The German association of Maritime Radio Operators (Seefunkkameradschaft Bremen e.V.) 
has been discussing the 500 kHz situation for about two years now. The frequency is not in 
use at present. In order to prevent unauthorized use of this frequency we are asking our 
National Telecommunication Administration to have the spectrum reassigned. Our proposal is 
to have this frequency used as a Museum/Heritage/Memorial type of frequency. Unfortunately 
our proposal has been denied time and time again, mostly because other countries have not 
joined our proposal. Hello friends of maritime radio please support us in our efforts and write 
to your respective National Telecommunication Administrations. 

Our small group of German Maritime Radio operators have repeatedly brought our concerns
to the attention of our administration and we have indicated that the danger of unauthorized
use is increasing. Finally in March of 2007 the German Federal Ministry of Transport has 
picked up our cause. They are proposing that the band be used by three additional NAVTEX
frequencies for distress and urgency purposes. The German Telecommunication 
Administration supports this request and is going to bring it to the attention of the European 
CEPT. The German officials are optimistic that this proposal will be accepted at WRC 2007. 
This for the time being seems to be the end of our hope for a Museum/Heritage/Memorial 
frequency. However with the NAVTEX proposal we have at least reached our goal of 
continuing 500 kHz as a distress frequency to safeguard human life at sea. That of course 
should always be a priority. 500 kHz we hope will continue.

Nevertheless we recommend to all who are interested in a Museum/Heritage/Memorial 
frequency to continue to monitor the situation. This because we have indicated to our  
Telecommunication Administration that the 10 kHz in question is large enough for one more 
user to accommodate our proposal. 

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is also seeking a small frequency spectrum 
in the 500 kHz range for special purposes. This also may open a possibility of having the 
Museum/Heritage/Memorial usage included in the amateur radio service proposal.
For this to happen  the definition for the Amateur service in ITU Radio Regulation 
possibly needs to be changed. 

Rolf Marschner and Norbert Gabriel

Version 1.0 25. March 2007