A structured way to achieve Amateur access to the 70 MHz band

Suggestions from Bo OZ2M and Ivan OZ7IS

Although an increasing number of countries enjoy radio amateur access to the 4 m band, there are many where individual amateurs, or their national societies, are trying to gain an allocation. Here are some suggestions from Denmark on a strategy to achieve this goal:

1) In your own country, and its neighbouring territories, find out whether new Land Mobile Radio users get allocation in the 70 MHz band or are assigned to the VHF, UHF or Tetra areas. If nothing is said about Tetra in the national frequency allocation plan find out in what direction the authorities would like the development to go.

2) Identify free Land Mobile Radio channels in the 70 - 70.5 MHz range in your region, including adjacent countries. Also take a look at frequencies outside 70 - 70.5 MHz, e.g. 69.800 - 70.000 MHz and 70.500 - 70.700 MHz.

3) Consider a temporary license from e.g. 1 May until 1 September. This might be easier for the authorities to grant as they do not have to make a permanent decision. Furthermore less senior officials may be authorities to make such a decision.

4) Apply for a beacon on one of the channels.

5) Apply for ham usage of one or more channels. Getting just one channel will do for a start. Even if a lot of restrictions apply, e.g. power, ERP, polarisation, modes, areas, license classes, time of day. Just a ham organisation headquarter FM station will put a foot in the door.

6) Work towards getting a segment of the band. Consider paying existing Land Mobile Radio users for moving to a new channel. You can also offer to do the administrative paperwork for them. Some of the existing Land Mobile Radio users may use old equipment and if a friendly ham that already works for e.g. Motorola can do it for them they might not mind at all if they can also get a free tune up or the like.
It might even happen that when you contact an existing user they no longer use the assigned channel as they have been using mobile phones for years. The annual licensing fee is being paid by a bookkeeper who thinks that these kind of fees have to be paid. Furthermore is the amount often fairly low so it is "under the radar."

7) Work towards a general allocation across the band. Currently, we find it hard to believe that we will ever need more than 500 kHz.

An English copy of the letter sent to the NRA which resulted in the Danish 70 MHz allocation can be seen here. Others might find it useful too: you are welcome to use it.