In article .net,
Michael Black wrote:

On Sun, 29 Jul 2012, Fred McKenzie wrote:

I am interested in the 70 MHz band that is currently authorized in some
European countries. I understand the frequency is no longer used by the
U.S. television system, so it could be authorized here in the future as
well.

One doesn't mean the other. One reason the 11metre band disappeared to CB
was because it wasn't an international allocation. Same with 220Mhz, even
144MHz, only some of it's an international allocation.

Yes, some work has been done to internationalize things, but that tends to
be to give some specific change, like in the low frequency allocations.
That gives a whole different propagation situation.

So just because there's a 70MHz allocation somewhere doesn't mean it will
come to North America. And for that matter, just because a frequency
range may become available doens't mean it will go to amateur radio.

Note that history shows we've lost more vhf/uhf allocations over time than
HF allocations, indeed, we've gained some in HF.

Michael-

I don't know all the legalities, but NK1G's comments are probably the
main reason it will not happen any time soon. I was not aware that
there were still Television stations using the frequency.

In the meantime, I would like to listen to see if I can hear the
Europeans during band openings. I could construct a converter, but it
would be easier if the TM-742's 50 MHz module worked there. I guess
I'll have to try it to find out.

It just occurred to me that not all 70 MHz activity would be on FM, as
is the case on the 50 MHz band. Perhaps a converter isn't such a bad
idea!

Fred
K4DII