented as a Draft Final Recommendation for comment, before
being presented to NZART Council.
Due
to the discrepancy between the NZART 70 cm Bandplan and the IARU Region
III Bandplan, the review will give consideration to concerns regarding
the operation of Amateur Television. It will also consider interference
received from UHF Low Interference Potential Devices – LIPD's by
equipment we operate such as 70 cm repeaters (the National System was
re-engineered to be resistant to this some time ago).
NZART
Council will seek feedback from existing operators on the 70 cm band.
We are interested in any interference presently being received or
perceived may occur in the future whilst operating on this band.
NZART
will soon be inviting comment from parties interested in providing
submissions to a Committee appointed at the Council FTF to do this
review. Submissions from 70 cm Band users on the current 70 cm Bandplan
and any issues perceived with it, or suggestions to improve it will be
most useful.
