ECC TG6 (long term vision UHF) was created at the 34th ECC meeting in June 2013. Its main aim is to produce studies with long term vision for the ultra high frequency (UHF) broadcasting band in Europe, with specific focus on the following issues:
- Identification and analysis of possible scenarios for the band’s long term development, based on the current situation and recognising ongoing studies in the 700 MHz band in Europe and short/medium term developments, for example, concerning item 1.2 of the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) agenda and the response to the European Commission (EC) mandate;
- CEPT administrations’ flexibility to individually considering future use of the band;
- guaranteed fair access to the band for CEPT administrations which want to operate broadcasting services;
- perception of the existence of a stable environment for future investment regarding services envisaged for the band, including programme making and special events (PMSE).
The group will accordingly produce an ECC report.
The group's second meeting was held on 3-5 December in Lisbon, attended by 66 participants, including 21 administrations, the European Communications Office (ECO) and various organisations/companies. The group is chaired by Jaime Afonso (Portugal).
Progress was made on some sections of the report, particularly the introduction, whose text sets out the reasons for the studies and for creating TG6, even though it may still be subject to some changes (e.g. regarding the meaning of 'long term'). Two new appendices were added to the report, one with the TG6 terms of reference (ToR) and the other with information about the regulatory framework for the provision of audiovisual communication services.
Regarding the fundamental topic in the scope of TG6, 12 long term scenarios were determined, which are now part of the draft ECC report. Note that there was not enough time to discuss all the texts/proposals which are now in section 6 of the proposed ECC report. Furthermore, the proposed scenarios will have to be evaluated and in this regard various documents should again be considered at TG6’s next meeting.
