RAC Bulletin 03-034E - Canadian Amateurs may lose part of the 220 MHz
band

After studying the spectrum needs of various services over the past 18
months, the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) has decided to
recommend
to Industry Canada that the 220-222 MHz band be transferred from the
amateur
to the mobile service. The RABC also recommends that:

- - Amateur repeaters in this portion of the band be grandfathered to
continue
operation for a number of years, with the number to be decided by
Industry
Canada.

- -A section of 150 kHz of spectrum in the 220-222 MHz band be
designated as
public service spectrum to be shared by amateur and mobile services for
special public safety and disaster communications applications.

- - The band 219-220 MHz is allocated on a secondary basis to the
Amateur
service in Canada, which would be in harmony with a similar allocation
in
the USA.

- - The band from 222-225 MHz remains as a primary exclusive amateur
allocation.

Following consultation with Canadian amateurs in a survey conducted in
July
2002 RAC, as a member of the RABC, has vigorously opposed these proposed
changes without success.

Industry Canada must now take this advice, together with input from RAC,
decide on a course of action, and in all likelihood conduct a public
consultation before issuing a decision. The prospects do not look good.
For the full story, visit the RAC web site at
http://www.rac.ca/news/canada.htm