It
is good to know there is some progress towards 1 watt LPFM. But what some
are asking is will this increase in power come with further restrictions such
as antenna height above the surrounding area, which was being considered by RSM
at some stage. If so then many of us will be better off with our current half
watt.
Auckland
in particular is mostly looking forward to the 87.5 to ~88.3 guardband change to
happen as soon as possible. Presumably this will all happen at the same
time.
Ross.
From: LPFM_Radio@...
[mailto:LPFM_Radio@...] On Behalf Of Allen Little
Sent: Thursday, 31 July 2008 6:13 p.m.
To: David Robinson
Cc: Jeff Hicks
Subject: [LPFM] Re: Low Power FM Power Increase Delays - Attention Alan
Little
Dear David,
many thanks
for this very well considered elaboration of the minutiae in spectrum
planning for LPFM Power increase and Frequency changes.
It has been
suggested, that this might well become an election issue, having
regard to the fact Low Power FM Broadcasters are probably the only significant
local radio stations in their communities of interest. Many operators are
known to be displeased at the apparent lack of progress towards announced
intentions.
I will
communicate these matters to various interested LPFM operators and know
you will continue to pursue the matter. All concerned eagerly await
the Gazette Notice and clear indication of progress towards implementation of
this Government Policy.
Please do
keep me informed of progress and lets know any way I can be of assistance.
All the very
best.
Sincerely
Allen
Allen J
Little
QSM,JP
7 Earl
Street
Res Ph (06) 367-5900
Levin
5510
Mobile (021) 025-33-330
Email:-
vision@...
------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: David Robinson
To: vision@...
Cc: Jeff Hicks
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:53 AM
Subject: Low Power FM Power Increase Delays - Attention Alan Little
Dear Alan,
Further to your recent telcon with Jeff Hicks on the current delays with the power increase to one watt for Low Power FM broadcast services please note the following.
The introduction of high powered FMBC services above 100 MHz that started in 2001 meant a need for changes to our licence engineering processes by inclusion of coordination calculations between those services with aeronautical radio navigation aids in the band 108 to 117.95 MHz. Discussion of these requirements was included in the technical monograph "TM2001/003 Review of FMBC and aeronautical coordination Issues" which has been available on the RSM web site for sometime. That document notes that the potential for high powered FM stations to cause harmful interference into aeronautical receivers used for Instrument Landing Systems and Variable OmniRange Systems and cause significant operational issues for aeroplanes during landing approaches during poor weather and at night. In some circumstances the loss of these facilities due to harmful interference can result in real safety of life incidents.
To enable the safe operation of these aeronautical services calculations are completed in accordance with ITU-R Recommendation SM.1009. Those calculations include the determination of signal levels for all FMBC services at navigational receivers in aeroplanes, including signal levels for low power FM services above 106.6 MHz and located within several kilometres or so of an aeroplane using the navigational systems .
The current planning being undertaking within our Ministry for the roll-over of high powered FM services licences in 2011 includes the frequency reassignment of many current stations to provide improved FM reception and additional spectrum capacity for new stations. This planning has taken longer than expected and delayed the calculations necessary for the proper coordination of the low powered FM services with the aeronautical navigational services. The recent auction of those new licences will, we expect, mean the end of significant frequency changes and that we can now finalise those coordination processes.
I have recently taken delivery of the necessary calculations for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and plan to review these to ensure all recent frequency changes are included. Once this is completed there will be calculations required for services adjacent to regional airfields before we can finalise areas where use of low powered FM services must be restricted. (Such areas are likely to be close to major and regional aerodromes.)
It is currently planned to finalise all calculations and publish a revised Low Power FM General User Licence prior to November 2008.
The delay to the publication of the new low powered FM General User Licence is regretted.
Yours sincerely,
David
David Robinson | Senior Engineer, Operational Policy and International Relations | Radio Spectrum Management and Energy Safety Group
Ministry of Economic Development
PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Free Phone 0508 RSM INFO (776 4636) or 0508 ESS INFO (377 4636) | DDI +64 4 474 2866 | Fax +64 4 978 3162
Visit our website: www.rsm.govt.nz or www.energysafety.govt.nz
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