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I came across some shortwave frequencies licensed to a couple utility companies in my state -
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSea ... ey=1877349
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSea ... ey=1890762

Anyone here seen something similar to this? What would a utility company want with shortwave?
Possibly for some type of remote data devices? Or just for emergency comms?

Theoretically, the company could communicate around the world by choosing one or more of those frequencies depending on conditions, equipment specifications and type of emission used. The licenses are all located in NY State so I would gather that they are not for some point to point service. A guess would be that they could be used to communicate with a marine SSB station on a ship or boat. That they would be used for emergency service is another guess. HF can be useful for distances between 50-500 miles, again depending on frequencies and conditions.

From the application:

APPLICANT IS A COMMUNICATIONS COMMON CARRIER PROVIDING SERVICE FOR HIRE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

The company on the license "Keyspan" is now owned by National Grid which is a world wide company so it would definitely make sense if they wanted something to communicate possibly across countries and i almost forgot certain marine radios use those freqs as well so i could also see them talking to ships that may transport fuels and whatnot
Thanks for the reply

Another question - being that those licenses show multiple ranges of frequencies does that mean the company can use more or less any shortwave freq they want?

Years ago I knew of some power companies that had Motorola Micom 104's in some of their trucks that inspected transmission lines in the middle of nowhere. AT&T used to have shortwave radios and log periodic antennas at some of their Class 3 Primary Centers and also had their disaster recovery HF net.

Interesting - thanks for the info
So i suppose a power company would utilize shortwave to talk to FEMA and whatnot during a major storm or something
And it looks like AT&T's shortwave license is still active - https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSea ... ey=1879483

Many of these Large Telecom / Utility agencies also participate in the SHARES program
https://www.dhs.gov/cisa/shared-resourc ... io-program

Probably for disaster interoperability or other communications at distances beyond normal VHF line of sight. Any other entities licensed for them?

There is also an interoperability frequency for power companies on VHF-low band: 37.600 MHz.

_________________
-Tom, W1WSO -- Plymouth, CT
http://tf.sdf.org/monitor/