U.S. Non-Federal-Government Allocations
FIXED
MOBILE except aeronautical mobile
FCC rule parts
SpectrumWiki
Radio spectrum allocations
Look up a frequency or a range.
Examples: 88.5 MHz, 1350–1430 MHz, 2.4 GHz
217 MHz (217,000,000 Hz)
U.S. Federal Government Allocations
Fixed
Mobile
ITU Region 1 Allocations
BROADCASTING
ITU Region 2 Allocations
FIXED
MARITIME MOBILE
Radiolocation 5.241
ITU Region 3 Allocations
FIXED
MOBILE
BROADCASTING
Footnotes
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5.233 Additional allocation: in China, the band 174-184 MHz is also allocated to the space research (space-to-Earth) and the space operation (space-to-Earth) services on a primary basis, subject to agreement obtained under No. 9.21. These services shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, existing or planned broadcasting stations.
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5.235 Additional allocation: in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland, the band 174 223 MHz is also allocated to the land mobile service on a primary basis. However, the stations of the land mobile service shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from, broadcasting stations, existing or planned, in countries other than those listed in this footnote.
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5.237 Additional allocation: in Congo (Rep. of the), Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Libya, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Chad, the band 174-223 MHz is also allocated to the fixed and mobile services on a secondary basis. (WRC 12)
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5.238 Additional allocation: in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the Philippines, the band 200-216 MHz is also allocated to the aeronautical radionavigation service on a primary basis.
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5.240 Additional allocation: in China and India, the band 216-223 MHz is also allocated to the aeronautical radionavigation service on a primary basis and to the radiolocation service on a secondary basis.
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5.241 In Region 2, no new stations in the radiolocation service may be authorized in the band 216-225 MHz. Stations authorized prior to 1 January 1990 may continue to operate on a secondary basis.
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5.242 Additional allocation: in Canada and Mexico, the frequency band 216-220 MHz is also allocated to the land mobile service on a primary basis. (WRC-19)
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5.243 Additional allocation: in Somalia, the band 216-225 MHz is also allocated to the aeronautical radionavigation service on a primary basis, subject to not causing harmful interference to existing or planned broadcasting services in other countries.
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5.245 Additional allocation: in Japan, the band 222-223 MHz is also allocated to the aeronautical radionavigation service on a primary basis and to the radiolocation service on a secondary basis.
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NG173 In the band 216-220 MHz, secondary telemetry operations are permitted subject to the requirements of 47 CFR 90.259. After January 1, 2002, no new assignments shall be authorized in the sub-band 216-217 MHz.
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US210 In the bands 40.66-40.7 MHz and 216-220 MHz, frequencies may be authorized to Federal and non-Federal stations on a secondary basis for the tracking of, and telemetering of scientific data from, ocean buoys and wildlife. Operation in these bands is subject to the technical standards specified in: (a) Section 8.2.42 of the NTIA Manual for Federal use, or (b) 47 CFR 90.248 for non-Federal use. After January 1, 2002, no new assignments shall be authorized in the band 216-217 MHz.
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US241 The following provision shall apply to Federal operations in the band 216-220.035 MHz:
(a) Use of the fixed and land mobile services in the band 216-220 MHz and of the aeronautical mobile service in the sub-band 217-220 MHz is restricted to telemetry and associated telecommand operations. New stations in the fixed and land mobile services shall not be authorized in the sub-band 216-217 MHz.
(b) The sub-band 216.965-216.995 MHz is also allocated to the Federal radiolocation service on a primary basis and the use of this allocation is restricted to the Air Force Space Surveillance System (AFSSS) radar system. AFSSS stations transmit on the frequency 216.98 MHz and other operations may be affected within: 1) 250 km of Lake Kickapoo (Archer City), TX (33° 2' 48'' N, 98° 45' 46'' W); and 2) 150 km of Gila River (Phoenix), AZ (33° 6' 32'' N, 112° 1' 45'' W) and Jordan Lake (Wetumpka), AL (32° 39' 33'' N, 86° 15' 52'' W). AFSSS reception shall be protected from harmful interference within 50 km of: 1) Elephant Butte, NM (33° 26' 35'' N, 106° 59' 50'' W); 2) Fort Stewart, GA (31° 58' 36'' N, 81° 30' 34'' W); 3) Hawkinsville, GA (32° 17' 20'' N, 83° 32' 10'' W); 4) Red River, AR (33° 19' 48'' N, 93° 33' 1'' W); 5) San Diego, CA (32° 34' 42'' N, 116° 58' 11'' W); and 6) Silver Lake, MS (33° 8' 42'' N, 91° 1' 16'' W).
(c) The sub-band 219.965-220.035 MHz is also allocated to the Federal radiolocation service on a secondary basis and the use of this allocation is restricted to air-search radars onboard Coast Guard vessels.
Wiki entries
Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS)
Current Use
217–217.5 MHz AMTS B Block Coast Transmit
According to the FCC:
"Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) stations are a special type of public coast station. The AMTS service was established in 1981 as an alternative to traditional VHF public coast service, primarily to meet the specialized needs of tugs, barges, and other commercial vessels on inland waterways. AMTS stations, which use 217/219 MHz frequencies, were intended primarily to provide public correspondence service to such vessels, but in an integrated manner not readily available from individual VHF public coast stations. AMTS public coast stations also may provide private radio service under certain circumstances, and have limited authority to provide service to units on land. An AMTS licensee may lease all or part of the spectrum usage rights associated with the license."
AMTS stations are located close in frequency to TV channel 13 (210-216 MHz) and channel 10 (192-198 MHz). According to the FCC:
"Section 80.475(a) of the Commission’s Rules requires an applicant proposing to locate an AMTS station within 169 kilometers (105 miles) of a Channel 13 television station, or within 129 kilometers (80 miles) of a Channel 10 television station, to submit "an engineering study clearly showing the means of avoiding interference with television reception within the Grade B contour.” If there are at least one hundred residences within both the proposed AMTS station’s predicted interference contour and the television station’s Grade B contour, the AMTS applicant must also (1) show that its proposed site is the only suitable location, (2) develop a plan to control any interference its operations cause within the Grade B contour, and (3) agree to make any necessary adjustments to affected television receivers to eliminate such interference. Any AMTS licensee that, despite these precautions, causes interference to television reception within the Grade B contour must cure the problem within 90 days of the time it is notified in writing by the Commission or discontinue operation of the station."
"Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) stations are a special type of public coast station. The AMTS service was established in 1981 as an alternative to traditional VHF public coast service, primarily to meet the specialized needs of tugs, barges, and other commercial vessels on inland waterways. AMTS stations, which use 217/219 MHz frequencies, were intended primarily to provide public correspondence service to such vessels, but in an integrated manner not readily available from individual VHF public coast stations. AMTS public coast stations also may provide private radio service under certain circumstances, and have limited authority to provide service to units on land. An AMTS licensee may lease all or part of the spectrum usage rights associated with the license."
AMTS stations are located close in frequency to TV channel 13 (210-216 MHz) and channel 10 (192-198 MHz). According to the FCC:
"Section 80.475(a) of the Commission’s Rules requires an applicant proposing to locate an AMTS station within 169 kilometers (105 miles) of a Channel 13 television station, or within 129 kilometers (80 miles) of a Channel 10 television station, to submit "an engineering study clearly showing the means of avoiding interference with television reception within the Grade B contour.” If there are at least one hundred residences within both the proposed AMTS station’s predicted interference contour and the television station’s Grade B contour, the AMTS applicant must also (1) show that its proposed site is the only suitable location, (2) develop a plan to control any interference its operations cause within the Grade B contour, and (3) agree to make any necessary adjustments to affected television receivers to eliminate such interference. Any AMTS licensee that, despite these precautions, causes interference to television reception within the Grade B contour must cure the problem within 90 days of the time it is notified in writing by the Commission or discontinue operation of the station."
Positive Train Control
Current Use
217–222 MHz Positive Train Control (PTC)
According to the Federal Railroad Administration:
"In 2008, Congress required Class I Railroad mainlines handling poisonous-inhalation-hazard materials and any railroad main lines with regularly scheduled intercity and commuter rail passenger service to fully implement Positive Train Control by December 31, 2015. PTC uses communication-based/processor-based train control technology that provides a system capable of reliably and functionally preventing train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments, incursions into established work zone limits, and the movement of a train through a main line switch in the wrong position.
"In late 2015, Congress extended the deadline by at least three years to December 31, 2018, with the possibility for two additional years if certain requirements are met. The new legislation, the PTC Enforcement and Implementation Act, required that railroads submit a revised PTC Implementation Plan (PTCIP) by January 26, 2016, outlining when and how the railroad would have a system fully installed and activated."
There are no formally-adopted standard frequency bands or designated frequencies for PTC, although frequencies in the ~220 MHz range are becoming the de facto standard. PTC may make use of channels belonging to various services spanning the 217-222 MHz range, including frequencies allotted for the 218-219 MHz Service (formerly the Interactive Video and Data Service (IVDS)) and the Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS). In fact, the challenge of obtaining sufficient spectrum is one of the reasons cited for delayed implementation of PTC.
"In 2008, Congress required Class I Railroad mainlines handling poisonous-inhalation-hazard materials and any railroad main lines with regularly scheduled intercity and commuter rail passenger service to fully implement Positive Train Control by December 31, 2015. PTC uses communication-based/processor-based train control technology that provides a system capable of reliably and functionally preventing train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments, incursions into established work zone limits, and the movement of a train through a main line switch in the wrong position.
"In late 2015, Congress extended the deadline by at least three years to December 31, 2018, with the possibility for two additional years if certain requirements are met. The new legislation, the PTC Enforcement and Implementation Act, required that railroads submit a revised PTC Implementation Plan (PTCIP) by January 26, 2016, outlining when and how the railroad would have a system fully installed and activated."
There are no formally-adopted standard frequency bands or designated frequencies for PTC, although frequencies in the ~220 MHz range are becoming the de facto standard. PTC may make use of channels belonging to various services spanning the 217-222 MHz range, including frequencies allotted for the 218-219 MHz Service (formerly the Interactive Video and Data Service (IVDS)) and the Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS). In fact, the challenge of obtaining sufficient spectrum is one of the reasons cited for delayed implementation of PTC.