Frequency allocation (or spectrum allocation or
spectrum management) is the allocation and regulation of the
electromagnetic spectrum into radio
frequency bands, normally done by governments in most countries. Because
radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and their standardization.
ITU definition
The
International Telecommunication Union defines frequency allocation as being of "a given
frequency band for the purpose of its use by one or more terrestrial or space radiocommunication services or the
radio astronomy service under specified conditions".
[ITU Radio Regulations, Section IV. Radio Stations and Systems – Article 1.16, definition: allocation (of a frequency band).]
''Frequency allocation'' is also a special term, used in national
frequency administration. Other terms are:
Bodies
Several bodies set standards for frequency allocation, including:
*
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
*
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
*
Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL)
To improve harmonisation in spectrum utilisation, most service allocations are incorporated in national Tables of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations within the responsibility of the appropriate national administration. Allocations are:
* primary
* secondary
* exclusive or shared utilization, within the responsibility of national administrations.
Allocations of military usage will be in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. In NATO countries, military mobile utilizations are made in accordance with the
NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement __NOTOC__
NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA) and is the universal NATO common civil/military treaty to regulate the military access to the radio frequency spectrum in the range of 14 kHz to 100 GHz in peacetime, during ...
(NJFA).
Examples of frequency allocations
Some of the bands listed (e.g., amateur 1.8–29.7 MHz) have gaps / are not continuous allocations.
* BCB is an abbreviation for
broadcast band
A broadcast band is a segment of the radio spectrum used for broadcasting.
See also
* North American broadcast television frequencies
* AM broadcasting
* FM broadcasting
* Dead air
* Internet radio
* Radio network
* Music radio
* Old-time r ...
, for commercial radio news and music broadcasts.
See also
*
Spectrum management
Spectrum management is the process of regulating the use of radio frequencies to promote efficient use and gain a net social benefit.Martin Cave, Chris Doyle, William Webb, ''Modern Spectrum Management'', Cambridge University Press, 2007 The ter ...
*
Amateur radio frequency allocations
Amateur radio frequency allocation is done by national telecommunication authorities. Globally, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) oversees how much radio spectrum is set aside for amateur radio transmissions. Individual amateur ...
References
External links
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)ITU Radio Regulations - Volume 1 (Article 5)international table of frequency allocation by
ITU Region
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in its International Radio Regulations, divides the world into three ITU regions for the purposes of managing the global radio spectrum. Each region has its own set of frequency allocations, the ...
. Alternative a
ITU persistent link
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frequency allocation
Broadcast engineering
Radio resource management
Radio spectrum