29 September 2004

Amateur Radio operators in the United Kingdom hope to soon have a bigger 40
meter band. UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom http://www.ofcom.org.uk/
has announced plans to extend 40 metres by an additional 100 kHz to
7000-7200 kHz for Foundation, Intermediate and Full Amateur Radio licensees
in the UK.

Ofcom says the band extension would be a secondary allocation to the Amateur
Service on the basis that amateurs not cause interference to other services
within or outside the UK. Allowable modes would include CW, phone, RTTY,
data, facsimile and SSTV. Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) Spectrum
Forum Chairman and HF Manager Colin Thomas, G3PSM, says that barring the
unlikely event of an objection, the additional 100 kHz should become
available to UK amateurs Sunday, 31 October.

Ofcom has invited comments on the proposal until 23 October.

http://www.arrl.org/