The electromagnetic spectrum is an aspect of the physical world, like land, water, and air. The electromagnetic (EM spectrum is the range of all possible Electromagnetic radiation frequencies It is a resource, limited by its usability. 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. Radio frequency ( RF) is a Frequency or rate of Oscillation within the range of about 3 Hz to 300 GHz The electromagnetic (EM spectrum is the range of all possible Electromagnetic radiation frequencies Like weather and internationally traded goods, radio propagation and RF technology do not stop at national boundaries. Radio propagation is a term used to explain how Radio waves behave when they are Transmitted, or are propagated from one point on the Earth 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:
High-demand sections of the electromagnetic spectrum may sometimes be allocated through auctions. The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT was established on June 26, 1959 as a coordinating body for European state The European Telecommunications Standards Institute ( ETSI) is an independent non-for-profit Standardization organization of the Telecommunications The Special International Committee on Radio Interference (abbreviated CISPR from the French name of the organization Comité international spécial des perturbations A spectrum auction is a process whereby a government uses an Auction system to sell the rights to transmit signals over specific electromagnetic wavelengths.
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.
See also
- Amateur radio frequency allocations
- Bandplan
- Broadcast license
- Cellular frequencies
- Radio Resource Management (RRM)
- Ultra-wideband
- U.S. Frequency Allocation chart
External links
- ITU Radio Regulations - Volume 1 (Article 5) international table of frequencies by ITU Region
- 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). Amateur radio Frequency allocation is done by national telecommunications authorities A bandplan or band plan is a Plan for utilizing a particular band of Radio frequencies, that are a portion of the Electromagnetic spectrum A broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum licence that grants the Licensee the privilege to use a portion of the Radio frequency spectrum All cellular phone networks worldwide utilize a portion of the radio frequency spectrum designated as Ultra High Frequency, or "UHF" for the transmission Radio resource management (RRM is the system level control of Co-channel interference and other radio transmission characteristics in Wireless communication systems Ultra-wideband (aka UWB, ultra-wide band, ultraband, etc is a radio technology that can be used at very low energy levels for short-range high-bandwidth The International Telecommunication Union (ITU in its International Radio Regulations, divides the world into three ITU regions for the purposes of managing the Australian Communications and Media Authority is an Australian government agency whose main roles are to regulate Broadcasting, radiocommunications and Telecommunications
- Radio Frequency (RF) Allocations Table Chart to 30 MHz
- Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations (from Industry Canada)
- UK Frequency Allocation Table 2007 (from Ofcom, pdf format)
- US Frequency Allocation Chart - Covering the range 3 kHz to 300 GHz (from Department of Commerce)
- Galbi, Douglas (2002), Revolutionary Ideas for Radio Regulation," Section IV, Personal Freedom and Licensing. Industry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development investment and innovation/ Research and development The Office of Communications (Y Swyddfa Gyfathrebiadau or as it is more often known Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the Communication The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting Economic growth
- Electronic Frequency Allocation Table - Easy to query On-line version of the Region 1 and 3 ITU Tables.