Chapter 10

Radio Frequencies
ITU Allocation of Frequencies
A system of allocating specific bands of frequencies to recognized radio
services throughout the world has been evolved over the years through the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United
Nation. The ITU is the international body in which the nations of the world cooperate
for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications.
The ITU has an International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) which
checks to see if frequency notifications on behalf of national administrations are
accord with International Regulation and whether they would cause harmful
interference.
The objectives in regulating the use of the radio frequency spectrum are: to
ensure effective, efficient and prudent use of the radio frequency spectrum, to be
able to comply with the telecommunications rationalization program and the
restructuring of the usage of the radio frequency spectrum. (MOTC Circular No. 8280, December 6, 1982).
The conditions and requirements for the frequency assignments:
1. Applications for radio frequencies shall be subject to the criteria,
rules and regulations established and updated by the NTC;
2. The list of priorities shall be based on national need, safety,
security, economic development, and the nature of operations of
applicants;
3. All radio frequency assignments shall be subject to shared usage,
unless otherwise authorized by the NTC for sole use. (MOTC Circular
No. 82-80).
What priority applications for frequencies may be accepted for processing and
evaluation by the NTC?
The following priority applications may be accepted for processing and
evaluation:
1. Application for additional stations using applicants existing radio
frequencies;
2. Applications for the transfer of station location using applicants
existing radio frequencies;
3. Applications for sharing frequencies.
The general rules for the assignment and use of frequencies are:

1. Members (countries) shall endeavor to limit the number of frequencies

and the spectrum space used to the minimum essential to provide in a
satisfactory manner the necessary services.
2. Members undertake that in assigning frequencies to stations which are
capable of causing harmful interference to the services rendered by the
stations of another country, such assignments are to be made in
accordance with the Table of Frequency allocations of the International
Radio Regulations.
3. Any new assignments or any change of frequency or other basic
characteristic of an existing assignment shall be made in such a way as to
avoid causing harmful interference to services rendered by stations using
frequencies

assigned

in

accordance

with

the

Table

of

Frequency

Allocations in this chapter and the provisions of these Regulations (IRR),

the characteristics of which assignments are recorded in the Master
International Frequency Register.
4. Administration of the Members shall not assign to a station any frequency
in derogation of either the Table of Frequency Allocations given in this
Chapter or the other provisions of the International Radio Regulations,
except on the express condition that harmful interference shall not be
caused to services carried no by stations operating in accordance with the
provisions of the Convention and these Regulations.
5. The frequency assigned to a station of a given service shall be separated
from the limits of the band shall allocated to this service in such a way
that, taking account of the frequency band assigned to a station, no
harmful interference is caused to services which frequency bands
immediately adjoining are allocated.
6. For the purpose of resolving cases of harmful interference, the radio
astronomy service shall be treated as a radiocommunication service.
7. For the purpose of resolving cases of harmful interference, the space
research (passive) service and the earth exploration satellite (passive)
service shall be afforded protection from different services in other hands
only to the extent that these different services are protected from each
other.
8. Where, in adjacent Regions or sub-regions, a band of frequencies is
allocated to different services of the same category, the basic principle is
the equality of right to operate.
9. No provision of these Regulations prevents the use by a station in distress
of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to attract attention,
make known its condition and location, and obtained assistance.
10.No provision of these Regulations prevents the use by a station, in the
exceptional circumstances, of any means of radiocommunication at its
disposal to assist a station in distress. (Chapter III, Article 6, Sections 339348)