Friday, October 31, 2008

US broadcasters rally the stars over whitespace row

It's a first - Dolly Parton and Neil Diamond have intervened in spectrum policy! Meanwhile the FCC is facing criticism for using election day to hold the meeting which will decide on the whitespace issue.

America's broadcasters have mounted a massive media campaign aimed at preventing any decision on use of the vacant white space between TV broadcasts at a board meeting of regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on November 4.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/us-broadcasters-rally-the-stars-over-whitespace-row

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Consultation: ERO Frequency Information System (EFIS)

ERO has proposed amendments to the EEC decision on EFIS which would expand the database to also include national rights of use information in frequency bands where spectrum trading is allowed.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/consultations/ero-frequency-information-system-efis

Consultation: Harmonised use of airborne GSM systems in 1710-1785 and 1805-1880 MHz

Interested parties are being asked to comment on the amendments to the ECC Decision on the harmonised use of airborne GSM systems.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/consultations/harmonised-use-of-airborne-gsm-systems-in-1710-1785-and-1805-1880-mhz

Consultation: Temporary assignment of UHF analogue interleaved frequencies

Following a request from the BBC Ofcom has begun a technical consultation on the process for temporarily assigning analogue interleaved frequencies (470-862MHz) in a number of key metropolitan areas. The consultation focuses on how to protect existing spectrum users. These temporary assignments could allow for the early introduction of new high definition services on digital terrestrial television.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=825

Consultation: Innovative uses of spectrum

Ofcom is proposing introducing a new licence for spectrum users. The 'innovation licence' is designed to allow organisations to rapidly launch commercial services that do not easily fit within one of Ofcom's existing licence classes. In the first instance the innovation licence would be for public sector spectrum like that managed by the Ministry of Defence.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=824

My priorities: new Commission head of spectrum talks to PolicyTracker

The digital dividend will be the key issue for Brussels spectrum regulators in the coming months, according to the new head of DG INFSO's Radio Spectrum Policy Unit.

Pearse O'Donohue (photo below) took over as head of the unit in mid-June from Ruprecht Niepold, who is now an advisor to the DG INFSO director general Fabio Colasanti. "Our major policy challenges are going to be the digital dividend, which has a high political profile, but also a number of dossiers that deal with non-electronic communications services use of spectrum, such as transport," he says. These issues are all due to be brought together as regulators work with the European Parliament and Council to develop a comprehensive policy framework. "We will be devoting time to all this over the next six months or so in order to give the new Commission and Parliament a clear plan for the major strategic issues in the third quarter of next year," he says. Elections for the new Parliament take place in June 2009.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=823

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Plans for political input into EU spectrum policy cut back

Two key amendments to the EU telecoms framework which would have given MEPs more influence over spectrum policy have been deleted from the final legislative proposals being put forward by the Commission.

The European Commission has modified its legislative proposals setting out a review of the European Union's telecommunications framework, having taken on board some but not all of the European Parliament's first reading position voted on in late September.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/plans-for-political-input-into-eu-spectrum-policy-cut-back

Sunday, October 26, 2008

French government unveils digital dividend plan

The French government has confirmed that it will allocate the 790 – 892 MHz sub-band released as part of the digital dividend to "next-generation very high-speed fixed-line and mobile networks".

In a report entitled "France Numérique 2012", which contains 154 proposals designed to boost the country's "digital economy", the government says that the spectrum will be allocated in an auction due to take place by the end of 2009. This should ensure that France does not lose ground compared to Sweden and the UK, the report says. The government will give spectrum regulator the Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) a mandate to negotiate with France's neighbours to put the sub-band in place and begin discussions on whether part of the money raised from the auction can be re-invested in measures that support the country's digital economy.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/french-government-unveils-digital-dividend-plan

Friday, October 24, 2008

How can spectrum liberalisation work better, asks UK government

The British government has underlined its commitment to spectrum liberalisation by putting it at the centre of an action plan for the communications and media sectors.

Steven Carter, the former head of the regulator, Ofcom was made a government minister in the recent reshuffle and will be in charge of developing the plan. His task is to make proposals for government and the commercial sector which will stimulate "innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries." These are already worth £52 billion a year for the UK economy.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=820

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ofcom U-turn over spectrum for lifeboats

The UK regulator is encountering strong opposition to its plans to introducing spectrum pricing in the aviation and maritime sectors. The issued has been raised in parliament, followed by an abrupt change in the policy proposals.

Ofcom has produced a preliminary set of proposals aimed at charging for the use of VHF communications channels, possibly as early as next year, and for a number of other bands (see table below) from 2010.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=819

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Study calls for public spectrum re-think

A European Commission study due later this month will make some "fairly radical" recommendations on how to improve spectrum use by Europe's public sector, but take a cautious approach to market-based allocation mechanisms.

The draft study by WIK-Consult, Aegis Systems Limited, IDATE and Plum Consulting was unveiled at a 1 October Brussels public workshop on optimising public sector use of spectrum. The Commission is seeking advice on several issues, said WIK-Consult Department Manager J. Scott Marcus: How to find an appropriate balance between spectrum allocated for public, commercial and private activities; how the public sector in member states can adopt a more long-term, proactive approach to their use of spectrum; and how public bodies can improve public procurement of radio equipment and services. The consulting team was also asked to explore the possibility of new technological approaches to help public agencies use spectrum more efficiently. The report focuses on the defence, transport and emergency sectors.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=818

Friday, October 10, 2008

Ireland awaits spectrum trading legislation

Legislation enabling spectrum to be traded in Ireland could be in place by 2010, according to the country's wireless community.

Spectrum in Ireland is currently governed by the 1926 Wireless Telegraphy Act. "It's an old act, but the fact that it has lasted this long shows it is robust," says Jim Connolly, senior spectrum advisor at Irish regulator ComReg. "The main issue is that it deals with licensing the use of radio equipment. To allow spectrum trading, its focus has to be broadened to address rights of use of spectrum."

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/ireland-awaits-spectrum-trading-legislation

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

CEPT brings in new procedures following WRC splits

European regulators have agreed to proposals for strengthening their agreed common positions after Russia and other countries were criticised for undermining these at last year's World Radio Conference.

The European regulators group, CEPT, has agreed a new rule of procedure for negotiating European Common Proposals during world conferences and has proposed enhanced communication with the former Soviet states represented in the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC) grouping.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=816

Monday, October 06, 2008

Ireland hopes to become Celtic tiger of wireless Europe

A consultants report for regulator ComReg calls for a substantial frequency release after digital switchover and recommends the setting aside of an "innovation reserve."

The amount of spectrum assigned to non-broadcasting use as part of the digital dividend in Ireland could be in the region of 80 MHz to 120 MHz, according to a report commissioned by the Irish regulator ComReg.

Read the full details at:
http://www.policytracker.com/alerts.php?tact=815

Friday, October 03, 2008

Ofcom researches environmental obligations

The UK regulator has commissioned a study to help it decide whether environmental protection should be added to its list of regulatory duties.

Under the 2003 Communications Act the main duties of the regulator are to "further the interests of citizens…[and]…consumers…where appropriate by promoting competition."

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/ofcom-researches-environmental-obligations

Thursday, October 02, 2008

October 2008 printed issue available for download

Our top story this month is the European Parliament's final verdict on the spectrum reform proposals contained in the Telecoms Framework Review.

The more liberal aspects have been diluted but the European Commission has praised the Parliament's commitment to flexibility and harmonisation.

Read the full details at: https://www.policytracker.com/headlines/october-2008-printed-issue-available-for-download