Report No. DC-1218          ACTION IN DOCKET CASE          August 4, 1988
 
   COMMISSION ALLOCATES SPECTRUM IN THE 216-225 MHZ BAND THREE WAYS
                          (GEN. DOCKET 87-14)
 
     The Commission today divided allocation of the 216-225 MHz band three
ways.  By its action, the Commission: 1) maintained the maritime mobile
allocation in the 216-220 MHz band; 2) allocated the 220-222 MHz band to
the land mobile service; and 3) allocated the 222-225 MHz band to the
amateur service for exclusive use.
 
     A variety of factors were considered in making these allocations,
including the need to provide for narrowband land mobile operations, the
impact on the amateur use of the 220-225 MHz band, and the potential
interference to TV broadcasting, as well as the actions taken in the 1979
World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC).  As a result of the 1979
WARC, the amateurs have received several new frequency allocations.
 
     First, the Commission concluded that the public interest would be best
served by providing dedicated spectrum for the development of narrowband-
spectrum efficient land mobile technologies, if such technologies are to
have a reasonable opportunity for acceptance in the market place.  As
compared to conventional land mobile technology, narrowband technology may
provide a three to four-fold increase in the number of channels that can be
made available in a given amount of spectrum.  The Commission noted that
promoting narrowband technology for the land mobile service is consistent
with the directive of the Communications Act to encourage the provision of
new technologies and services to the public.  In considering an allocation
for narrowband land mobile service in the 220 MHz region, the Commission
noted two constraints that precluded operation in the 216-220 MHz band.
 
     The first constraint is that land mobile operation in the 216-220 MHz
band would be impractical due to the need to provide adequate protection to
TV channel 13 broadcast operation located in adjacent spectrum at 210-216
MHz.  The second is the Commission's decision not to restrain the
development of Automated Maritime Telecommunications Systems being
developed in the maritime mobile service in the 216-220 MHz band.
Consequently, after careful consideration of a variety of alternatives, the
Commission found that allocation of 220-222 MHz band was best suited for
this purpose.  The Commission noted that reallocation of this band to the
land mobile service to be shared by government and non-government users is
supported by National Telecommunication and Information Administration.
 
     With respect to amateurs, the Commission believes that they will
benefit from an exclusive allocation of the 222-225 MHz band.  The
Commission noted that several other frequency bands are available for
amateur service.  In particular, amateur bands at 28-29.7 MHz, 50-54 MHz,
144-148 MHz, 222-225 MHz, 420-450 MHz, 902-928 MHz and 1240-1300 MHz
support amateur operations similar to the 220-222 MHz band.
 
     Several hundred channels will remain available for amateurs to use for
emergency communications, which should meet the local area communication
requirements of any emergency or natural disaster.  Taking these factors,
along with others into consideration, the Commission found the reallocation
of the 220-222 MHz band to be in the public interest.
 
     The Commission reiterated its continued support for the amateur
service.  It recognizes that amateurs have a long history of public service
and of providing assistance in emergencies, including national and
international disasters.  Further, amateurs are a vital resource of persons
knowledgeable in the radio art and have had a long history of contributions
to the advance of radio science.  The three megahertz allocated to amateurs
on an exclusive basis in this proceeding, together with the many other
amateur bands, should continue to provide adequately for this service.
 
     The Commission noted that the 220-225 MHz band is currently allocated
internationally on a co-primary basis to the fixed, mobile, radiolocation
and amateur services as resulting from actions of the WARC.  The
radiolocation service will become secondary on January 1, 1990, and no new
station may be authorized for this service.  In implementing these
allocations domestically in 1984, the Commission conformed the domestic
allocations to the international allocations.  However, the Commission
stated that the fixed and mobile services would not be implemented until a
proceeding was initiated to determine precisely how the band would be
shared among the various services and between Federal and public users.
The Commission stated that the basic principle that would apply is the
equality of right to operate.  In the meantime, amateur use of the 220-225
MHz band, which had formerly been secondary in this band, was permitted to
continue.  Today's action resolves the sharing issue.
 
      The Commission pointed out that this proceeding only addressed
frequency allocations and not service rules and that a new proceeding would
be initiated to develop procedural and technical rules for licensing
private land mobile operations in the 220-222 MHz band.
 
     However, since the 220-222 MHz band is to be shared between government
and non-government users, the development of coordination procedures is
needed.  Consequently, neither government nor non-government users will be
allowed access to the 220-225 MHz band until the Commission has adopted
final service rules.
 
     Amateurs are also advised to begin an orderly transition of on-going
operations in the 220-222 MHz band to other amateur service frequency bands
in order to avoid an abrupt termination of such activities.
 
     Action by the Commission August 4, 1988, by Report and Order (R&O
number to be specified).
 
                             -FCC-