Belgium gets WRC15 5 MHz allocation and 4m extension

The Belgian telecoms regulator, IBPT, has issued a decision permitting access to the new WRC!5 60m allocation for all Belgian Class A amateurs (also known as the HAREC licence).

The allocation is from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz on a Secondary basis with a maximum power of 15W e.i.r.p. All modes are permitted.

Belgian amateurs now have wider access to 4m -  the band 70.1125 – 70.4125 MHz has now been made available with a maximum power from the transmitter output of 50W. Secondary status with all modes available. Again the allocation is for all Belgian Class A amateurs (also known as the HAREC licence).

Full Stort - http://www.bipt.be/public/files/fr/21639/2016-03-01_Decision_FRERAM-15.pdf

Google use 71-76 and 81-86 GHz Amateur Bands

Google has told the FCC its secret airborne network is “nothing to worry about” 

Google has told the US government that it believes its secret airborne network won't interfere with any existing networks and won't harm any people or animals. Google has been hoping to perform a "two-year nationwide test" of the network and recently addressed some concerns people had raised about it.

In the filing, Google only calls the project a "nationwide testing of airborne and terrestrial transmitters in the 71-76 and 81-86 GHz bands (collectively, the E-band)." It wants to keep the project a secret, but all signs point to it being for Project Loon, Google's airborne network of balloons which it has primarily tested in New Zealand. The application is signed by Astro Teller, the head of Google's "X" division, which houses Project Loon.

Full Story -  
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/01/google-tells-the-fcc-its-secret-airborne-network-is-nothing-to-worry-about/

Google Project Loon - https://www.google.com/loon/how/ 

Google's letter to FCC regarding 0747-EX-PL-2015 - https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=171957&x

Irish Spectrum Strategy Consultation

ComReg, the communications regulator in Eire, is consulting on the Draft Radio Spectrum Strategy for 2016 to 2018

Amateur radio in mentioned several times in the consultation document including:

• 3.27 Licences for business radio, aircraft radio and radio amateurs are the next most voluminous licence type. As of 30 June 2015, there were 4,179 live licences for these services, representing circa 24% of all live licences. While the number of radio amateur and aircraft radio licences has remained relatively constant over the few years, the number of business radio licences has declined significantly from 2,682 licences in 2009 to 1,051 licences in 2015 (a 61% decrease over this 6 year period).
• 6.2 ComReg has identified the following work plan items for radio amateur services for the period 2016 to 2018:
  • i. Consider a possible new allocation to the amateur service on a secondary basis in the band 5 351.5-5 366.5 kHz in line with the outcome of agenda item 1.4 of WRC15; and
  • ii. Consider additional spectrum allocations to the amateur services in the bands 30 – 49 MHz and 52 – 70.5 MHz to facilitate propagation beacons, digital amateur television repeaters and to align current allocations with those in the European Common Allocation Table.

The consultation closes on Monday 18th January 2016.

Download the consultation document - http://www.comreg.ie/publications/consultation_on_radio_spectrum_
management_strategy_2016_to_2018.583.105008.p.html