70cm band at risk in Australia

The Australian Communications and Media Authority's Spectrum
Conference this year saw the ongoing work associated on the
review of 400 MHz spectrum.  This is a band of frequencies
that also includes the 70 centimeter ham radio allocation.

Currently, the Australian amateur service has a secondary
status between 420 and 450 MHz.  In the last report from the
Australian Communications and Media Authority on its review
issued April 2010, it advised that the allocation for the
amateur service between 430 and 450 MHz would not be
affected from any rearrangement. However, they cited, a
possible need for some temporary use by other services in
the segment 440 to 450 MHz during the transition period.

In the Amateur secondary segment 420 to 430 MHz, in some
geographic areas around Australia, amateur use of that
spectrum has already been withdrawn. At the conference, the
Australian Communications and Media Authority indicated that
they will be seeking to consult with the Wireless Institute
of Australia on withdrawal of the amateur service in this
segment across the rest of that nation.

Currently, the major use of this band segment by amateurs is
fixed links and the like.  The Australian Communications and
Media Authority database lists around 126 assignments to
some 35 licensees.  It is expected these can be relocated to
the 430 to 450 MHz portion of the band.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, -- Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF,

Segment of 2m to be used for Olympics

Ofcom has announced that a small block of the amateur radio 144 MHz band is to be used for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

The RSGB have issued the following announcement:

Following negotiations to minimise the impact on amateurs, Ofcom has now announced that it will temporarily authorise a small block of 12.5kHz channels, ranging from 144.0125MHz to 144.1375MHz, for the period
27 July to 28 August 2012 only.

The frequencies to be used specifically exclude 144.0500MHz (CW Calling) and 144.1000MHz (Perseids Meteor Scatter CW Calling).
Ofcom are aware of the various amateur contests scheduled for 4 and 7 August and will work with Game users to keep operations to a minimum on these dates.

Usage of this spectrum by Games users will be in the vicinity of London Olympic venues and will be limited to handheld equipment operating on a maximum of 5W output. Ofcom emphasises that use of Primary Amateur spectrum is only for the specified time period and does not constitute a change of usage.

CEPT agreement not working in Europe

German amateur arrested in Greece

Last week, news reports came out from Greece that Baldur Drobnica, DJ6SI, had been arrested on the Greek island of Kos. He was reportedly taken into custody for the crime of espionage, which was quickly reduced to operating amateur radio equipment. This came about even though both Greece and Germany are both signatories to the CEPT pan-European Amateur Radio licensing agreement. The Radio Amateur Association of Greece are concerned that public services and institutions, particularly the police, have not been informed properly about amateur radio. DJ6SI has since returned home and is awaiting a further trip to Greece for trial. (RSGB News)