2006 Operating on the 614 - 622 MHz band

Conditions for access

(The content of this document was developed by FMTAG, cleared by MED RSM in a letter of 3 August 2006 and issued by NZART Council on 11 August 2006.)

The band 614-622 MHz is not an amateur band.

Spectrum Licences are required for the operation of ATV (amateur television) repeaters on this band. Input to the repeaters may be from any appropriate amateur band making the repeaters open to all individual radio amateurs in the usual amateur radio way.

FMTAG arranges the engineering work for ATV repeater licences. The licences require engineering coordination with other licensed non-amateur users of a site, Management Rights owners and with holders of other Spectrum Licences. Technical coordination is facilitated by MED.

NZART holds many licences for ATV repeaters on 614 to 622 MHz. These are at selected hilltops throughout New Zealand. Exact licence details can be obtained from FMTAG.

All ATV repeater sites have been chosen to dominate the surrounding area and many are suitable for contests and experimental activity. By local agreement with the users, these ATV repeaters can be individually turned off for the period of a contest or for experimental activity.

The ATV repeaters are licensed at precise locations and most are on private land. Accessible public land is within the MED's 100 metre location tolerance for licensing.

Operation from other prominent hilltops for contest and experimental activity can be considered by FMTAG and assuming adequate and timely preliminary information, a temporary licence may be possible.

The organisers of a contest or experimental activity involving this band are to include the following words in the rules for the contest:

When submitting a 614 MHz to 622 MHz band contest log, a certificate is to be provided by the chief operator of the contest station that:

• the contest or experimental station was operated by NZART members (NZART is the holder of the ATV repeater licence),
• local ATV repeater trustees agreed with the turn-off of the ATV repeater for the period of the contest or experimental activity, and,
• the contest or experimental transmissions complied with the licensed power.

Experimenters using this facility are to make a similar report to FMTAG and include the nature, dates and times of their activities.

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Attachment: MED RSM Letter POL/1/24/3/1 of 3 August 2006.

File No: POL/1/24/3/1 3 August 2006

Fred Johnson
NZART Administration Liaison Officer
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters
PO Box 40525
UPPER HUTT

Dear Fred Johnson

CHANGE IN LICENSING REGIME: 614 - 646 MHZ BAND

Thank you for meeting with us on 26 July 2006 to discuss the creation of a Management Right for the 614-646 MHz band. This letter confirms the discussion and outcomes of that meeting.

* Pursuant to Cabinet decisions, the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) will proceed with creating a Management Right in the 614-646 MHz spectrum block.

* Technical coordination of use of the Management Right for broadcasting and amateur radio purposes will continue to be facilitated by the MED.

* Registration of a Management Right automatically cancels any radio licences in the relevant bands. The MED will therefore issue Spectrum Licences to the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) that will enable the continued operation of NZART's licenced Amateur Television (ATV) repeaters. In some cases it may be necessary to clarify the present technical parameters of existing licences and the MED will liaise on a case by case basis as necessary.

* All ATV repeater sites have been chosen to dominate the surrounding area and many are suitable for contests and experimental activity. By agreement within NZART, these repeaters can be individually turned off for the period of a contest or for experimental activity.

* It is recognised that individual amateurs will from time to time operate from the locations of NZART licences within the parameters of the Spectrum Licence for that particular ATV repeater.

* The ATV repeaters are mostly located on private land. Accessible public land is generally nearby, within the practical tolerance expected of a grid reference, and such land may be used by individual amateurs.

* Operation from other prominent hilltops for contest and experimental activity can be considered by NZART and assuming adequate and timely preliminary information, a temporary licence may be possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or comments. I would appreciate any feedback before 14 August 2006.

Yours sincerely
Ian Hutchings
Senior Policy Analyst
Radio Spectrum Policy & Planning
Resources and Networks Branch