The first meeting of the Civil/Military Spectrum Panel (NATO C3B 1 CaP3 2) was held last 6-7 April at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The gathering was co-chaired by Rick Barfoot (NATO C3S 3) and Stephen Jones (OFCOM 4). Portugal was represented by Jorge Araújo (Armed Forces General Staff) and ANACOM.
The CaP3 group's aim in the scope of the Atlantic Alliance's defence capabilities is to provide sufficient spectrum resources to:
- Ensure that NATO military forces have enough spectrum access to fulfil their mission;
- Harmonise military use of radio frequencies among NATO allies;
- Cooperate with the EAPC 5/PfP 6 countries with a view to achieving identical use of radio spectrum.
The recently-created CaP3 group resulted from a proposal for a new C3B sub-structure in order to enhance the following characteristics:
- Task-oriented organisation;
- Consistent leadership and orientation in NATO and Nations;
- Limited number of Capability Panels under C3B;
- Smaller organisation, with top-down oriented Capability Teams;
- Possibility that the Nations can interact at the various levels;
- Necessary co-ordination between the sub-structure and NHQC3S 7;
- Necessary co-ordination between the sub-structure and other NATO bodies;
- Reorganisation in line with general reforms in NATO.
The group responsible for spectrum in the Atlantic Alliance which previously reported to C3B, i.e. the FMSC 8, was consequently disbanded. It had been the NATO specialised body for managing spectrum, with civil and military participation. The respective subgroups (PWG 9, TWG 10, MFG 11) were likewise deactivated.
At the first CaP 3 meeting the following were discussed and agreed: (i) the group's terms of reference, (ii) the structure of the sessions, (iii) the group's working programme and (iv) the teams to set up. The resulting documents will be forwarded to C3B for approval.
The next CaP 3 meeting has been scheduled for November 2011.
1 Consultation, Command and Control Board.
2 Civ/Mil Spectrum Capability Panel 3.
3 C3 Staff.
4 Ofcomhttp://www.ofcom.org.uk
5 Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
6 Partnership for Peace.
7 NATO Headquarters Consultation, Command and Control Staff.
8 NATO Frequency Management Sub-Committee.
9 Policy Working Group.
10 Technical Working Group.
11 Military Frequency Group.
