Radio Astronomy and Spectrum Management: The Impact of WARC-79

As a valid use of the radio spectrum and an official radio service, radio astronomy was very much a part of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79). The allocation of frequency bands is vitally important for the sustained health of the science. WARC-79 provided first the impetus for astronomers, worldwide, to examine the allocation requirements of radio astronomy and then the opportunity to communicate those needs to the regulatory community. The characteristics of radio astronomy, the criteria for interference-free operation, possibilities for sharing with other radio services, and the need for frequency-band allocations are discussed because all bear directly on an evaluation of the Conference. The Final Acts of WARC-79 are examined from the viewpoint of their impact on radio astronomy.     

Mobile Services--The Impact of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference

The decisions of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) will have a major impact on the future development of the Mobile services. This paper summarizes the scope and structure of the Conference and details the changes in the allocations, resolutions, and recommendations which are of interest to the Mobile services. Substantial changes were made in the Maritime and Land-Mobile services and to a lesser degree to the AeronauticalMobile service. Mobile Satellite also attained footnote allocation status in two Regions (2 and 3) and in two countries of Region 1. In most part, the changes made at WARC-79 are beneficial to the future development of the Mobile Services. However, it remains for future specialized conferences to establish the bases for expanding these services in the newly allocated bands.     

Spectrum Allocations Above 40 GHz

The 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) significantly revised the International Table of Frequency Allocations above 40 GHz to reflect a high level of interest and activity in this portion of the spectrum. The new Table of Allocations was created with the objectives of stimulating development of this spectrum resource by providing guidance and protection to users and of providing each potential user bands in all parts of the spectrum suitable to his charter. Thus propagation phenomena played a major role in defining the new table-as did the desire of some Administrations to add services such as Fixed and Mobile. This paper discusses the approach used in creating the new table, summarizes the allocations, discusses some bands of special interest, indicates how future refinement of the table will likely occur, and addresses the challenge presented to the frequency manager by this part of the spectrum.     

WARC embraces PCN

A compromise reached at the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-92) concerning the international frequency allocations for personal communications systems (PCSs) is reviewed. The PCS debate at the WARC-92 resulted in the collision of two nearly polar views: that of the Europeans, whose advocacy of PCS techniques was limitless; and that of the United States, whose enthusiasm was considerably more restrained. The effects the compromise will have on PCS regulations in Europe and the United States are discussed     

U.S. Perspectives on the New Allocations Table

One of the major activities at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) was revision of the International Table of Frequency Allocations. This paper gives an overview of significant ways in which these international allocations were changed. Revisions to the U.S. national allocations are still in process; however, some comments on the national allocation table are offered.     

Terrestrial Broadcasting Changes at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference

Because all of the countries attending the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) are substantially involved in broadcasting, the discussion of broadcasting and related subjects at WARC-79 developed top level interest. The changes in the terrestrial broadcasting bands as the result of the WARC-79 negotiations were for the most part positive. Objectionable interference was removed from the LF band; the MF band in Region 2 was expanded by 110 kHz; the FM Aural broadcasting band in Region 1 was expanded by 8 MHz; some of the less usable frequencies in the Low VHF TV band were eliminated, but TV broadcasting frequency allocations were added to the High VHF band to compensate. In the use of the UHF TV band, the United States proposal to share the band on a primary basis with fixed and mobile services created substantial controversy, which lead to a reservation on the part of the United States Government. In addition to the expansion of the MF band by 110 kHz in Region 2, a proposal was made to the Region 2 MF Regional Administrative Radio Conference to adopt a 9-kHz channel spacing so the channel spacing in all three Regions would be identical. It was the proposal of the USA to use the additional channels generated by 9-kHz spacing for minority ownership, educational ownership, and to provide full-time schedules for daytime-only stations. The controversy over this change is far from being resolved, and it can be expected to be an important topic of the second meeting of the Region 2 MF Administrative Radio Conference. Plans for a High Definition broadcasting system at 12.0 GHz are also discussed.     

New waves for new systems [radio frequency spectrum allocation]

Everywhere changes in telecommunications, from liberalization of regulations to progress in radio technology, have increased the use of radio services to unforeseen levels, bringing in their wake a pandora's box of problems. In response, the world community has altered time-hallowed methods of spectrum management, not least the organization of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the way in which radio conferences are convened and scheduled. The 1995 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-95) to be held in Geneva will tackle the broad challenges of managing the frequency spectrum in a rapidly changing world. WRC-95 will consider allocations of the electromagnetic spectrum and their effects on systems vital to national economies, including mobile communication services. The thrust will be more sharply on simplification of agreements governing the spectrum's use, and on just when to make broader provision for new satellite systems for mobile communications     

Provisions for High Frequency Future Use

An area of widespread interest at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) was concerned with allocation proposals related to the modification of the high-frequency (HF) (4-27.5 MHz) portion of the spectrum. From a wide range of proposals, the Conference adopted allocation provisions that reduced the exclusive fixed-service bands by two-thirds, made significant allocations to the broadcasting and maritime-mobile services, and provided somewhat lesser spectrum provisions for the amateur service. Shared use of fixed bands by the mobile service was greatly increased. Few changes were made to aeronautical service allocations. Provisions were planned to remove an unused fixed-service assignment from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Master Frequency Register, and to provide special assistance to Less Developed Countries (LDC's) to enable them to better meet their fixed requirements. A conservative schedule of changes, through 1994, was adopted, including several specialized planning conferences to assist in optimizing the use of HF bands. With continued national needs and improved technology being developed and adopted by the ITU member countries, systems in all authorized HF services will be widely used to meet requirements of the world community for a long time to come.     

Impact of WARC-79 on the Studies of International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR)

The CCIR provided the main technical bases for the World Administrative Radio Conference, 1979, including terminology; technical bases for allocation, regulation, and for the provision for new services; characteristics of equipment and emissions; radio wave propagation and noise data. The WARC specified CCIR studies to be carried out for a number of future radio conferences to be held in the 1980-1986 time period, including a conference in 1983 to plan satellite broadcasting in the region of the Americas and a world conference in 1984/1986 concerning the geostationary satellite orbit. Additional studies set out for technical radio regulations included, for example, determination of coordination area around an Earth station in the bands from 1 to 40 GHz shared between space and terrestrial services, and other technical criteria for frequency band sharing. Over the next few years, because of the intense schedule of ITU administrative radio conferences, CCIR studies related to frequency sharing and other radio regulations will increase markedly.     

The Post-WARC Frequency Situation in Central Europe

This paper discusses the results of WARC-79 from the standpoint of a frequency manager in Central Europe. In this part of the world, extensive use is made of radio communication, and it is in close proximity to other regions with different communications needs and regulatory philosophies. Both of these factors make frequency management difficult. The paper discusses the most important decisions of the Conference as well as their impact on Central European frequency management. The bands below 30 MHz, 30-1000 MHz, 1000 MHz-40 GHz, and above 40 GHz are treated. It is concluded that WARC results, in general, are acceptable in Central Europe, although not all requirements for this region have been met. An orderly development of radio services is envisaged that will satisfy needs of the area over the next twenty years.     

The Impact of WARC-79 on the Broadcasting-Satellite Service

The World Administrative Radio Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 1979 (WARC-79) decided many of the international issues facing the Broadcasting-Satellite service (BSS) and adopted Resolutions and Recommendations dealing with most of the others. This paper identifies the BSS issues considered at WARC-79, describes the actions taken during the Conference, indicates the current status of subsequent WARC-mandated activities involving the BSS, and assesses the potential impact of the WARC on future BSS systems.     

WARC Allocations and Some of their Impacts on Japan and in Asia

This paper describes certain decisions made at the World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) held in September 1979 which will have great impact on the utilization of radio in Japan and throughout Asia and Oceania. This paper concentrates on the table of frequency allocations adopted at the conference. It also outlines some of the problems expected at the forthcoming WARC for high-frequency broadcasting (WARC-HFBC) and on the space services planning conferences.     

WARC-79 Provisions for Microwave Radio-Relay Systems

This paper reviews 1) the modest changes made by the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) in frequency allocations between 1 and 40 GHz which affect the design and operation of radio-relay systems, 2) new allocations which open up the use of frequencies between 40 and 400 GHz, and 3) the related technical regulations, particularly those governing the sharing of frequency bands with other services.     

Broadcasting

Three major allocation issues involving the broadcasting and broadcasting-satellite services that will be discussed at the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-92) are examined. They are expansion of frequencies for conventional high-frequency (shortwave) broadcasting, new frequencies for both satellite and terrestrial digital audio (radio) broadcasting to handheld and automobile receivers, and new frequencies for studio-quality high-definition television broadcasting from satellites. The bands that are viable candidates for these services are discussed     

The Canadian Approach to the Development of Communications by Satellite in the 12-GHz Band

WARC-79 made significant changes to how the 12-GHz band will be used in Region 2. In particular, it decided that the 12-GHz band in Region 2 will extend upwards the 12.7 GHz, and that the upper portion of the overall band (11.7 to 12.7 GHz), will be planned at the 1983 Regional Conference. The paper describes these allocation changes and how satellite systems are being developed in Canada under these new Regulations.     

The Impact of WARC-79 on Space Applications

Prior to the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79), no frequency bands were allocated for remotesensing measurements. Actions taken by the WARC insure that frequencies will be available for such use, and that operations can be conducted without harmful interference on a worldwide basis for the benefit of all nations. Allocations employed for transfer of scientific data from spacecraft in all regions of space from near-Earth orbit to deep-space planetary ranges were significantly improved. New global allocations for Earth exploration-satellites will permit worldwide acquisition of Earth exploration data both via direct transmission and via relay satellites. New allocations for meteorological satellite data transmission will permit wide-band applications such as direct reception of highresolution picture data by users. Satellite-aided search and rescue systems will benefit from WARC decisions to allocate frequencies exclusively for emergency radiobeacon systems using space techniques. Bands to provide links between the satellite and Earth were designated for distress and safety operations. Time and frequency services with accuracies in the 10- to 50-ps range, needed to meet future system requirements for precise time and frequency information, will be possible because of WARC actions to allocate frequency bands with suitable bandwidth for these services. The search for communications from extraterrestrial intelligence was afforded a degree of protection near several spectral lines of basic physical interest.     

WRC97竖立新的里程碑

世界无线电通信大会是达成利用无线频谱和卫星轨道全球的国际论坛。它每两个举行一次，旨在就使用无线电频谱的变化方面达成共识，并为未来的技术发展铺平道路。１９９７年１１月举行的世界无线电通信大会从许多关键领域为无线的未来发展打开了新局面，开始努力解决电视和无线广播领域长期存在的许多问题并灵活处理频谱分配中复杂度很高的问题，具有里程碑的意义。     

The WARC-79 and Papua New Guinea

This paper briefly describes Papua New Guinea, a newly independent country, its telecommunications facilities, and its proposals to the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC79), and selected WARC-79 results. The importance of the highfrequency (HF) band is emphasized. It is concluded that most of the requirements of Papua New Guinea regarding the Table of Frequency Allocations were met-although some were not met in the way in which they were first proposed.