Allocation Table and Footnotes

• Below 27.5 MHz
• 27.5 MHz to 10 GHz
• Above 10 GHz

• International
• US
• Government
• Non-Government

4.1.1 ITU Table of Frequency Allocations

The ITU Table of Frequency Allocations is that table contained in Article 8 of the ITU Radio Regulations, 1982 Edition.

4.1.2 National Table of Frequency Allocations

The National Table of Frequency Allocations is comprised of the U.S. Government Table of Frequency Allocations and the FCC Table of Frequency Allocations. The National Table indicates the normal national frequency allocation planning and the degree of conformity with the ITU Table. When required in the national interest and consistent with national rights, as well as obligations undertaken by the United States to other countries that may be affected, additional uses of frequencies in any band may be authorized to meet service needs other than those provided for in the National Table.

Specific exceptions to the National Table of Frequency Allocations are as follows:

A Government frequency assignment may be authorized in a non-Government band, as an exception, provided a) the assignment is coordinated with the FCC and b) no harmful interference will be caused to the service rendered by non-Government stations, present or future.

A non-Government frequency assignment may be authorized in a Government band, as an exception, provided a) the assignment is coordinated with the IRAC and b) no harmful interference will be caused to the service rendered by Government stations, present or future.

In the case of bands shared by Government and non-Government services, frequency assignments therein shall be subject to coordination between the IRAC and the FCC and no priority is recognized unless the terms of such priority are specifically defined in the National Table of Frequency Allocations or unless they are subject to mutually agreed arrangements in specific cases.

4.1.3 U.S. Government Table of Frequency Allocations

The U.S. Government Table of Frequency Allocations shall be used as a guide in the assignment of radio frequencies to Government radio stations in the United States and Posses- sions. Exceptions to the Table may be made by the IRAC after careful consideration to avoid harmful interference and to ensure compliance with the ITU Radio Regulations.

For the use of frequencies by Government radio stations outside the United States and Possessions, Government agencies shall be guided insofar as practicable by the ITU Table of Frequency Allocations and, where applicable, by the authority of the host government. Maxi- mum practicable effort should be made to avoid the possibility of harmful interference to other authorized U.S. operations. If harmful interference is considered likely, it is incumbent upon the agency conducting the operation to coordinate with other U.S. Flag users, as provided for in Section 8.3.11.

Application of the U.S. Government Table is subject to the recognition that:

below 25000 kHz the Table is only applicable in the assignment of frequencies after September 5, 1961;

under Article 38 of the International Telecommunication Convention, administrations "retain their entire freedom with regard to military radio installations of their army, naval and air forces"; and under No. 342 of the ITU Radio Regulations, administrations may assign frequencies in derogation of the ITU Table of Frequency Allocations "on the express condition that harmful interference shall not be caused to services carried on by stations operating in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and of these Regulations."

Some frequency assignments below 25000 kHz that were made before September 5, 1961, are not in conformity with the Government Table. Because of the exception mentioned in the first subparagraph above, the status of these assignments can be determined only on a case-by-case basis. With this exception, the rules pertaining to the relative status between radio services are as follows:

Primary and permitted services have equal rights, except that, in the preparation of fre- quency plans, the primary service, as compared with the permitted service, shall have prior choice of frequencies.

Secondary services are on a non-interference basis to the primary and permitted services. Stations of a secondary service:

(a) shall not cause harmful interference to stations of primary or permitted services to which frequencies are already assigned or to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date;

(b) cannot claim protection from harmful interference from stations of a primary or permitted service to which frequencies are already assigned or may be assigned at a later date;

(c) can claim protection, however, from harmful interference from stations of the same or other secondary service(s) to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date.

Additional allocation - where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as "also allocated" to a service in an area smaller than a Region, or in a particular country. For example, an allocation which is added in this area or in this country to the service or services which are indicated in the Table.

Alternative allocation - where a band is indicated in a footnote of the Table as "allocated" to one or more services in an area smaller than a Region, or in a particular country. For example, an allocation which replaces, in this area or in this country, the allocation indicated in the Table.

Different category of service - where the allocation category (primary, permitted, or secondary) of the service in the Table is changed. For example, the Table reflects the allocation as Fixed, Mobile and RADIOLOCATION, the category of these services are changed by the footnote to FIXED, MOBILE and Radiolocation.

An allocation or a footnote to the Government Table denoting relative status between radio services automatically applies to each assignment in the band to which the footnote or allocation pertains, unless at the time of a particular frequency assignment action a different provision is decided upon for the assignment concerned.

A priority note reflecting the same provisions as an allocation or an applicable footnote to the Government Table is redundant and shall not be applied to frequency assignments.

An assignment that is in conformity with the service allocation (as amplified by pertinent footnotes) for the band in which it is contained takes precedence over assignments therein that are not in conformity unless, at the time of the frequency assignment action, a different provision is decided upon.

Where in this Table a band is indicated as allocated to more than one service, such services are listed in the following order:

(a) services, the names of which are printed in all capital letters (example: FIXED); these services are called "primary" services;

(b) services, the names of which are printed in "capitals between oblique strokes" (example: /RADIOLOCATION/); these are called "permitted" services;

(c) services, the names of which are printed in "normal characters" (example: Mobile); these are "secondary" services.

The columns to the right of the double line show the national provisions; those to the left show the provisions of the ITU Table of Frequency Allocations.

Column 1 indicates the national band limits.

Column 2 indicates the Government allocation, including all "US" and "G" footnotes considered to be applicable to the Government nationally. Where the allocated service is followed by a function in parentheses, e.g., SPACE (space-to-Earth), the allocation is limited to the function shown.

Column 3 indicates the non-Government allocation including all "US" footnotes, and certain "NG" footnotes as contained in Part 2 of the FCC Rules and Regulations. Where the allocated service is followed by a function in parentheses, e.g., SPACE (space-to-Earth), the allocation is limited to the function shown. These data have been included in the Government Table for information purposes only.

Column 4 contains such remarks as serve to amplify the Government and non-Government allocations or point up understanding between the FCC and IRAC/NTIA in respect thereof.

The international footnotes shown in the columns to the left of the double line are applicable only in the relationships between the United States and other countries. An interna- tional footnote is applicable to the U.S. Table of Allocations if the number also appears in Columns 2 and 3 of the U.S. Table. The international footnote is then applicable to both Government and non-Government use.

The texts of footnotes in this Table are listed in numerical order in sections headed Government Footnotes, U.S. Footnotes, International Footnotes, and NG Footnotes.