Communication on radio frequency requirements
The European Commission has adopted a communication on radio frequency requirements, in order to establish a common EU position for the forthcoming World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC), which will take place in the second half of 1999. The communication is aimed at initiating discussions on EU interests and priorities in the field. Worldwide radio spectrum has become a scarce resource due to increased usage for broadcasting and other applications, such as aeronautical and radio navigation. Legally binding decisions on the usage of radio spectrum resources will be taken during the WRC, which will affect such things as frequency requirements for radiocommunications applications and mobile broadband services. Taking into account the fact that the decisions made at the WRC will affect the EU's radio sector as a whole, the communication stresses that it is of crucial importance that a common position is reached, and priorities outlined, before the negotiations. The need to comply with relevant EU policies and the need for input from interested parties such as industry in this context are also outlined in the communication.