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World Radiocommunication Conference ‘07 Preview

Edward M. Davison

Deputy Associate Administrator, International

DoC/NTIA/OSM

May 23, 2007

NSMA

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I’M NOT RICHARD RUSSELL

THIS IS:

Mr. Russell:

- Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President (OSTP's Deputy Director for Technology)

- Senior Director for Technology and Telecommunications for the National Economic Council

- Head-of-Delegation for WRC-07

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THE DAVISON JACK “RUSSELLS”

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World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) Overview

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is responsible for coordinating the international use of the radio spectrum

The WRC is a month-long conference, normally held every four to five years. This year, it will be in Geneva, from 22 October to 16 November 2007

Some 2,000 delegates from 190 countries are expected

The WRC is the forum where countries decide on the shared use of the frequency spectrum to allow the deployment or growth of all types of radiocommunication services that have global implications Operates by consensus among member states, voting on

occasion.

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World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) Overview

WRC decisions are contained in Final Acts which include amendments to the Radio Regulations (treaty status) The Radio Regulations provide for the allocation of

radio frequency spectrum to various radio services (e.g. broadcasting, satellite communications, radiolocation and mobile).

The Radio Regulations also provide the technical provisions for sharing radio frequency spectrum among radio services and the regulatory provisions for bringing into use new radio based systems.

Adopts Resolutions covering technologies and future work of the ITU-R.

RRWRC

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WRC 2007

Over 30 issues; 4 year preparation process

The multilateral negotiations include almost all services (terrestrial: FS, MS, BS, Amat.S, RAS, RLS, space: FSS, BSS, MSS, EESS, SRS, SO, MetSat, Amat.Sat)

Many applications: IMT-2000, HAPS, HF, GMDSS, HIO

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Regional WRC Preparation

Each of the Regional Spectrum organizations have a WRC preparatory function Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL) European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications

Administrations (CEPT) Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications

(RCC)

Administrations submit draft proposals The regional organization, in accordance with their

own procedures, adopt common proposals before the WRC

The regional proposals are submitted to the WRC on behalf of all of their Members.

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Preparation of common coordinated proposals

WRC Regional Preparation

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What Is At Stake For The U.S.?

At stake is the future of existing and new services alike: the meeting partitions the radio frequency spectrum for use by a growing number of radio-based applications.

One of the principal tasks of WRC is to oversee and facilitate the complex inter-governmental negotiations needed to develop legally binding agreements between sovereign states

Success at WRC-2007 involves intensive bilateral and multilateral lobbying before and during the Conference in order to come to agreements.

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U.S. Preparatory Process

NTIA – coordinates positions of Federal government agencies

FCC – coordinates interests of private sector NTIA & FCC coordinate, modify & reconcile

proposals. NTIA & FCC coordinate reconciled proposals with

DoS. Head-of-Delegation (Ambassador) makes final

decisions with input from the NTIA, FCC, and DoS. DoS submits the proposals to the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL)

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CPM-1

U.S. Preparatory SGs, WPs, JTGs

ITU-R Study Groups, Working Parties & Joint Task Groups

CPM-2

WRC 2007October 22 to November 16,

2007

State Department

NTIA FCC

IRAC RCS

WRC-07

RCS WGs

WAC IWGs

U.S. Technical Preparation

U.S. View and Proposal Preparation

CITEL

Organization of ITU-R

U.S. preparation of

technical inputs

Negotiation of technical

study results

Negotiation of final technical input to the

WRC February 2007

Pre

ferr

ed

Ap

ril 2007

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Have an IDEA for Future WRCs

Note the process is a LONG one from an idea to a WRC

You can never start too soon

There are a lot of resources, e.g., time and money, that will be required.

Make sure that: The issue is really global in nature and needs to

be considered by a WRC.

The possible outcomes don’t make things worst RATHER than better.

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General U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives

Secure worldwide spectrum allocations for U.S. technologies and protect existing users (government and private) from operational interference.

Secure future services/applications that will benefit both the government and commercial world.

Secure a balance between existing and future.

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Specific U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives: Science

Ensure the protection of EESS (passive) operations from unwanted emissions (AI 1.2 & 1.20)

Supporting and protection of allocations for Radio Astronomy Observations (AI 1.21)

Additional 100 MHz to MetSat at 18 GHz (AI 1.2)

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Specific U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives: Radars

Radiolocation Allocation (AI 1.3) Upgrade of radiolocation to primary status in 9000-

9200 MHz and 9300-9500 MHz

Extending existing primary allocations to EESS (active) and space research service (active) allocations into 9300-9500 MHz With a footnote to protect the radionavigation service.

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Specific U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives: IMT

Additional allocation for IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000 (AI 1.4) NTIA: Ensure protection of incumbent systems,

including in the following bands 410-430, 2700-2900, 3400-3650, 4400-4990 MHz bands.

FCC: 450-470, 470-862, 2300-2400, and 3650-4200 MHz

Recognizing WIMAX as IMT-2000 technology.

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Specific U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives: Advanced Wireless Services (AWS)

Sharing between terrestrial and space services 2500-2690 MHz (AI 1.9) Current regulations do not provide adequate

protection to terrestrial services from space systems interference USA wants to protect the terrestrial services

How to transition to a regulatory regime on the satellite services

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Specific U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives: Satellite Regulation

Coordination and notification procedures for satellite networks (AI 1.12) Open ended item

This one is never over till the end of the WRC

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Specific U.S. WRC 2007 Objectives: Forever and ever

HF communications (AI 1.13) NOC (No Change) to additional allocations,

including the broadcasting service, in the 4-10 MHz band.

Suppression of the secondary FSS allocation using bands around 1.4 GHz on a secondary basis (AI 1.17)

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CONCLUSION

WRC is about PROMOTING: U.S. spectrum policy – domestically and

internationally Flexible regulatory procedures and

worldwide allocations of new and expanded services and technologies, while preserving national & homeland security, public safety, and encouraging scientific research

Each agenda item has its own set of requirements and solutions for solving them will be different.