ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
ECC Decision
of 17 October 2003
on the publication of national tables
of frequency allocations and utilisations
(ECC/DEC/(03)05)
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1 INTRODUCTION
The efficient use of the frequency spectrum for radiocommunications purposes is helped by adopting a harmonised approach. One of the most important elements in this is the Table of Frequency Allocations contained in the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This Table defines in a very general and global way which frequency band may be used by the various radiocommunications services.
On the European level, however, much more detailed information on the actual utilisation or intended use in the near future is necessary for frequency management purposes. An important basis of such information can be found in the National Tables of Frequency Allocations (NTFAs) prepared in the different CEPT countries. The publication of NTFAs is considered to be a major instrument in harmonising the use of the radio frequency spectrum in the CEPT countries.
2 BACKGROUND
The need for publication of NTFAs has been identified by numerous fora in the past. The Commission Directive 96/2/EC amending Directive 90/388/EEC states in its Article 3b that (EU) ''…Member States shall publish every year or make available on request the allocation scheme of frequencies reserved for mobile and personal communications services including the plans for future extension of such frequencies''.
In CEPT much effort has been invested in the harmonisation process. The different phases of Detailed Spectrum Investigations (DSIs) have paved the way for the preparation of a European Table of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations.
The 15th ERC meeting decided to prepare a Decision relating to the procedure for making publicly available the contents of NTFAs. The intent is therefore broader in scope than the above mentioned Directive. More countries are involved and a broader range of frequencies and services is covered. This Decision, ERC/DEC(97)01 was adopted in March 1997 and withdrawn with Decision ECC/DEC/(03)06 in October 2003.
In 2001, the ECC decision on ERO Frequency Information System (EFIS), ECC/DEC/(01)03 was adopted, aiming at harmonizing the publication of NTFAs in database format in order to make the data more accessible. This database has developed into an Internet application that includes search and comparison of NTFA information.
With the introduction of Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (the R&TTE Directive), a number of ERC decisions on type approval specifications are not applicable in countries implementing the R&TTE Directive. Information on the use of frequencies, however, remains an important issue.
3 REQUIREMENT FOR AN ECC DECISION
The usefulness of publishing the NTFAs is quite obvious with regard to the development of the services, the effectiveness of the frequency spectrum utilisation and the information needed by the industry.
Many countries have already developed NTFAs based on different formats and presentations. Thus, it is hardly possible to achieve a unified system presenting the most important relevant data without an ECC Decision defining the contents, the presentation of data, and the respective methods.
Also, the mechanism of this ECC Decision would ensure that the obligation of the EU Member States resulting from the Commission Directive 96/2/EC would be easier to fulfil.
ECC Decision
of 17 October 2003
on the publication of national tables of frequency allocations and utilisations
(ECC/DEC/(03)05)
''The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations,
considering
a) that the Table of Frequency Allocations in the Radio Regulations defines a broad variety of possibilities but does not reflect the actual uses in the different countries;
b) that the openness and transparency of spectrum management matters is of common interest to users, service providers, network operators, manufacturers and organisations responsible for regulation;
c) that up-to-date information is needed to serve this common interest;
d) that the EU Commission Directive 96/2/EC, amending Directive 90/388/EEC with regard to mobile and personal communications, contains detailed provisions for the publication of national frequency plans for mobile and personal communications and that this Decision is intended to expand the scope of the publication;
e) that the establishment of a European Common Allocation table requires the publication of a wider frequency range than mentioned in the Directive 96/2/EC;
f) that the DECISION No 676/2002/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy in the European Community (Radio Spectrum Decision) aims to ensure the coordinated and timely provision of information concerning the allocation, availability and use of radio spectrum in the Community;
g) that an ECC Decision will encompass all CEPT countries;
h) that effective frequency spectrum management in the different countries is practically impossible without preparing and maintaining their respective national table of frequency allocations and utilisations (NTFA);
i) that information on other countries' NTFAs is indispensable when making long-term plans to develop the services in the direction of Europe-wide harmonisation;
j) that harmonised use of the frequency spectrum means that differences between the NTFAs of the administrations diminish;
k) that the relevant procedures concerning the allocating of frequencies vary in the different CEPT countries;
DECIDES
1. that administrations shall compile information relating to the current and, whenever possible, planned allocation of radio frequencies to services in the form of national tables;
2. that administrations shall publish such national tables and revise them at least after a WRC or else as often as may be required to keep the information contained in them up-to-date;
3. that national tables of frequency allocations and utilisations (NTFAs) shall contain at a minimum the following information;
(i) the frequency bands (or parts thereof), and in each case, the services to which they have been allocated;
(ii) whenever possible the changes foreseen for the allocation to services of the frequency bands mentioned in decides 3 (i), for instance in relation to the conclusions of a WRC, EU Directives, ECC decisions or other types of harmonisation within CEPT;
(iii) where relevant the radiocommunication allocations and applications1 to which such bands (or parts thereof) have been designated when this information is available;
(iv) where practicable, the details relating to the requirements of the R&TTE Directive to administrations and/or radio interface specifications or for countries not implementing the R&TTE Directive comparable national specifications for each such system;
4. that the minimum information as specified under 3 and each revision thereof in the frequency band 9 kHz to 1000 GHz shall be communicated to ERO;
5. that this Decision shall enter into force by 17 October 2003;
6. that the CEPT administrations shall communicate the national measures implementing this Decision to the ECC Chairman and the ERO when the Decision is nationally implemented.''
Note:
Please check the CEPT web site (CEPThttps://www.cept.org/) for the up to date position on the implementation of this and other ECC decisions.
1 Radiocommunication applications: e.g. GSM, TETRA, TDAB etc.
Consult:
- ECC/DEC/(03)05 https://docdb.cept.org/download/1703
