Here is a simple table of Hertz frequencies used in various technologies and their respective applications.
| Frequency | Application |
|---|---|
| 0-20 Hz | Infrasound, used in seismology and for studying animal communication |
| 20-20,000 Hz | Audible sound for human hearing |
| 30,000-300,000 Hz | Ultrasound, used in medical imaging and industrial cleaning |
| 3-30 kHz | Very low frequency (VLF), used in navigation and time signal broadcasting |
| 30-300 kHz | Low frequency (LF), used in navigation and AM radio broadcasting |
| 300-3000 kHz | Medium frequency (MF), used in AM radio broadcasting |
| 3-30 MHz | High frequency (HF), used in shortwave radio and aviation communication |
| 30-300 MHz | Very high frequency (VHF), used in FM radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, and aviation |
| 300-3000 MHz | Ultra-high frequency (UHF), used in television broadcasting, cellular networks, and GPS |
| 3-30 GHz | Super high frequency (SHF), used in satellite communication and microwave devices |
| 30-300 GHz | Extremely high frequency (EHF), used in millimeter-wave radar and wireless communication technologies such as 5G |
| 300 GHz – 400 THz | Infrared radiation, used in remote controls, night-vision technology, and fiber-optic communication |
| 400-790 THz | Visible light |
| 790 THz – 30 PHz | Ultraviolet light, used in sterilization and black lights |
| 30 PHz – 30 EHz | X-rays, used in medical imaging and airport security |
| Above 30 EHz | Gamma rays, used in nuclear medicine and radiation therapy |
This table is a simplification and covers only some of the applications at each frequency range. In practice, the use of specific frequencies within each range can vary based on national and international regulations, as well as technological and practical considerations.
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has licensed frequencies for a wide range of uses, including:
- AM and FM radio broadcasting (535 kHz to 1705 kHz for AM and 88 MHz to 108 MHz for FM)
- Television broadcasting (54 MHz to 806 MHz)
- Cellular and PCS (personal communications service) telephone systems (698 MHz to 806 MHz)
- Pagers (900 MHz)
- Wireless microphones and in-ear monitors (470 MHz to 608 MHz and 614 MHz to 698 MHz)
- Satellite communications (various frequency bands)
- Wireless internet service providers (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands)
- GPS (1575.42 MHz)
- Marine and aeronautical radio (various frequency bands)
- Amateur radio (various frequency bands)
- Public safety and emergency services (various frequency bands)
Note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other uses for frequencies not listed here.
Here are some additional frequency bands used by the FCC:
- Land mobile radio services (VHF and UHF bands)
- Fixed microwave services (various frequency bands)
- Industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) devices (various frequency bands)
- Short-range wireless devices (such as Bluetooth and Zigbee) (various frequency bands)
- Remote control and telemetry (various frequency bands)
- Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices (5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.47-5.725 GHz)
- Automotive radar (76-81 GHz)
- Wireless power transmission (various frequency bands)
- Radio astronomy (various frequency bands)
It is worth noting that the FCC also manages the use of frequency bands shared with other countries or international organizations through coordination and agreements.
In addition to the above, the FCC also manages the use of certain frequency bands for specific applications, such as:
- Wireless broadband services (such as 5G) in the millimeter wave bands (24 GHz, 28 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz)
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones (various frequency bands)
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices (various frequency bands)
- Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications (5.9 GHz band)
- Medical body area networks (MBAN) (various frequency bands)
- Power line communication (PLC) systems (various frequency bands)
- RadioFrequency identification (RFID) systems (various frequency bands)
Remember that the FCC’s regulations and frequency allocations are subject to change as the demand for recent technologies, applications, and services evolves.
The FCC also assigns specific frequency bands for federal government use, including:
- Military and defense communications (various frequency bands)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communications (various frequency bands)
- NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) communications (various frequency bands)
- NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather and environmental monitoring (various frequency bands)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) communications (various frequency bands)
- Department of Energy (DOE) communications (various frequency bands)
- Department of Justice (DOJ) communications (various frequency bands)
In addition to the above, the FCC also manages the use of specific frequency bands for international and cross-border communications, such as:
- International maritime communications (various frequency bands)
- International aeronautical communications (various frequency bands)
- International satellite communications (various frequency bands)
Keep in mind that the FCC has established regulations for using unlicensed and license-exempt frequency bands, like the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and other frequency ranges. Anyone can use these frequency bands without a license but with certain restrictions to avoid interference with other services.
The FCC also manages the use of certain frequency bands for specific industries, such as:
- Cable television and broadband services (various frequency bands)
- Electric power utilities (various frequency bands)
- Oil and gas industry (various frequency bands)
- Railroads (various frequency bands)
- Public transportation systems (various frequency bands)
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities (various frequency bands)
- Educational institutions (various frequency bands)
The FCC also plays a role in managing and allocating spectrum for emerging technologies such as:
- Cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access (various frequency bands)
- Software-defined radio (various frequency bands)
- Spectrum sharing (various frequency bands)
Please note that the FCC works closely with other government agencies, such as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to manage and allocate spectrum resources. This is not an exhaustive list, and the FCC’s regulations and frequency allocations are subject to change as the demand for innovative technologies, applications, and services evolves.
The FCC manages frequency bands for satellite services and satellite earth stations. These frequency bands are used for various applications, such as:
- Fixed satellite service (FSS), which includes services such as direct-to-home (DTH) television, satellite news gathering (SNG), and satellite-based broadband internet
- Mobile satellite service (MSS), which includes services such as global positioning system (GPS) and satellite-based mobile phone networks
- Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Educational Broadband Service (EBS) are shared access services in the 2.5 GHz band for providing broadband services.
- Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS), which is used for remote sensing
- Space Research Service (SRS), which is used for scientific research and experimentation
- Space Operation Service (SOS), which is used for space exploration and satellite control
The FCC works closely with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to coordinate and manage the use of frequency bands for satellite services globally. The FCC’s regulations and frequency allocations are subject to change as the demand for innovative technologies, applications, and services evolve.
The FCC also manages the use of frequency bands for public safety and emergency services, such as:
- Public safety communications (various frequency bands), including land mobile radio services for police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS)
- Emergency alert systems (EAS) (various frequency bands)
- 911 and Enhanced 911 (E911) services (various frequency bands)
- Emergency management and disaster recovery communications (various frequency bands)
- Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) (various frequency bands)
- First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) (700 MHz band)
The FCC also plays a role in coordinating and managing interoperable communications for public safety and emergency services to ensure that different agencies and jurisdictions can communicate effectively during emergencies. The FCC works closely with other government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Communications System (NCS), to manage and allocate the spectrum of resources for public safety and emergency services.
The FCC also manages the use of frequency bands for low-power and experimental operations such as:
- Low-Power Television (LPTV) and Translator Stations (various frequency bands)
- Low-Power FM (LPFM) radio stations (various frequency bands)
- Experimental Licensing (various frequency bands)
- Amateur Radio Service (various frequency bands)
- Citizen Band Radio Service (CBRS) (various frequency bands)
It’s also worth noting that the FCC has established rules for using certain unlicensed and license-exempt frequency bands, such as the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and other frequency ranges. Anyone can use these frequency bands without a license but with certain restrictions to avoid interference with other services. The FCC works closely with other government agencies, such as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to manage and allocate spectrum resources.
The FCC manages various frequency bands for various applications and industries. The frequency bands and their usage constantly evolve as modern technologies, applications, and services are developed. It’s important to note that the FCC’s regulations and frequency allocations are subject to change. Those operating or using devices that emit radio frequency energy should be aware of the FCC’s rules and regulations that apply to their operations.
We recommend checking the FCC website (https://www.fcc.gov/) for the most up-to-date information on the FCC’s licensed frequencies and their usage.
