The ’old’ 5 MHz ZL sub-licence expired following the end of the two-channel 60 m NZ trial in 2020. However, NZART is pleased to announce that negotiations with regulator RSM have been successful in obtaining a licence to allow operation for all New Zealand amateur operators to use in the 60 m (5 MHz) band using the WRC-15 allocation.
Sincere thanks are due to Bob Vernall, ZL2CA, who did outstanding work by virtue of his position as an NZ government Approved Radio Engineer and ITU experience with the International Frequency Registration Board enabled him to put forward his project. Bob states:
“I independently liaised with New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to implement a plan I formulated in January to clear a 60 metre band for amateur radio. NZDF liked my plan and it has relevance to other NZDF radio projects. As I’m an Approved Radio Engineer I can modify radio licences and NZDF authorised me to make specified changes to their licences, which cleared bandwidth for amateur radio. These changes were registered by RSM around midday on 8 April. That completed my contribution to development of a 60 metre amateur band in New Zealand.”
This made the new WRC-15 Amateur 5 MHz Secondary allocation clear for the next step which was for NZART to engage with the regulator RSM to formulate a new sub-licence for the band 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz, Secondary Status, Maximum Power 15W EIRP, working together with the IARU 60 m Bandplan.
NZART President Mark ZL2UFI explains:
“The NZART licence (and your sub-licence) are for a twelve-month period to allow RSM to assess if there are any interference issues. If not, then NZART will negotiate with RSM to having the 60 m (5 MHz) band allocation added to the GURL (General User Radio Licence). If this negotiation is successful, then the need for the sub-licence will not be required in the future.”
More information from the NZART website
https://www.nzart.org.nz/info/60m
ZL 60 m New Sub-Licensees
https://www.nzart.org.nz/info/60m/sub-licence-holders
Paul Gaskell G4MWO
Editor
The 5 MHz Newsletter