Spectrum Use Summary (225 - 960 MHz)

Compiled as of August 11, 1994

This document represents an overview of Federal and nonfederal spectrum use. In order to serve its purpose as a quick reference, its length has been limited. Therefore, it is not all inclusive in its portrayal of U.S. spectrum requirements or its representation of the allocation table.

Uses are stated in terms of general functions and actual equipment names are not specified. Federal systems and missions which would have necessitated classification of the summary have been omitted, though they represent significant Federal requirements. Also, Federal agencies lease many services from private sector providers. As written, this summary indicates these uses only as nongovernment use of the frequency spectrum. Furthermore, no attempt has been made to evaluate the level of investment of funds in the uses that are discussed.

Allocations, by footnote, to very limited locations have generally been omitted. The summaries of Federal uses have been written to emphasize, to the greatest extent possible, the missions performed, as opposed to the agencies that perform them.

225-328.6 and 335.4-399.9 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use


Government Allocation and Use

FIXED (FN G27 military only)
MOBILE (FN G27 military only)
MOBILE-SATELLITE (FN G100 235-322 and 335-399.9, military only)
These bands are heavily used throughout the U.S. for critical military air traffic control and tactical training communications. Specific functions of tactical training include air-ground-air communications for combat weapons training carried out at and in the vicinity of all major air bases and military training areas in the U.S.
Tactical and strategic military satellite communications, essential to linking the activities of ground, air, surface, and subsurface mobile platforms, are conducted in this band under G100.
Also, rocket test and test data telemetry operations are performed in this band.
328.6-335.4 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION
Commercial aircraft use the Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) glideslope for approach and landing.

Government Allocation and Use

AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION
This band is set aside on a worldwide basis for operation of aircraft ILS glideslope signal and serves as a critical part of the National Airspace System. ILS service to international carriers is required under agreements with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
399.9-400.05 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

RADIONAVIGATION SATELLITE
Commercial shipping makes extensive use of TRANSIT-SAT signals for radionavigation.

Government Allocation and Use

RADIONAVIGATION SATELLITE
TRANSIT-SAT (polar orbiting satellite) downlink transmissions in this band support worldwide navigation.
Government use of the mobile-satellite service is limited by US319 to earth stations operating with nongovernment satellites.
400.05-400.15 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

STD FREQ & TIME

Government Allocation and Use

STD FREQ & TIME
This band is set aside on a worldwide basis for distribution, via satellite, of standard time and frequency signals used for purposes such as industrial and scientific research. There is presently no use within the U.S.
400.15-406 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

METEOROLOGICAL AIDS (Radiosonde)
SPACE RESEARCH (400.15-401)
SPACE OPERATION (primary 401-402, secondary 400.15-401)
MOBILE-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) (400.15-401)
Meteorological satellite (401-403)
Earth Exploration Satellite (401-403)
Meteorological radiosondes and satellites
The FCC has recently allocated this band for operations using nongeostationary nonvoice mobile satellite systems (Little LEOS).

Government Allocation and Use

METEOROLOGICAL AIDS (Radiosonde)
SPACE RESEARCH (400.15-401)
METEOROLOGICAL- SATELLITE (space-to-Earth 400.15-401)
Meteorological-satellite (Earth-to-space 401-403)
SPACE OPERATION (primary 401-402, secondary 400.15-401)
MOBILE-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) (400.15-401)
Earth Exploration Satellite (401-403)
Fixed (FN G6 military 403-406)
Mobile (FN G6 military 403-406)
This band is extensively used worldwide for gathering meteorological data for weather prediction, severe storm warning, public safety and research. The data is gathered by three technologies: satellite imagery, radiosondes, and wind profiler radars.
The Department of Commerce operates the GOES and TIROS-N satellites used for weather tracking and prediction. This information is essential for severe storm notification and public safety, and is used daily in TV and radio broadcast weather reporting to the public.
The Department of Defense plans to implement Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) downlinks to furnish weather data to light-weight, highly transportable DOD terminals intended for a variety of tactical missions.
Radiosondes are operated nationwide by numerous Federal agencies to gather local weather data. These small, inexpensive transmitters are attached to balloons and provide wind velocity, temperature, atmospheric pressure and humidity at various altitudes. Their availability is essential to aviation activities, as well as space launches. The data gathered by radiosondes are exchanged internationally for worldwide weather prediction and research.
Government use of the mobile-satellite service is limited by US319 to earth stations operating with nongovernment satellites.
406-406.1 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

MOBILE SATELLITE
Emergency position beacons

Government Allocation and Use

MOBILE SATELLITE
Emergency position beacons are operated in this band on a worldwide basis, supported by the joint U.S. SARSAT/Soviet COSPAS satellite network for worldwide air, sea, and land rescue.
406.1-420 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

RADIO ASTRONOMY (406.1-410)
Fixed (FN US13 hydrological and meteorological data - designated frequencies)

Government Allocation and Use

FIXED
MOBILE
RADIO ASTRONOMY (406.1-410)
This band is one of the principal bands supporting Federal land mobile communications. Important functions include law enforcement, protection of the President and other dignitaries, resource management, disaster and emergency response, and support for public health and power generation activities. This band will accommodate future growth from the very congested 162-174 MHz band. Communications using trunking techniques are being implemented by many agencies to ensure efficient spectrum use.
Fixed links are used in this band for transmission of airport windshear data, flood warning and other environmental data, for law enforcement, for public dissemination of weather warning and disaster information, and for other critical activities.
There are also radio astronomy observations at several sites across the U.S.
420-450 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

Amateur
Amateur satellite (FN664 435-438)
Amateur weak signal modes (432-433), television (420-432, 438-444), repeaters (442-450), auxiliary links (433-435). There is also some use of spread spectrum and other modes. Amateur satellite activities are conducted (435-438) under RR 664.
Land mobile systems are operated along the Canadian border in accordance with US 230.

Government Allocation and Use

RADIOLOCATION
This band is used for long-range surveillance on land based, ship, and airborne platforms. These uses are essential to the nation's early warning capability, law enforcement, and tracking objects in space. These systems operate with very high power and wide bandwidths.
This band is becoming increasingly important for detection of low observable targets. This band is the only military radiolocation band currently available for this frequency sensitive function.
The frequency 449 MHz has recently been authorized for nonmilitary use of wind profilers. Rapid implementation of this use is expected.
NASA and military use of telemetry and telecommand is also extensive.
450-470 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

LAND MOBILE
Space Research and Space Operations (FN664 450 MHz)
Earth Exploration-Satellite (FN US201 460-470)
Remote pickup broadcast (450-451, 455-456)
Public safety, industrial, land transportation (451-454, 456-459, 460-462.5375, 462.7375-467.5375, 467.7375-470)
Domestic public (454-455, 459-460)
Personal (462.5375-462.7375, 467.5375-467.7375)

Government Allocation and Use

Meteorological Satellite (460-470)
Space Research and Space Operations (FN664 450 MHz)
Earth Exploration-Satellite (FN US 201 460-470)
GOES and TIROS satellite downlinks for integration of data collection platforms operate in this band.
Veteran's medical programs depend upon the use of biomedical telemetry and telecommunications in conjunction with nongovernment medical activities.
470-512 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

BROADCASTING
LAND MOBILE
TV channels 14-20, Public safety, Industrial, Land transportation, Domestic public

Government Allocation and Use

512-608 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

and
614-806
BROADCASTING
TV channels 21-36, and 38-69, Auxiliary broadcasting

Government Allocation and Use

608-614 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

RADIO ASTRONOMY

Government Allocation and Use

RADIO ASTRONOMY
There are few Federal assignments in this band for other than experimental use. However, radio astronomy usually involves passive operations that do not require an assignment. This band is used for international collaborations in Very Long Baseline Interferometry and will continue to be used for this purpose as the VLBA antennas come on line. The band is also used for observations by the Air Force Radio Solar Telescope Network.
806-902 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

LAND MOBILE
Private land mobile (806-824, 851-869, 896-901)
Domestic public land mobile (824-849, 869-894)
Aeronautical public correspondence-airphone (849-851, 894-896)
General purpose mobile (901-902)

Government Allocation and Use

This band is used for high-power U.S. Navy shipborne long-range search radars under footnotes US268 and G2. These radars serve a critical role in defense of the fleet.
902-928 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

Amateur
Amateur weak signal modes (902-904), digital communications, repeaters, spread spectrum and other modes (904-928).
Automatic vehicle monitoring (902-912 and 918-928 as authorized by FN US218), ISM, and Part 15 spread spectrum devices.

Government Allocation and Use

RADIOLOCATION
Fixed (FN G11)
Mobile (FN G11)
This band is used predominantly for military radiolocation systems. These include low-power devices, such as those for tactical and nontactical intrusion detection at military facilities, and high-power radars used for long-range search, many of which are employed on U.S. Navy ships and aircraft or at shore stations. These radars serve a critical role in defense of the fleet.
Federal mobile communications applications include video surveillance for law enforcement missions, transmission of infrared scanner imagery during overflights of disaster areas, and use of high power packet radio systems.
Fixed use includes point-to-point TV links for monitoring unmanned ports of entry along borders. Though most low capacity links will be moving to the 932-935 MHz and 941-944 MHz bands, this band will continue to be used for a variety of resource management, power administration and law enforcement purposes, as necessary.
928-929 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

FIXED
Private fixed microwave, Domestic public land mobile, Private land mobile. Systems in this band provide one way and two way interrogate/response data transmission services such as: remote control of electric power networks, burglar and fire alarm monitoring, and other telemetry applications. For two way systems, the band is paired with 952-953 MHz band.

Government Allocation and Use

929-932 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

LAND MOBILE
Domestic public land mobile, Private land mobile

Government Allocation and Use

932-935 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

and 941-944
FIXED
This band is paired with the 941-944 MHz band and channelized for point-to-point voice and data services. The 932-932.5 MHz end of the band is used for the single channel response from a remote location for point to multipoint multiple address services.

Government Allocation and Use

FIXED
The 932-935 MHz and 941-944 MHz bands are shared by government and nongovernment fixed service users. It has recently been allocated for Federal use. Use for low-capacity fixed systems is anticipated.
Many Federal agencies expect heavy government and nongovernment use for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications. Functions include support for aviation activities, remote meter reading for electric power marketing, and light route
935-941 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

LAND MOBILE
Private land mobile trunked and conventional systems in 12.5 kHz channels paired with 896-901 MHz.

Government Allocation and Use

944-960 MHz

Non-Government Allocation and Use

FIXED
Auxiliary broadcasting, Domestic public fixed, International fixed public, Private fixed microwave. The 944-952 MHz is portion is used primarily for radio broadcast stations studio-to-transmitter links (STLs) and intercity relays. These carry frequency modulated stereophonic audio program material, plus ancillary carriers for remote control of transmitters and Subsidiary Com- munications Authorization (SCA) channels. The 952-953 MHz portion is used in combination with 928-929 MHz. The 953-960 MHz portion is primarily used for fixed point-to-point communications. The band is segmented as 953.00-956.15 MHz for go and 956.55-959.75 MHz for return operation.

Government Allocation and Use



Advanced TSCM Signals Detection and Analysis
TSCM - Sweeping the Spectrum for Eavesdropping Devices



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