TEXAS VHF-FM SOCIETY, INC.
Standards for Frequency Coordination
(as revised and approved in August 1991)
These are the official standards of the Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc.
regarding frequency coordination. These standards must be followed
if you wish your system to be or remain coordinated. Remember, it
is your responsibility to maintain current records with the Zone
Coordinator. The coordinators need this information to minimize
possible interference caused to or by your system. Unreported
changes that cause interference to neighboring coordinated systems
could result in the termination of your coordination. Your
compliance and cooperation protect your coordination.
Frequency coordination is a free service provided by the Texas VHF-FM
Society, Inc. Coordination services are provided to society members
and non-members equally, however we recommend membership in order to
remain informed of pertinent information regarding changes to these
standards.
Coordinations issued by the Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. are effective
for a period of one year, and are renewable (see section VI). Except
as noted in Section I.5.b, coordinations are nontransferable, and
issued only for systems which are operational. New applicants
receive a Construction Permit valid for six months (see section V).
The Frequency Coordination Committee has partitioned the state into
five zones, with each zone having one or more coordinators (see
Appendix map). All routine correspondence concerning coordination
should be directed to the appropriate Zone Coordinator. Coordination
revocation orders are a function of the society's state wide
Frequency Coordinator (committee chairman) and all revocation-related
correspondence from trustees shall be directed to the Frequency
Coordinator (information copies may be directed to the Zone
Coordinator but are not required). Consult the map to determine
which Zone Coordinator has jurisdiction over the county in which
your system is to be located.
I. Conditions for Coordination
1. The VHF-FM Society, Inc. coordinates frequencies for repeaters,
point-to-point links, and remote control. Applications for special
use will be considered if there is a need for a coordinated frequency.
2. When assigning frequencies, Zone Coordinators will follow current
Texas band plans. Coordinations will not be issued for systems not
complying with the Texas plans unless special circumstances exist
which prevent the operation of the system within the Texas plan and
justify a waiver approved and issued by the affected Zone Coordinator(s).
3. The frequencies available for repeater use are summarized in Appendix A.
The link and control frequencies are summarized in Appendix B. Exact
band plans may be obtained from Zone Coordinators.
4. The Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. accepts applications for coordination
in the following categories:
a. Individual: In an individual coordination, the trustee of the
system is responsible for all correspondence regarding the
coordination. ONLY the trustee may request modification of the
coordination (see Section IV).
b. Club: In a club coordination, an authorized representative must
be designated as trustee and is therefore responsible for all
correspondence regarding the coordination. If a club call sign
is to be used, the trustee of the club license must also be
designated Trustee for the coordination. When applying for
coordination, a copy of the club Constitution and/or By-Laws
must be attached to the application form. Any requests for
modification of the coordination must comply with Section IV.
5. Transfer of coordination.
a. An individual coordination (as specified in I.4.a) may not be
transferred to another individual.
b. A person holding an individual coordination may surrender for
transfer that coordination to a constituted club or organization
that meets the requirements of section I.4.b. From that time on,
the coordination becomes a club coordination and will be
considered such. Once surrendered and transfer to a club
coordination is in effect, all prior individual coordination
rights and privileges are forfeited. In the event of a trustee's
death, disability, disappearance, revocation or suspension of
license by F.C.C., or voluntary surrender for cancellation,
failure to renew an expired license, adjudication of the trustee
as legally incompetent, or similar extenuating circumstance, the
Zone Coordinator may upon receipt of satisfactory proof that a
trustee is no longer able to fulfill the legal responsibilities,
declare that trusteeship surrendered and effect an Individual to
Club Coordination, or change a club's designated trustee.
II. Trustees
1. The trustee is directly responsible for all aspects of the system's
operation. The trustee of the system makes all applications for
construction permits, new coordinations and renewal of coordinations,
and is responsible for informing the Zone Coordinator of any change
in system status.
2. The trustee must maintain a current address and phone number on file
with the Zone Coordinator. If the trustee resides outside the
coverage area of the system, the trustee shall additionally furnish
and maintain on file with the Zone Coordinator the current name,
address and telephone number of a local control operator.
Correspondence returned to the zone coordinator marked "undeliverable,"
"addressee unknown," "unable to forward," or any variation thereof by
the U.S. Postal Service, shall be grounds for initiation of
revocation proceedings.
3. The trustee must maintain his or her call sign on the system, except
that in the case of a club call sign all requirements of Section
1.4.b.(same trustee) shall be met.
III. Technical Standards
1. Effective radiated power must not exceed the power specified on the
coordination document.
2. The peak transmitter deviation must not exceed plus and minus 5 kHz,
including CTCSS.
3. Transmitter frequency control must meet the following specifications:
a. For stations between 29.5 and 29.7 MHz, the frequency error must
not exceed "0.002%.
b. For stations between 50 and 450 MHz, coordinated before February
7, 1987, the frequency error must not exceed "0.001%. For
stations coordinated after February 7, 1987, the frequency error
must not exceed "0.0005%. Stations operating under the "0.001%
frequency error specification, will be expected to upgrade their
equipment to the "0.0005% specification by February 1992.
c. For stations between 902 MHz and 1.3 GHz, the frequency error
must not exceed "0.00025%.
d. For stations above 1.3 GHz, the frequency error must not exceed
"0.03%.
4. Any spurious emissions from the transmitter must be at least 60 dB
below the mean power of the fundamental frequency.
5. The Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. observes the following geographic
spacing criteria:
a. For co-channel systems, 85 miles minimum.
b. Systems 5 kHz apart in frequency, 85 miles minimum.
c. Systems 10 kHz apart in frequency, 70 miles minimum.
d. Systems 15 kHz apart in frequency, 50 miles minimum.
e. Systems 20 or more kHz apart in frequency, no minimum.
These criteria apply to all bands, and may be modified for terrain and
special circumstances.
IV. Changes to the System
The trustee must obtain the written approval of the Zone Coordinator
before any of the information on the coordination document is to be
changed, or if any of the system parameters specified are to be
exceeded.
In the case of a club coordination, any request for modification must
be accompanied by written authorization from the club executives.
V. Applying for Coordination
When applying for coordination, the trustee of the proposed system
must submit an application form to the Zone Coordinator. At this
time the Zone Coordinator will assign a frequency to the applicant
and issue a construction permit for the system. If a frequency is
not available in the desired band, either a frequency will be
suggested on a band where frequencies are available, or the
application will be placed on a waiting list for a frequency in the
desired band. Construction Permits expire in 6 months, and are not
renewable. Coordination will be granted upon return of the signed
coordination renewal form which accompanied the Construction Permit.
The return of this form certifies that the system is on the air and
is operating within the scope of the Construction Permit. If the
system does not meet these conditions at the end of the permit period,
the frequency automatically goes back into the unused pool. It is
the trustee's responsibility to return the renewal form when the
system is operational. Upon receipt and approval of the renewal
application, a verification of coordination will be returned to the
trustee. If the zone coordinator is not notified within 15 days after
the expiration date, the frequency will be subject to reassignment.
If more time is needed to complete construction the applicant may
apply for a second Construction Permit. In order to obtain a second
permit for the same frequency, the applicant must supply a written
explanation of circumstances which necessitate a second Construction
Permit. The system must be operational and any non-conformity
exceeding the system parameters stated in the original Construction
Permit must be approved, in writing, by the Zone Coordinator. The
application for a second permit must be received no later than 15
days after the expiration of the original Construction Permit, and no
more than two consecutive permits will be issued to the same applicant.
VI. Renewal of Coordination
Coordinations will be renewed every year provided that the system is
operating within the scope of these standards. All coordinations
expire on October 1 of the calendar year. Renewal forms will be sent
out no later than March 1. The trustee then has one month to return
the form. Renewal will be granted or denied as specified in section
VII.
VII. Revocation of Coordination
Revocation of coordination or denial of renewal are actions the Texas
VHF-FM Society, Inc. will make every effort to avoid. No trustee
will have a coordination revoked or renewal denied without proper
proceedings by the Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. to determine if this
is the appropriate action. Notifications and other correspondence
from the Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. relative to these proceedings
shall be sent to the trustee by Certified First Class Mail to
trustee's last known address (see Section II.2) and no reply will be
required sooner than 30 days after mailing of such correspondence,
the actual reply deadline to be stipulated therein.
Revocation of coordination shall be for the five following reasons:
1. Any system which is inactive for longer than three months shall be
subject to review by the Zone Coordinator for possible revocation and
re-assignment of the frequency.
2. Failure of the trustee or system to observe all applicable standards
and requirements set forth in this document shall be grounds for
revocation of coordination.
3. Unapproved changes in system parameters which exceed those stated in
the coordination document shall be grounds for revocation of
coordination.
4. Failure to renew coordination shall be grounds for revocation of
coordination.
5. The coordination of any system known to be operating in technical
violation of F.C.C. Rules, Part 97 Subpart C, Technical Standards,
within 90 days after a notification of violation is mailed to the
trustee's address of record by the Zone Frequency Coordinator may be
grounds for revocation.
Systems which do not meet these conditions will be declared
uncoordinated. The Zone Coordinator will use his discretion within
these conditions in order to determine whether a coordination is to
be revoked. Any trustee whose coordination is revoked will be
notified by certified mail as stated above and given an explanation
as to the reasons for the revocation. The trustee may then appeal
the decision in accordance with the bylaws of the Texas VHF-FM
Society, Inc. Any appeal must be brought within one year of the
decision in order to be considered.
VIII. Arbitration
In the event that a dispute over a frequency coordination arises
between the zone coordinator and a trustee, the zone coordinator and
a club, two clubs and/or two trustees which cannot be resolved by the
appeal process of Part VII, the dispute can be brought to arbitration.
Arbitration will be performed by a three member panel of designated
non-involved representatives of each party involved in the dispute
and the Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. The findings of this arbitration
panel shall be binding on all parties involved in the dispute and
cannot be appealed.
If the parties involved in the dispute agree to take the dispute to
arbitration, each should select a representative who is not involved
in the dispute in any manner. The Texas VHF-FM Society, Inc. will
appoint a third member in a similar manner. All appointed
representatives on the board shall be licensed radio amateurs.
The arbitration board will be allowed 180 days to make a finding.
Information or facts pertaining to the dispute must be presented to
the board in writing through the secretary of the Texas VHF-FM
Society, Inc. The secretary will forward the board's findings in
writing to all parties involved in the dispute.
APPENDIX A: REPEATER FREQUENCIES
29.5-29.7 MHz:
Low in/high out, 100 kHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing, even pairs.
50-54 MHz:
Low in/high out, 1 MHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing, even pairs.
144.5-145.6 MHz:
Low in/high out, 600 kHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing, odd pairs.
146-147 MHz:
Low in/high out, 600 kHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing, even pairs.
147-148 MHz:
High in/low out, 600 kHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing, even pairs.
222.18-225 MHz:
Low in/high out, 1.6 MHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing, even pairs.
420-450 MHz:
High in/low out, 5 MHz offset, 25 kHz channel spacing.
902-928 MHz:
Low in/high out, 12 MHz offset, 100 kHz channel spacing.
1200-1300 MHz:
Low in/high out, 20 MHz offset, 20 kHz channel spacing.
APPENDIX B: LINK AND CONTROL FREQUENCIES
420-450 MHz: 25 kHz spacing in the following segments:
420.0-431.0 MHz
445.0-447.0 MHz
902-928 MHz: 100 kHz channels. Consult coordinator for exact frequencies.
1200-1300 MHz: 1273.02-1278.98 MHz in several sub-bands, 20 kHz spacing.
These frequencies are to be used as a guide only. Consult the
appropriate Zone Coordinator for exact band plans.
____________________________________
Written 2/87
Revised 8/88
Revised and approved by General Membership 8/91
Frequency Coordination 
