The Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society

Foundation holders to get 10 metres
by OFCOM

Foundation holders to get 10 metres from 1st October
Ofcom have announced on their web site that they plan to allow amateur radio Foundation licence holders to use to the 10 metre band with effect from 1st October 2006.

The document IR-2028 can be seen at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/interface_req/ir_2028.pdf

10 metres was originally left out of BR-68F due to concerns that were raised about the bands proximity to 27 MHz. Since investigating the validity of these concerns would have delayed the launch of the Foundation licence it was decided at the time to remove the band completely from BR-68F.

One suprising omission from the document is that Foundation holders are not yet being given access to the Amateur Satellite Service. The major anomaly is that Foundation holders are allowed to transmit on the Satellite frequencies but they can't actaully use the satellites for communication.

Over two years ago the regulator agreed to allow Foundation holders access to part of the Amateur Satellite Service in that communication was permitted with Astronuats on the ISS or Space Shuttle. (Amateur operation by Astronuats comes under the Amateur Satellite Service). There is no reference to this in IR-2028 so it is unclear if Ofcom are poposing to withdraw this facility.

The UK is the only country that prevents it's Foundation licencees using the Amateur Satellites. AMSAT-UK has been campaigning for past 4 years for the inclusion of the Amateur Satellite Service in BR-68F.