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Most radio waves travel through the atmosphere with little
attenuation and can be detected at large distances.
Transmissions from one source may greatly interfere with signals
from another source. Some interference is natural, such as radio
static produced by a thunderstorm, but much of it is manmade. In
most countries, no one is allowed to transmit any radio signal
of appreciable strength without being licensed to do so or
without using equipment that has been certified to be
appropriate for its intended use.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) located in
Geneva, Switzerland, is the world’s oldest international
organization, established in 1865 to manage the first
international telegraph networks. It is a specialized agency of
the United Nations, and its membership includes almost all the
world’s countries and over 500 private members (ITU, 2004).
ITU’s purpose is to develop and manage the world’s
telecommunications resources.
Under the auspices of the ITU, World Radiocommunication
Conferences (WRC) are held every two to three years to review,
and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, which is the
international treaty governing the use of the radio frequency
spectrum, and satellite orbits and communications (ITU, 2004).
The Radio Regulations are designed to provide an orderly
operation of the radio frequencies worldwide.
The United States Communications Act of 1934 (as revised)
authorizes the United States Commerce Department’s National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to manage the use within
the United States of the radio frequency spectrum. Some portions
of the spectrum are managed jointly by NTIA and the FCC, and
some are managed exclusively by either one or the other
(Schroeder, 2004). Below is a reduced image showing a chart of
the United States frequency allocations: |
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