Goto Section: 90.101 | 90.111 | Table of Contents

FCC 90.103
Revised as of
Goto Year:1996 | 1998
Sec. 90.103  Radiolocation Service.

    (a) Eligibility. The following persons are eligible for 
authorizations in the Radiolocation Service to operate stations to 
determine distance, direction, speed, or position by means of 
radiolocation devices, for purposes other than navigation:
    (1) Any person engaged in a commercial, industrial, scientific, 
educational, or local government activity
    (2) A corporation or association that will furnish radiolocation 
service to other persons.
    (3) A corporation that will furnish a nonprofit radio communication 
service to its parent corporation, to another subsidiary of the same 
parent, or to its own subsidiary where the party to be served is 
regularly engaged in any of the eligibility activities set forth in this 
paragraph.
    (b) Frequencies available. The following table indicates frequencies 
available for assignment to stations in the Radiolocation Service, 
together with the class of station(s) to which they are normally 
assigned, and the specific assignment limitations, which are explained 
in paragraph (c) of this section:

                  Radiolocation Service Frequency Table                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Frequency or band             Class of station(s)   Limitation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Kilohertz                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  70 to 90..........................  Radiolocation land or            1
                                       mobile.                          
90 to 110...........................  Radiolocation land....           2
110 to 130..........................  Radiolocation land or            1
                                       mobile.                          
1605 to 1715........................  ....do................    4, 5, 6,
                                                                 28, and
                                                                     29.
1715 to 1750........................  ....do................        5, 6
1750 to 1800........................  ....do................     5, 6, 7
1900 to 1950........................  ....do................  6, 25, 26,
                                                                 27, and
                                                                     30.
1950 to 2000........................  ....do................  6, 25, 27,
                                                                 and 30.
3230 to 3400........................  ....do................        6, 8
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Megahertz                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  420 to 450........................  ....do................          21
2450 to 2500........................  ....do................   9, 22, 23
2900 to 3100........................  ....do................      10, 11
3100 to 3300........................  ....do................          12
3300 to 3500........................  ....do................      12, 13
3500 to 3700........................  ....do................          12
5250 to 5350........................  ....do................          12
5350 to 5460........................  ....do................      10, 14
5460 to 5470........................  ....do................      10, 15
5470 to 5600........................  ....do................      10, 11
5600 to 5650........................  ....do................      10, 16
8500 to 9000........................  ....do................      12, 17
9000 to 9200........................  ....do................      10, 14
9200 to 9300........................  ....do................          12
9300 to 9500........................  ....do................  10, 15, 18
9500 to 10,000......................  ....do................          12
10,000 to 10,500....................  ....do................  12, 13, 19
10,500 to 10,550....................  ....do................  20, 22, 24
13,400 to 13,750....................  ....do................          12
13,750 to 14,000....................  ....do................          31
15,700 to 17,700....................  ....do................          12
24,050 to 24,250....................  ....do................  12, 22, 24
33,400 to 36,000....................  ....do................          12
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Explanation of assignment limitations appearing in the frequency 
table of paragraph (b) of this section:
    (1) This frequency band is shared with and stations operating in 
this frequency band in this service are on a secondary basis to stations 
licensed in the International Fixed Service and the Maritime Mobile 
Service.
    (2) This frequency band is shared with and stations operating in 
this frequency band in this service are on a secondary basis to the 
LORAN Navigation System; all operations are limited to radiolocation 
lands stations in accordance with footnote US104, Sec. 2.106 of this 
chapter.
    (3) [Reserved]
    (4) Non-Government radiolocation service in this band is on a 
secondary basis to stations in the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service 
operating on 1638 or 1708 kHz.
    (5) Station assignments on frequencies in this band will be made 
subject to the conditions that the maximum output power shall not exceed 
375 watts and the maximum authorized bandwidth shall not exceed 2 kHz.
    (6) Because of the operation of stations having priority on the same 
or adjacent frequencies in this or in other countries, frequency 
assignments in this band may either be unavailable of may be subject to 
certain technical of operational limitations. Therefore, applications 
for frequency assignments in this band shall include information

[[Page 421]]

concerning the transmitter output power; the type and directional 
characteristics of the antenna and the minimum hours of operation (GMT).
    (7) This band is shared with the Disaster Communications Service 
(part 99) and operations are on a secondary basis to that service 
between local sunset and local sunrise, or at any time during an actual 
or imminent disaster. Local sunrise and sunset times shall be derived 
from the 1946 American Nautical Almanac. Each frequency assignment in 
this band is on an exclusive basis within the daytime primary service 
area to which assigned. The daytime primary service area is the area 
where the signal intensities are adequate for radiolocation purposes 
during the hours from sunrise to sunset from all stations in the 
radiolocation system of which the station in question is a part; that 
is, the primary service area of the station coincides with the primary 
service area of the system. The normal minimum geographical separation 
between stations of different licensees shall be at least 580 km. (360 
mi.) when the stations are operated on the same frequency or on 
different frequencies separated by less than 3 kHz. Where geographical 
separation of less than 580 km. (360 mi.) is desired under these 
circumstances it must be shown that the desired separation will result 
in protection ratio of at least 20 decibels throughout the daytime 
primary service area of other stations. Applications in this band are 
placed on public notice in accordance with Sec. 1.962 of this chapter. 
Where the number of applicants requesting authority to serve an area 
exceeds the number of frequencies available for assignment; or where it 
appears that fewer applicants or licensees than the number before it 
should be given authority to serve a particular area; or where it 
appears that an applicant, either directly or indirectly, seeks to use 
more than 25 kHz of the available spectrum space in this band, the 
applications may be designated for hearing.
    (8) Frequencies in this band may only be assigned to radiolocation 
stations which are also assigned frequencies in the 1605-1800 kHz band, 
provided the use of frequencies in this band is necessary for the proper 
functioning of the particular radiolocation system. Operations in this 
band are on a secondary basis to stations operating in accordance with 
the Commission's table of frequency allocations contained in Sec. 2.106 
of this chapter.
    (9) This band is allocated to the Radiolocation Service on a 
secondary basis to other fixed or mobile services and must accept any 
harmful interference that may be experienced from such services or from 
the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment operating in 
accordance with part 18 of this chapter. In the 2483.5-2500 MHz band, no 
applications for new or modification to existing stations to increase 
the number of transmitters will be accepted. Existing licensees as of 
July 25, 1985, or on a subsequent date following as a result of 
submitting an application for license on or before July 25, 1985, are 
grandfathered and their operation is co-primary with the 
Radiodetermination Satellite Service.
    (10) Speed measuring devices will not be authorized in this band.
    (11) This frequency band is shared with and is on a secondary basis 
to the Maritime Radionavigation Stations (part 80) and to the Government 
Radiolocation Service.
    (12) This frequency is shared with and is on a secondary basis to 
the Government Radiolocation Service.
    (13) Operations in this band are limited to survey operations using 
transmitters with a peak power not to exceed 5 watts into the antenna.
    (14) This frequency band is shared with and is on a secondary basis 
to the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service (part 87) and to the 
Government Radiolocation Service.
    (15) The non-Government Radiolocation Service in this band is 
secondary to the Maritime Radionavigation Stations (part 80), the 
Aeronautical Radionavigation Service (part 87) and the Government 
Radiolocation Service.
    (16) This frequency band is shared with and is on a secondary basis 
to the Maritime Radionavigation Stations (part 80) and the Government 
Meteorological Aids Service.
    (17) Operation in this frequency band is on a secondary basis to 
airborne Doppler radars at 8800 MHz.

[[Page 422]]

    (18) Radiolocation installations will be coordinated with the 
Government Meteorological Aids Service, and insofar as practicable, will 
be adjusted to meet the needs of that service.
    (19) Operations in this band are on a secondary basis to the Amateur 
Radio Service (part 97). Pulsed emissions are prohibited.
    (20) This band is restricted to radiolocation systems using type N0N 
emission with a power not to exceed 40 watts into the antenna.
    (21) Non-Government radiolocation stations in the band are secondary 
to the Government Radiolocation Service, the Amateur Radio Service and 
the Amateur-Satellite Service. Pulse-ranging radiolocation stations in 
this band may be authorized along the shorelines of Alaska and the 
contiguous 48 states. Radiolocation stations using spread spectrum 
techniques may be authorized in the band 420-435 MHz for operation 
within the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. Also, stations using spread 
spectrum techniques shall be limited to a maximum output power of 50 
watts, shall be subject to the applicable technical standards in 
Sec. 90.209 until such time as more definitive standards are adopted by 
the Commission and shall identify in accordance with Sec. 90.425(c)(3). 
Authorizations will be granted on a case-by-case basis; however, 
operations proposed to be located within the zones set forth in 
Sec. 90.177(e) should not expect to be accommodated.
    (22) For frequencies 2455, 10,525, and 24,125 MHz unmodulated 
continuous wave (NON) emission only shall be employed and a frequency 
stability of at least 0.2 percent shall be maintained. Such stations 
shall be exempt from the requirements of Secs. 90.403(c) and (f) and 
90.429.
    (23) Devices designed to operate as field disturbance sensors on 
frequencies between 2450 and 2500 MHz with a field strength equal to or 
less than 50,000 microvolts per meter at 30 meters, on a fundamental 
frequency, will not be licensed or type accepted for use under this 
part. Such equipment must comply with the requirements for field 
disturbance sensors as set forth in part 15 of this chapter.
    (24) Devices designed to operate as field disturbance sensors on 
frequencies between 10,500 and 10,550 MHz and between 24,050 and 24,250 
MHz, with field strength equal to or less than 250,000 microvolts per 
meter at 30 meters, on the fundamental frequency, will not be licensed 
or type accepted for use under this part. Such equipment must comply 
with the requirements for field disturbance sensors as set forth in part 
15 of this chapter.
    (25) Station assignments on frequencies in this band will be made 
subject to the conditions that the maximum output power shall not exceed 
375 watts and the maximum authorized bandwidth shall not exceed 1.0 kHz.
    (26) Each frequency assignment in this band is on an exclusive basis 
within the primary service area to which assigned. The primary service 
area is the area where the signal intensities are adequate for 
radiolocation purposes from all stations in the radiolocation system of 
which the station in question is a part; that is, the primary service 
area of the station coincides with the primary service area of the 
system. The normal minimum geographical separation between stations of 
different licensees shall be at least 1931 km (1200 miles) when the 
stations are operated on the same frequency or on different frequencies 
separated by less than 1.0 kHz. Where geographical separation of less 
than 1931 km (1200 miles) is requested under these circumstances, it 
must be shown that the desired separation will result in a protection 
ratio of at least 20 decibels throughout the primary service area of 
other stations.
    (27) Notwithstanding the bandwidth limitations otherwise set forth 
in this section of the rules, wideband systems desiring to operate in 
this band may use such bandwidth as is necessary for proper operation of 
the system provided that the field strength does not exceed 120 
microvolts per meter per square root Hertz (120 uv/m/Hz\1/2\) at 1.6 km 
(1 mile). Such wideband operations shall be authorized on a secondary 
basis to stations operating within otherwise applicable technical 
standards. Applications for wideband systems in this band will be 
accepted beginning December 15, 1985.
    (28) Since the 1605-1705 kHz band has been reallocated for AM 
broadcasting,

[[Page 423]]

no new assignments in the 1605-1705 kHz portion of this band shall be 
made after September 30, 1985.
    (29) Beginning July 1, 1987, licensees of existing systems 
authorized frequencies in the 1605-1705 kHz portion of this band may 
request modification of their authorizations to change frequencies to 
the 1900-2000 kHz band.
    (30) Until July 1, 1988, this band will be available only for 
licensees of existing systems operating in the 1605-1705 kHz portion of 
the 1605-1715 kHz band requesting modification of their authorizations 
to change frequencies to this band and for licensees of wideband 
systems. On July 1, 1988, requests for new station authorizations in 
this band will be accepted and, if necessary, will be subject to the 
random selection procedures outlined in Sec. 1.972 of the Commission's 
Rules.
    (31) This frequency band is shared with and is on secondary basis to 
the Fixed-Satellite Service and to the Government's Radiolocation, Space 
Research and Earth Exploration-Satellite Services. After January 1, 
2000, the Government's Space Research and Earth Exploration-Satellite 
Services shall operate on a co-equal secondary basis with the non-
Government Radiolocation Service, except that grandfathered space 
stations in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System shall continue 
to be protected from harmful interference.
    (d) Other additional frequencies available. Radiolocation stations 
in this service may be authorized, on request, to use frequencies 
allocated exclusively to Federal Government stations, in those instances 
where the Commission finds, after consultation with the appropriate 
Government agency or agencies, that such assignment is necessary or 
required for coordination with Government activities.
[ 43 FR 54791 , Nov. 22, 1978]

    Editorial Note:  For Federal Register citations affecting 
Sec. 90.103, see the List of CFR Sections Affected in the Finding Aids 
section of this volume.

               Subpart G--Applications and Authorizations


Goto Section: 90.101 | 90.111

Goto Year: 1996 | 1998
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