12/11/2025
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on December 9, 2025, released a
long-awaited Report and Order[1] adopting a new amateur radio spectrum
allocation in the 60-meter band that was approved for world-wide use on a
secondary basis in the WRC-15 (World Radiocommunication Conference 2015) Final
Acts[2]. The Commission also agreed with a petition from ARRL[3] The National
Association for Amateur Radio¿ to continue to allow amateur operations on four
existing 60-meter channels outside the international allocation with a full 100
watts. The new rules will go into effect 30 days after publication in the
Federal Register, when amateurs may then begin using the allocation.
Specifically, the Commission allocated 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz (60 meters) to the
amateur service on a secondary basis with a permitted power of 9.15 watts ERP.
The Commission also authorized amateurs to continue using four existing channels
outside of the 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz band centered on 5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405
kHz on a secondary basis with a permitted power of 100 watts ERP. There are no
antenna restrictions but antenna gain must be used to calculate ERP.
The 60-meter allocation is available to amateurs holding a General Class or
above license. The maximum permissible signal bandwidth is 2.8 kHz.
Amateurs are cautioned that this allocation is strictly on a secondary basis,
and amateurs must avoid interfering with non-amateur stations using this
spectrum. This obligation includes the responsibility to monitor for such
stations using appropriate receiver bandwidths. The FCC emphasized that
"allowing amateur operations in this band while fully protecting incumbent
primary Federal operations is our priority, and even intermittent interference
in this band could jeopardize important Federal operations."
The Commission left open ARRL's 2017 Petition for Rulemaking[4] to implement
this WRC allocation (RM-11785), stating that "we expect the Commission may
address any necessary power adjustments for the new 15 kilohertz international
allocation in that proceeding." ARRL will be observing operations in the new
band to evaluate the effect of the 9.15-watt limit and already has been
monitoring the regulations and experiences of amateurs in other countries.
Finally, in the same Report and Order, the FCC updated 420 - 450 MHz
coordination and contact information for geographic areas where the peak
envelope power (PEP) of amateur stations operating is generally limited to 50
watts. There was no substantive change to the areas covered by the power
limitation.
Related ARRL News Stories (Background)
World Radiocommunication Conference Approves Global 60 Meter Allocation! (ARRL
News 11/18/2015)
www.arrl.org/news/world-radiocommunication-conference-approves-global-60-meter-
allocation[5]
It's a Wrap: WRC-15 Concludes in Geneva (ARRL News 11/27/2015)
www.arrl.org/news/it-s-a-wrap-wrc-15-concludes-in-geneva[6]
ARRL Asks FCC to Allocate New 5 MHz Band, Retain Channels and Current Power
Limit (ARRL News 1/12/2017)
www.arrl.org/news/arrl-asks-fcc-to-allocate-new-5-mhz-band-retain-channels-and-
current-power-limit[7]
FCC Invites Comments on ARRL Petition to Allocate New 5 MHz Band (ARRL News
2/16/2017)
www.arrl.org/news/fcc-invites-comments-on-arrl-petition-to-allocate-new-5-mhz-b
and[8]
ARRL Urges Comments to FCC on 60-Meter Band (ARRL News 10/30/2023)
www.arrl.org/news/arrl-urges-comments-to-fcc-on-60-meter-band[9]
ARRL Advocates for Radio Amateurs as FCC Proposes Changes to 60-Meter Band (ARRL
News 4/28/2023)
www.arrl.org/news/arrl-advocates-for-radio-amateurs-as-fcc-proposes-changes-to-
60-meter-band[10]
About ARRL¿
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio¿ was founded in 1914 as The
American Radio Relay League, and is a noncommercial organization of radio
amateurs. ARRL's mission is to promote and protect the art, science, and
enjoyment of amateur radio, and to develop the next generation of radio
amateurs. ARRL supports members with opportunities to discover radio, to develop
new skills, and to serve their local communities. ARRL's charitable initiatives
include programs to inspire youth to explore amateur radio and to pursue higher
education and related career paths in wireless communications and related
technical fields. ARRL is also the Secretariat of the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU). For more information about ARRL and amateur radio, visit
www.arrl.org[11].
[1] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-final-rules-implementing-wrc-15
[2] http://www.arrl.org/news/it-s-a-wrap-wrc-15-concludes-in-geneva
[3] https://www.arrl.org/
[4] https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-invites-comments-on-arrl-petition-to-allocate-
new-5-mhz-band
[5] http://www.arrl.org/news/world-radiocommunication-conference-approves-global
-60-meter-allocation
[6] http://www.arrl.org/news/it-s-a-wrap-wrc-15-concludes-in-geneva
[7] http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-asks-fcc-to-allocate-new-5-mhz-band-retain-cha
nnels-and-current-power-limit
[8] http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-invites-comments-on-arrl-petition-to-allocate-n
ew-5-mhz-band
[9] http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-urges-comments-to-fcc-on-60-meter-band
[10] http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-advocates-for-radio-amateurs-as-fcc-proposes-
changes-to-60-meter-band
[11] http://www.arrl.org/
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