Frequency allocation

The electromagnetic spectrum is an aspect of the physical world which, like land, water, and air, is subject to usage limitations. Use of radio frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum is regulated by governments in most countries, in a process known as frequency allocation or spectrum allocation. Like weather and pollution, radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries. Giving technical and economic reasons, governments have sought to harmonise spectrum allocation standards.

A number of forums and standards bodies work on standards for frequency allocation, including:
* International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
* European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
* European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
* International Special Committee on Radio Interference (Comité international spécial des perturbations radioélectriques - CISPR)

High-demand sections of the electromagnetic spectrum may sometimes be allocated through auctions.

The range of "radio frequencies" is a matter of international convention. At the international radio conference at Atlantic City in 1947, Hertzian (radio) waves were defined as electromagnetic waves of frequencies between 10 Kc/s and 3000000 Mc/s. The lower limit was dropped in subsequent international radio regulations. More recently there have been proposals to raise the upper limit.

As a matter of physics, many objects and actions generate low-level, wide-band radiation. The frequency allocation process traditionally has not been concerned with many types of radiation.

ee also

*Amateur radio frequency allocations
*Bandplan
*Broadcast license
*Cellular frequencies
*Radio Resource Management (RRM)
*Ultra-wideband
*

External links

* [http://www.itu.int/publications/publications.aspx?lang=en&parent=R-REG&selection=1&sector=1 ITU Radio Regulations - Volume 1 (Article 5)] international table of frequencies by ITU Region
* [http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainterwr/radcomm/frequency_planning/spectrum_plan/arsp-wc.pdf Australian radiofrequency spectrum allocations chart (PDF file 139kb)] (from the Australian Communications and Media Authority) On 1 July 2005, the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority merged to become the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
* [http://www.retards.org/library/technology/electronics/radio/frequency_guide_0-30MHz.txt Radio Frequency (RF) Allocations Table Chart to 30 MHz]
* [http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/vwapj/spectallocation.pdf/%24FILE/spectallocation.pdf Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations] (from Industry Canada)
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/isu/ukfat/ukfat07.pdf UK Frequency Allocation Table 2007] (from Ofcom, pdf format)
* [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html US Frequency Allocation Chart] - Covering the range 3 kHz to 300 GHz (from Department of Commerce)
*Galbi, Douglas (2002), [http://www.galbithink.org/rad.htm Revolutionary Ideas for Radio Regulation] ," Section IV, [http://www.galbithink.org/r4.htm Personal Freedom and Licensing] .
* [http://www.icc-uk.com/efat.php Electronic Frequency Allocation Table] - Easy to query On-line version of the Region 1 and 3 ITU Tables.