31st meeting of the Electronic Communications Committee - Tallinn

The Estonian capital Tallinn hosted from 29 May to 1 June the 31st meeting of the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC), attended by 66 participants representing 30 administrations, the European Commission (EC), European Communications Office (ECO) and five observers.

The following decisions stand out among the subjects dealt with at the meeting:

• Final approval of Decision ECC/DEC/(12)AA on "Exemption from individual licensing and free circulation and use of terrestrial and satellite mobile terminals operating under the control of networks". Even though 21 administrations expressed their intention to apply this decision, Germany indicated that it would not do so and asked for a written statement to be included in the meeting’s minutes, in which it holds that the matter is covered by application of the R&TTE Directive. Portugal and Russia reported that they could only partially implement this decision due to current usage, specifically regarding the 1518-1525 MHz band. When submitting information on this decision's implementation status the administrations must inform the ECO about bands where they may have problems at national level;
   
• Approval and submission to public consultation of the revised Decision ECC/DEC/(06)01 on "Harmonised utilisation of spectrum of the bands 1920-1980 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz for mobile fixed communications networks (MFCN) including terrestrial IMT systems" (paired bands);
   
• Final approval of amended Decision ERC/DEC/(98)25  on "Harmonised frequency band to be designated for analogue PMR 446". The decision did not receive comments in the scope of the public consultation and 23 administrations indicated their intention to eventually implement it;
   
• Final approval of the new Decision ECC/DEC/(12)BB on "The withdrawal of ERC/DEC/(98)10". No comments whatsoever were received in the public consultation;
   
• Final approval of amended Decision ECC/DEC/(04)10 on "Frequency bands to be designated for the temporary introduction of Automotive Short Range Radars (SRR)". A total of 26 administrations expressed their intention to apply this decision; Russia indicated that it could not do so before 1 July 2013;
   
• Final approval of CEPT Report no. 43, in response to the European Commission (EC) mandate in the scope of the "Review of Commission Decision 2005/928/EC (169 MHz-Decision) - the way forward". One comment was received in the public consultation; the measurements made in the German regulator's laboratory were also included, along with information sent by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

The plenary session was informed of the latest EC mandates to the ECC, assigned by correspondence to ensure compliance with time limits: on ultra wide bands (UWB), assigned to the Short Range Devices/Maintenance Group (SRD MG) of the working group on Frequency Management (WG FM); on programme making and special events (PMSE), assigned to the Frequency Management project team (PT FM51); and, lastly, on the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency bands, assigned in April to the ECC project team (PT1). Only this last EC mandate is worrisome regarding the meeting of deadlines and the Committee has therefore already endorsed the roadmap presented by the group. The administrations should submit their contributions by correspondence to draw up the internal report.

In procedural terms, the ECC approved revision of the terms of reference of ECC PT1 on International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) issues, based on a proposed revision submitted by the group itself and improved at the meeting. The United Kingdom also put forward another review proposal based on adoption of a broader strategy for PT1 which would cover all issues not included on the agenda of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in mobile broadband terms. The plenary meeting agreed that the priority should focus on increasing the efficiency of the group’s activity, more than on adopting rupture strategies that could put ongoing work at risk. It was thus agreed to include in the group’s mandate current and future analysis of the 3.4-3.6 GHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz bands (including Decision ECC(11)06 on block edge masks under development and EC mandate).

The Committee also approved changes to its rules of procedure (RoP) and working methods (WM), basically editorial in nature and as proposed by the ECO. Since in the case of the RoP they require a two-month time period, formal adoption is only possible at the next plenary meeting in the autumn. In the scope of WG FM the question was raised as to whether or not observers can include Statements in the minutes of meetings; the plenary session held that the decision is up to the chairs of each group.

The current ECC chairman (Thomas Ewers of Germany), who finishes his second term at the end of 2013, reported that he has accepted the invitation addressed to him during WRC-12 to head the new Joint Task Groups (JTG 4-5-6-7) on mobile broadband under preparation from the WRC-15 agenda point which aims to identify new spectrum for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) and other broadband applications. The next Committee meeting will be the last he chairs. Eric Fournier of France confirmed that he will be France's candidate for the position. Also, ECC vice-chairman Stelios Himonas of Cyprus recently stepped down from the position, as he had been promoted and now has different responsibilities in the civil service. His replacement process will only begin in October, so that the new ECC chairman can meanwhile have the opportunity to choose his team.

Steve Bond of the United Kingdom, the only candidate, was by acclamation elected chairman of the Conference Preparatory Group (CPG). Also, Bruno Espinosa of France will no longer chair the Spectrum Engineering working group (WG SE), as this 1 July he will join the ECO as assistant director of the Office; the respective hiring process was subsequent to this plenary meeting.

The next ECC plenary meeting will be held from this coming 30 October to 2 November in Vilnius, Lithuania.