§ 57. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what use is now being made of Band III; who are 167W the users; and what channels are allocated to them.
§ Mr. GammansBand III, which stretches from 174 to 216 megacycles per second, now contains business radio, Post Office radio links in more remote areas, some of the outside broadcast links, and certain aeronautical aids, as well as a number of experimental services. The channel width varies with the service occupying the band.
§ 58. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General which are the two channels in Band III referred to in the Television Advisory Committee's Report, that are available for broad casting.
§ Mr. GammansSpace for the two television channels—5 megacycles each—can readily be made available between 184 and 195 megacycles per second.
§ 59. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what fixed services operate in the 184–195 mega cycles section of Band III; who hold the licences; and on what terms.
§ Mr. GammansThe principal services operating between 184 and 195 megacycles per second are some of the B.B.C. television outside broadcast links. In addition, a number of radio manufacturers are licensed to carry out experimental transmissions in this range. The B.B.C.'s services are covered by their general Licence and Agreement dated 12th June, 1952, and the experimental licences are on a short-term basis. All these services can be quickly moved.
§ 61. Mr. Hobsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether any widening of Band III can be contemplated without another international conference.
§ Mr. GammansIt would be desirable to have an international agreement from any countries which might be affected or which might affect us, but an international conference on such a matter alone is not essential.
§ 71. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the British Broadcasting Corporation first informed him of their television development plan which envisaged the use of all eight channels of frequencies from 174–216 megacycles in Band III.
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§ Mr. GammansThe B.B.C. first informed the Post Office in 1949 that in their view the whole of Band III should be reserved for broadcasting.
74. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewingasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the licensing in Band III of mobile radio services, he has notified the Inter national Telecommunications Union of this country's desire to safeguard its interests by extending Band III upwards in accordance with the recommendations of the Television Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. GammansNo. My noble Friend is not satisfied that the transfer of these services would necessarily require an upward extension of television Band III.