The MCA notifies that it has received an application from One Productions Limited (One Productions) for the grant of rights of use of radio frequency channels being made available for assignment by the Authority in connection with fixed radio links.

One Productions is requesting assignment of the said channels within the 10 GHz frequency band.
Further to this request, the Authority intends to grant the rights of use of the following radio frequency channels:
10.265-10.273 GHz
10.4995-10.5075 GHz
Any submissions in relation to this request for the assignment of the above mentioned frequencies for fixed radio links are to be received in writing by the Chairman of the Authority (attn. Mr. Adrian Galea, Manager-Spectrum Management, spectrum@mca.org.mt) by not later than 4.00 p.m. on Friday, 18th August 2006.

If no submissions, which in the opinion of the Authority raise valid objections at law in relation to this application are received by this date, the Authority may then in accordance with the powers granted to it by law, consider assigning the rights of use of said frequencies directly to the above-mentioned applicant.

On behalf of the Malta Amateur Radio League, its members and the local amateur radio community we would like to strongly object to assigning any part of the spectrum which is allocated Amateur Radio Services in this case from 10GHz to 10.5GHz.

The 10GHz portion is used regularly both for local and overseas contacts and offers a challenging experience in propagation studies, construction and experimental projects both in analogue and digital. After a lot of investments, dedication and experimenting, during one of this year's activity our members managed a new record of 561 Km to Sardegna.

We trust you will accept our objection, convinced that there is enough bandwidth to allocate the applicant and future applicants, elsewhere other than in the Amateur Radio Service portion which is harmonised within all the ITU regions.

In terms of the National Frequency Plan and the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, the band 10-10.5 GHz is allocated to various services on a Primary basis and to the amateur service on a Secondary basis. This means that amateur services:

shall not cause harmful interference to stations of primary services to which frequencies are already assigned or to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date;

cannot claim protection from harmful interference from stations of a primary service to which frequencies are already assigned or may be assigned at a later date;

can claim protection, however, from harmful interference from other amateur stations.

In view of the above the MCA feels that your communication does not raise a valid objection, and consequently it cannot be considered. Therefore we are still considering granting the rights of use of the published radio frequencies to One productions Limited.