New broadcasting technology on ITU agenda for New Year

ITU member countries are considering a request to start work on two matters in the broadcasting service and to revise five others, according to a letter circulated by the Radiocommunication Bureau.

Scott Billquist, Geneva Correspondent

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It’s the Czech’s turn to broker a telecoms framework deal

Ministers and the European Parliament will spend the next few months intensively negotiating a compromise on the future EU telecommunications rules, the so-called "telecoms package", expected to be applied from 2010.

Under the French presidency, which expires at the end of 2008, most member states were opposed the European Commission's proposals presented last year. The national governments were particularly against initiatives which would transfer competences on radiofrequency management and market regulation from national to EU level.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/it2019s-the-czechs-turn-to-broker-a-telecoms-framework-deal

FCC delays AWS-3 decision after political pressure

The US Federal Communications Commission is being accused of unlawful behaviour after cancelling a meeting scheduled for December 18. The regulator acted after receiving a letter from the incoming administration.

The five Commissioners had been planning to vote on controversial proposals to provide free Wireless Internet services nationwide using the AWS-3 spectrum block.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/fcc-delays-aws-3-decision-after-political-pressure

Radio amateurs say powerline interference has already arrived

Radio amateurs claim the powerline technology used by the UK's biggest IPTV service is causing widespread interference. But Ofcom and the operator, BT, say there have been a small number of isolated incidents.

Accusations being made by amateur radio operators of major interference being caused to their reception by devices being distributed by BT are greatly exaggerated according to the telecoms operator.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/radio-amateurs-say-powerline-interference-has-already-arrived

German government moves to open up UHF to new services

The German parliament has unveiled proposals to remove the power of federal states to restrict the use of UHF to broadcasting services only. It's a huge boost for those seeking the European harmonisation of mobile in UHF.

Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics will publish a revised version of its plan to allocate broadcasting frequencies to mobile services early next year. According to a spokesman, this will probably be in February. "However, it will also have to be approved by the federal states (Länder), and that will probably take another two months," he said.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/german-government-moves-to-open-up-uhf-to-new-services-1

ITU examines delivering 3DTV via terrestrial and satellite

As policy-makers come to terms with the HDTV revolution the next wave of TV technology - 3DTV and Ultra High Definition - is beginning its progress through the regulatory working groups.

New and emerging techniques involve improving on existing 3D audio/visual experiences and substantially increasing image resolution for HDTV programs to augment depth of field cues for viewers.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/itu-examines-delivering-3dtv-via-terrestrial-and-satellite

Member states reject mandatory liberalisation and further EU harmonisation

The Framework Review compromise brokered by the French EU presidency supports spectrum liberalisation in principle but rejects the Commission's calls to introduce compulsory measures.

European Union member states meeting in the EU Telecoms Council November 27 voted against any new EU coordination mechanisms or harmonisation of radio spectrum, though they said they were ready to be more flexible in the way they manage radiofrequencies, in order to respond to other needs such as mobile services.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/member-states-reject-mandatory-liberalisation-and-further-eu-harmonisation

Architect of UK spectrum liberalisation 'disappointed' by number of trades

Ofcom doesn't agree with Professor Martin Cave's assessment but is considering measures to give potential traders more information about the spectrum available.

Last month PolicyTracker tried to benchmark the number of spectrum trades in Europe against the results in other countries where the secondary market is longer established.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/architect-of-uk-spectrum-liberalisation-disappointed-by-number-of-trades

Whitespace: Europe’s attention turns to the UK

Whitespace devices may have got the green light in the US but in Europe doubts remain about the amount of vacant spectrum and the impact on wireless microphone users

With the FCC having set a precedent in allowing use of the white space between TV broadcasts to be used for wireless broadband, the focus now switches to the UK where Ofcom is the first European regulator addressing the issue.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/whitespace-europes-attention-turns-to-the-uk