The Union de Radioaficionados Espanoles (URE) -- Spain’s IARU Member-Society -- announced that the Secretaría de Estado de Telecomunicaciones y para la Sociedad de la Información (SETSI) (Spain’s equivalent to the USA’s FCC) has extended temporary privileges on the 70 MHz band (4 meters) to hams in that country. In 2008, hams in Spain were granted 70 MHz privileges for six months. Spanish amateurs may now use 70.150-70.200 MHz, with a maximum of 10 W; the average power of emission outside the authorized band should not exceed 25 µW.

SETSI cited that reasons behind extending the temporary privileges include the fact that other European countries have privileges in this band, as well as that the amateurs’ earlier use of the 70 MHz band did not result in any harmful interference to other authorized radio communications services. SETSI did say that if these temporary privilege cause “detrimental interference” to other radio services, they will be “suspended immediately.” These privileges are good for one year and will expire on July 1, 2011.