Radio Spectrum Policy Programme

Piotr

The consultation have assembled the following issues for consideration:

Economic recovery and growth
1. Has a sufficient amount of spectrum been allocated for the rollout of broadband services under technology and services neutral conditions in order to achieve EU's targets in terms of coverage and speed? Regarding already allocated spectrum, should a minimum amount of spectrum be actually assigned by a specific date?
2. Under what conditions should spectrum be assigned to facilitate innovation in equipment and services by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)?
3. How and to what extent can the provision of seamless services across borders be supported by a coherent approach in spectrum management?
4. While maintaining a large amount of spectrum for the continued development of high quality pluralist broadcasting, should Europe take further action to ensure the complete transition to low/medium power use of the 790-862 MHz band and the provision of wireless broadband in order to ensure the widest possible coverage for EU citizens and business? Should coverage obligations be attached to these spectrum usage rights?

Social inclusion, Services for citizens
5. How can the EU ensure that broadband services effectively contribute to bridging the digital divide, for example by reaching previously underserved areas and segments of the population? How do wired, terrestrial wireless and satellite systems best contribute to this aim?
6. How can the EU ensure that European citizens get advanced, easy and affordable access to a wide choice of high-quality broadcasting content taking into account innovative technologies and platforms as well as incentives for investment? How do the various types of wired, terrestrial wireless and satellite systems and networks best contribute to this aim?

Environmental and health protection
8. How can Europe ensure that systems such as Galileo and the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) have appropriate access to spectrum?
9. How and to what extent should the production and use of radio equipment increase its environment-friendly aspects? What are the trade-offs in terms of costs?
10. How can the protection of human health be further improved regarding the use of radio spectrum? Are further/different research efforts necessary?

Space exploration and transport safety
11. Is there a need to increase the protection afforded to spectrum used for space exploration against interference by terrestrial activities? Should a coherent plan be developed at EU level to coordinate efforts for the protection of spectrum used for the promotion of space exploration?
12. What are the requirements and priorities to make spectrum available for a modernised air traffic control system in Europe and beyond?

Effective coordination at international level and negotiations with third countries
13. How can EU policy priorities best be defended throughout the negotiations at WRCs to guarantee effective solutions, and how is the EU position to be expressed to EU negotiating partners?
14. How could the EU contribute and support Member States in improving coordination of the use of the digital dividend and other important spectrum bands with non EU neighbouring countries?

Refarming and competition
15. What measures, in particular regarding assignment of spectrum, could be needed at EU level to ensure that spectrum refarming best promotes service and technology innovation and progress?]
16. Are measures necessary at EU level to ensure that competition between operators in the downstream service markets is not affected by spectrum refarming?
17. In order to improve flexibility in spectrum use and to stimulate competition, what steps should be taken to introduce spectrum trading in specific frequency bands? Is there a need for other harmonised assignment conditions? In order to avoid anticompetitive behaviour, what steps should be taken to prevent spectrum hoarding?