More 5 MHz Channels for Czech amateurs

Following a comprehensive document review on last year’s 5 MHz amateur operation in the Czech Republic and evidence of 5 MHz amateur operating frequencies elsewhere in Europe, the Czech telecommunications regulator CTU, together with the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD), have agreed to changes in 5 MHz permits for Czech (OK) radio amateurs following the conclusion of the present permit in Autumn 2014.

The number of 5 MHz channels available under the new 2015 permit, has been increased from 6 to 12 and a substantial number of these have been aligned primarily with the UK and also the US allocations.

USB Dial (kHz)	CW Dial (kHz)	Notes
5276.0	5277.5	Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5288.5	5290.0
5298.0	5299.5	Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5313.0	5314.5	Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5330.5	5332.0	US
5333.0	5334.5	Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5362.0	5363.5	Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5366.5	5368.0	(A Former US Frequency) - remains
5371.5	5373.0	US
5395.0	5396.5	Added to harmonize with UK bandplan
5398.5	5400.0
5403.5	5405.0

All other Czech 5 MHz permit criteria remain as before (Max. Power 100W e.r.p., 3 kHz Max. Bandwidth) except that there is now no limit to the number of permits available.

Ofcom Amateur Radio Licence Statement

Ofcom has published a decision to update the terms and conditions of the amateur radio licence - This follows a consultation published in September

These include changes which would provide amateurs with access to some frequency bands previously available only through the variation of individual licences.

The decision is further to changes announced in Ofcom’s April statement on Public Sector Spectrum Release. In that statement, a decision maybe made to remove access for amateur radio operators to certain frequencies in the 2300 MHz and 3400 MHz ranges in order to support the release of these bands by the Ministry of Defence.

This document is likely to be of interest to individuals authorised to use the radio spectrum in the UK for the purposes of amateur radio activities.

Ofcom Statement - http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/amateur-radio-licence/statement

PDF which includes new sample licence - http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/amateur-radio-licence/statement/Updating_the_Amateur_Radio_Licence.pdf

Licensing of Television White Space Devices - Now Open

New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) has developed rules to allow the use of television white space (TVWS) devices following consultation in 2014. These rules provide an interim licensing regime for the trial of TVWS in New Zealand.

The new rules will be incorporated into the next issue of the Spectrum Licence Certification Rules for Crown Management Rights (PIB 39).

Licensing of TVWS devices is now open. Anyone seeking a licence should contact an Approved Radio Engineer.

View the white space licencing and certification rules - http://rsm.cmail2.com/t/r-l-cittjdl-qbuiqil-jr/

View the list of independent radio engineers and certifiers available for public work - http://rsm.cmail2.com/t/r-l-cittjdl-qbuiqil-jy/