Brussels hosted last 19 November the 17th meeting of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), which saw confirmation of the previous deputy chairman, Daniel Pataki of NHH (Hungary), as the new chairman, and of Roberto Viola of AGCOM (Italy) as the new deputy chairman. The current presidency will run until the 20th meeting of the RSPG, scheduled for 12 November 2009.
Among other matters, the participants adopted two Opinions, one on aspects of a European approach for collective use of spectrum and another on streamlining the regulatory environment for the use of spectrum. The RSPG is still developing an opinion on best practices concerning spectrum use by the public sector.
The meeting also saw approval of the RSPG's working programme for 2009; the following co-ordinators were determined for the various areas:
- Broadband - United Kingdom;
- Dividend - Ireland;
- Spectrum efficiency - Hungary;
- Cognitive radio - the Netherlands;
- European interests in the spectrum area - France.
Also presented was the work being carried out by the RSPG/European Regulators Group (ERG) joint group on competition challenges deriving from flexible spectrum management; the following topics were approved for study by the group:
- Questions deriving from the switch to flexible spectrum management;
- Risks of using spectrum to establish dominant market positions.
A report on transition matters should be adopted at the 11 February meeting, and one on dominant positions at the 13 May meeting. The European Commission presented the consultancy firms that will carry out study on the digital dividend, a consortium comprising Analysys, Econ, and Hogan and Hartson, and set out the policy goals of same. The consultants gave a presentation on their project, indicating the study stages that will need support from the European Union member States. Most countries support the study, although some, namely those that have already made their decisions, consider it to be rather late.
Also regarding the digital dividend, France gave a presentation on its experience and the decisions made. Note that the spectrum re-planning done in neighbouring Spain to allow use of the band above UHF (790-862 MHz) for mobile phones will cost the French state nearly 52 million euros and imply changing the frequencies of nearly 12,000 emitters.
Representatives of the Forum for Public Safety Communication Europe (PSC-Europe) gave a presentation on future spectrum needs for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) applications in Europe.
The EC representative described the current state of the Commission’s discussions with the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament vis-à-vis the spectrum reform proposals, in the context of the regulatory review. The document’s first reading is now under way; it is hoped that the second reading will result in a greater convergence of positions. The Commission will make every effort to ensure that the matter is voted on in September 2009.
Lastly, the European Commission informed the RSPG of the approval of the proposal to modify the GSM Directive, which will soon be proposed to the Parliament.
