I should have waited a couple more hours before putting out the week's WRC-07 release. The 5-MHz issue was decided a few minutes ago, and unfortuinately the conclusion was negative. Here is a revised release. Dave K1ZZ WRC-07 Week 3: HF Broadcasting Empty-Handed, No 5-MHz Amateur Allocation As the International Telecommunication Union's 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva headed toward its fourth and final week, the proponents of additional allocations to HF Broadcasting conceded defeat and accepted that there will be no additional allocations made to HFBC at this conference. The slim possibility of a 5-MHz allocation to the amateur service also evaporated late Friday evening. HFBC has been a contentious issue at ITU conferences for decades. At WRC-07, additional HFBC allocations between 4 and 10 MHz were supported by 25 European administrations and a few outside Europe but were strongly opposed by every other regional organization. Opposition to additional HFBC allocations was based mainly on a desire to protect military and other government fixed and mobile communications, although some of the administrations that were the most outspoken opponents of HFBC expansion authorize HFBC stations under their jurisdiction to operate out-of-band in the fixed and mobile allocations. Some HFBC proponents predict that the unsatisfactory outcome of the conference on this issue will lead to even more out-of-band broadcasting. A footnote specifically authorizing administrations to allow amateur stations to use spot frequencies in the 5-MHz range was considered Friday evening at the Sub Working Group level as one of the last items of business concerning the 4-10 MHz range. The footnote failed to attract sufficient support and was withdrawn from consideration by its sponsor, the European regional organization (CEPT). This has no effect on the administrations that have authorized amateur operations under the no-interference provisions of Radio Regulation 4.4. On a more positive note for radio amateurs, a secondary allocation of 135.7-137.8 kHz to the amateur service was approved on first reading in Plenary on Friday afternoon, November 9. This marks the first time since allocations to radio services began that the amateur service has had an allocation below the medium wave broadcasting band. The effective date is not yet set but is likely to be the date of entry into force of the Final Acts of the Conference. Of course, amateurs must wait until their own administrations authorize the new allocation before they can use it. Some administrations, while not wishing to block the international allocation, have indicated a reluctance to implement it in their countries because of various interference concerns. Work continues on the agenda for future WRCs, tentatively scheduled for 2011 and 2015. There are many more proposals for agenda items for the next conference than can be accommodated, so only those with broad support are likely to be included. Committee work on the future agendas is scheduled for completion early next week. Members of the core team of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) continue to attend the relevant meetings and work the halls on behalf of the amateur and amateur-satellite services. Support from numerous members of national delegations remains a vital component of this effort. On Tuesday evening, November 6 the International Amateur Radio Club, 4U1ITU, held a dinner with a new amateur licensee, ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré, HB9EHT as the guest of honor. There were 43 members and guests present, including WRC-07 delegates from more than a dozen countries -- several heads and deputy heads of delegation among them. The club station is active on the air under the special call sign 4U1WRC. - David Sumner, K1ZZ, IARU Secretary