Editing Frequency allocation

{{short description|Allocation and regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum into radio frequency bands}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}} 
[[File:United States Frequency Allocations Chart 2016 - The Radio Spectrum.pdf|thumb|330px|[[United States|US]] frequency allocations chart, 2016]]

'''Frequency allocation''' (or '''spectrum allocation''') is the part of [[spectrum management]] dealing with the designation and regulation of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]] into [[frequency bands]], normally done by governments in most countries.<ref>{{Cite book|title = An Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks for Wireless Communications, Societal Concerns and Risk: The Case of Radio Frequency (RF) Allocation and Licensing |url = http://www.moc.gov.il/new/documents/frequences/MazarThesisOct08.pdf |publisher = Middlesex University|date = 2008-08-01|first = Mazar|last = Haim}}</ref> Because [[radio propagation]] does not stop at national boundaries, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and their standardization.

==ITU definition==
The [[International Telecommunication Union]] defines frequency allocation as being of "a given [[frequency band]] for the purpose of its use by one or more terrestrial or space radiocommunication services or the [[radio astronomy service]] under specified conditions".<ref>ITU Radio Regulations, Section IV. Radio Stations and Systems – Article 1.16, definition: allocation (of a frequency band).</ref>

''Frequency allocation'' is also a special term, used in national [[frequency administration]]. Other terms are:

{| class="wikipedia sortable" border="1"
|-
|+ '''ITU-terms pertaining to frequency regulation'''
|-align="center"
|width="10%" style="background:#FF99CC;" rowspan="2"| Frequency<br />distribution to:
|width="60%" style="background:#A0E0A0;" align="center" colspan="6"| '''ITU languages'''
|width="5%" style="background:#B0C0B0;" rowspan="2"| ITU RR<br /><small>(article)</small>
 |-align="center" style="background:#A0E0A0;"
 | French 
 ! English 
 | Spanish || Arabic || Chinese || Russian
|-align="center" style="background:#cfcfcf;"
! [[Radiocommunication service]]s 
! attribution<br />(attribuer) 
! <span style="color:#700;">'''allocation<br />(to allocate)'''</span>
! atribución<br />(atribuir) 
!  !!划分
! распределение<br />(распределять)
! 1.16
|-align="center" style="background:#bfbfbf;"
| Regions or countries
| allotissement<br />(allotir)
| allotment<br />(to allot)
| adjudicación<br />(adjudicar)
|  ||分配
| выделение<br />(выделять)
| 1.17
|-align="center" style="background:#afafaf;"
| [[Radio station]]s
| assignation<br />(assigner)
| [[Frequency assignment|assignment]]<br />(to assign)
| asignación<br />(asignar)
|  ||指配
|присвоение<br />(присваивать)
| 1.18
|}

==Bodies==
Several bodies set standards for frequency allocation, including:
* [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU)
* [[European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations]] (CEPT)
* [[Inter-American Telecommunication Commission]] (CITEL)

To improve harmonisation in spectrum utilisation, most service allocations are incorporated in national Tables of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations within the responsibility of the appropriate national administration. Allocations are:
* primary
* secondary
* exclusive or shared utilization, within the responsibility of national administrations.

Allocations of military usage will be in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. In NATO countries, military mobile utilizations are made in accordance with the [[NJFA|NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement]] (NJFA).

== Examples ==
Some of the bands listed (e.g., amateur 1.8–29.7&nbsp;MHz) have gaps / are not continuous allocations.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Common frequencies <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fordemc.com/docs/download/EMC%20Design%20Guide%20for%20PCB.pdf |title=EMC Design Guide for PCB |publisher=Ford EMC |year=2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231210012443/http://www.fordemc.com/docs/download/EMC%20Design%20Guide%20for%20PCB.pdf |archive-date= 10 Dec 2023 }}</ref>
!Source
!Frequency (MHz)
!Typical radiated<br/>power (kW)
!Meters
(approx)
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Longwave]] [[broadcast band|BCB]] (EU)
|0.150–0.285
|320
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|AM [[broadcast band|BCB]] (EU & J)
|0.525–1.605
|500
|630
|- style="text-align: center;"
|AM [[broadcast band|BCB]] (US)
|0.530–1.710
|50
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Amateur_radio|Amateur]]
|1.8–29.7
|0.16 (mobile)
|15
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Citizens_band_radio|Citizens band]]
|26.9–27.4
|0.004
|12
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Amateur_radio|Amateur]]
|28–30
|0.2 (mobile)
|10
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile
|29–54
|0.1
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Amateur_radio|Amateur]]
|50–54
|0.2 (mobile)
|6
|- style="text-align: center;"
|TV low VHF
|54–88
|100
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile (EU)
|65–85
|0.1
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|FM [[broadcast band|BCB]] (J)
|76–90
|44
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|FM [[broadcast band|BCB]] (US & EU)
|88–108
|105
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Aircraft
|108–136
|1
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile (EU)
|120–160
|0.1
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile
|132–174
|18–100
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile (J)
|142–170
|
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Amateur_radio|Amateur]]
|144–148
|0.2 (mobile)
|2
|- style="text-align: center;"
|TV high VHF
|174–216
|316
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile
|216–222
|0.2
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Amateur_radio|Amateur]]
|222–225
|0.1 (mobile)
|1.25
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile (J)
|335–384
|
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile
|406–512
|0.1
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile (J)
|450–470
|
|.70
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[Amateur_radio|Amateur]]
|430–450
|0.1 (mobile)
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|TV UHF
|470–806
|5000
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Land mobile
|806–947
|0.035
|.33
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Cellular AMPS
|806–947
|0.003
|.33
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Amateur<br/>Land mobile<br/>GPS
|1200–1600
|
|.23
|- style="text-align: center;"
|Cellular PCS
|1700–2000
|0.003
|
|- style="text-align: center;"
|[[ISM band|ISM]]<br/>[[Bluetooth]]<br/>[[Wi-Fi]] 
|2400–2500
|0.0000025
|
|}

* BCB is an abbreviation for [[broadcast band]], for commercial radio news and music broadcasts.

==See also==
*[[Spectrum management]]
*[[Amateur radio frequency allocations]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.itu.int International Telecommunication Union (ITU)]
* [https://www.itu.int/en/publications/ITU-R/Pages/publications.aspx?lang=en&media=electronic&parent=R-REG ITU Radio Regulations - Volume 1 (Article 5)] international table of frequency allocation by [[ITU Region]]. Alternative at [http://handle.itu.int/11.1002/pub/80da2b36-en ITU persistent link]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frequency allocation}}
[[Category:Broadcast engineering]]
[[Category:Radio resource management]]
[[Category:Radio spectrum]]