Sensor frequency allocation issues for WRC-2000

The 2000 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-2000), which was to be held in Istanbul, Turkey in May of 2000, has two major topics that concern passive sensing on its agenda. Agenda item 1.17 deals with the possible upgrade to a worldwide primary allocation for the Earth exploration satellite (passive) service in the 18.6-18.8 GHz band. This band is an essential component to the suite of frequencies used for global observation of the Earth's environment. Agenda item 1.16 deals with passive allocations above 71 GHz and encompasses a number of important passive sensing bands such as 86-92 GHz, 100-102 GHz, around 118 GHz, around 150 and 167 GHz, around 183 GHz, 200-209 GHz, 226-238 GHz, and around 250 GHz. Agenda item 1.4 deals with the use of high density applications of the fixed service (HDFS) above 30 GHz, and this may affect passive sensors using channels in the band 55.78-56.26 GHz. Limits on the HDFS in the form of a power density limit, an emission mask, or both are likely needed to ensure the protection of this important band for atmospheric measurements used in numerical weather prediction models. These items are discussed in the context of the Conference Preparatory Meeting process. The results of the actual World Radiocommunication Conference are also presented.