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

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

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

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