Headlines

FCC delays AWS auction — by Martin Sims

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has delayed its auction of spectrum licences for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) until August 9, 2006.

A foretaste of the political battles to come over the digital dividend — by Martin Sims

As regulators plan broadcasting frequency allocations for the digital age it is becoming clear that in the UK at least there will be substantial pressure to allocate the released frequencies to terrestrial High Definition Television.

RRC-06 gets underway in Geneva — by Martin Sims

It wasn’t quite the Cannes Film Festival, which also opened this week, but May 15th saw the beginning of the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) Regional Radio Conference (RRC-06) in Geneva.

European Parliament to investigate digital dividend (Audio available) — by Martin Sims

The industry, research and energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament is to hold a hearing on allocating the frequencies released by analogue TV switch off.

Setting a dangerous precedent? — by Martin Sims

The growing interest in using C-band for UMTS or wireless broadband is ringing alarm bells for satellite operators.

Regulators recommend allowing mobile TV in L-band — by Martin Sims

PolicyTracker understands that the use of L-band is the main proposal to emerge from a working group asked by the European Commission to find more spectrum for mobile TV.

RRC-06 agrees technical framework for draft digital plan — by Martin Sims

The ITU Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC-06) which began last week in Geneva has taken the first decision in what is expected to be an intense five week meeting.

May editorial: the rocky road to full liberalisation — by Martin Sims

The May issue of <i>PolicyTracker</i> is now available for download and our theme this month is technology and service neutral licensing.

The EU’s first roadmap for full liberalisation — by Martin Sims

Slotting in the final piece of the liberalisation jigsaw could be worth nearly £1bn a year says Ofcom, which is proposing technology and service neutral licences.

No need for more licence-exempt spectrum — by Martin Sims

Despite the growing demand for services using unlicensed spectrum the bands are not congested according to the preliminary findings of a European Commission study.

Financial incentives overcome resistance to mobile phones on aircraft — by Martin Sims

Europe is outstripping the US in setting the regulatory framework for allowing the in-flight use of mobiles.

12 companies win low power mobile spectrum — by Martin Sims

Ofcom, the UK unitary regulator set up in 2003, has announced the results of its first spectrum auction.

Casualties of switchover? — by Martin Sims

The transition to digital TV is forcing the UK’s users of radio mics out of their current frequency bands and causing concern about the economic impact on the entertainment industries.

Result of spectrum auction due within days — by Martin Sims

Ofcom is expected to announce the winners of the DECT guard band auction early next week.

Liberalisation pioneer fails to close the legal loopholes — by Martin Sims

Ten years after Guatemala spearheaded spectrum liberalisation there is still no provision for public service broadcasting, leaving dozens of community radios in a legal no man’s land.

Can spectrum auctions save US budget deficit? — by Martin Sims

The auction of 3G-compatible spectrum this summer is exciting both controversy and commercial interest. While it's unlikely to generate proportionately as much as the European 3G auctions the government is being accused of using spectrum as a cash cow.

Liberalisation means tackling the interference problem — by Martin Sims

Flexible access to the radio spectrum requires all interference benchmarks to be pre-defined, argues a new book. Countries relying on self-regulation will place an unfair burden on industry says its author, Michael Whittaker.

Auction date announced, two bidders withdraw — by Martin Sims

The first spectrum auction since the UK’s unitary regulator Ofcom was set up in 2003 will take place on Thursday April 20.

Forget about the politics! — by Martin Sims

The millions of Euros spent on developing UWB has delivered results, says the head of the Pulsers project, but progress depends on judging the technology by its own merits.

UK’s first mobile TV spectrum up for auction in 2007 — by Martin Sims

Ofcom has put forward proposals for auctioning L-band, which is expected to generate substantial interest because of the amount of spectrum available (40 MHz) and its ability to deliver mobile TV services.