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+++ date = "2023-01-06T09:00:00-06:00" #publishdate = "2023-01-05T22:30:06-06:00" title = "FCC 70cm Restrictions In North Dakota" authors = [ "K0STK" ] categories = [ "Technical" ] tags = [ "70cm", "FCC", "Line A" ] +++ There are two restrictions on Amateur Radio operations in the 70cm band (420--450 MHz) which affect portions of North Dakota and Minnesota.

Redditor kc2syk---a moderator of the Amateur Radio subreddit---has created an interactive map which illustrates that the US FCC's restrictions on 70cm operation (listed in 47 CFR §2.106 - Footnote US270) may be closer to Fargo than some hams realize.

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1YdwIy7juO7qz_v_O9p-4rZ6CS9aFD1vu&hl=en_US&ehbc=2E312F" width="474" height="355"></iframe>

Operation prohibited above Line A

"In the sub-band 420--430 MHz, the amateur service is not allocated north of Line A" 1

According to the Industry Canada Spectrum Chart and Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations) the 420--430 Mhz sub-band is allocated in Canada to non-amateur use; the primary user is mobile services---excepting aeronautical mobile---and the secondary is fixed services.

What is Line A?

{{< figure src="//images.rrra.org/line-a.jpg" >}}

Line A is defined in US Code Title 47 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 90 Subpart A § 90.7 as:

An imaginary line within the U.S., approximately paralleling the U.S.-Canadian border, north of which Commission coordination with the Canadian authorities in the assignment of frequencies is generally required. It begins at Aberdeen, Washington, running by great circle arc to the intersection of 48° N., 120° W., then along parallel 48° N., to the intersection of 95° W., thence by great circle arc through the southernmost point of Duluth, Minnesota, thence by great circle arc to 45° N., 85° W., thence southward along meridian 85° W. to its intersection with parallel 41° N., to its intersection with meridian 82° W., thence by great circle arc through the southernmost point of Bangor, Maine, thence by great circle arc through the southernmost of Searsport, Maine, at which point it terminates.2

50w PEP Restriction

Within 160 km (99.4 miles) of Concrete, ND, (48° 43' N, 97° 54' W):

The peak envelope power of an amateur station shall not exceed 50 watts in the following areas, unless expressly authorized by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis, between the District Director of the applicable field office and the military area frequency coordinator at the applicable military base. 3

This restriction protects the AN/FPQ-16 PARCS solid state phased array radar system at Cavalier Space Force Station located approximately two miles southeast of Concrete, ND.

The southern edge of this restricted area is an arc which begins in the west at the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Esmond in ND, passes within 40 miles of Fargo through Hillsboro, and ends just east of the Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls in Minnesota.

The effective northern edge of this restricted area is Line A.

Footnotes

  1. "47 CFR §2.106 - Footnote US270", ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio, accessed January 5 2023, http://www.arrl.org/us270. ↩

  2. "Title 47 / Chapter I / Subchapter D / Part 90 / Subpart A / § 90.7", eCFR, accessed January 6 2023, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-90/subpart-A/section-90.7. ↩

  3. "47 CFR §2.106 - Footnote US270", ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio, accessed January 5 2023, http://www.arrl.org/us270. ↩