APG15-5/INP-94 (Rev.1)
/ ASIA-PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITYThe 5th Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-15 (APG15-5) / Document
APG15-5/INP-94 (Rev.1)
27 July – 1 August 2015, Seoul, Republic of Korea / 20 July 2015
Korea (Republic of)
views AND PROPOSALS on WRC-15 agenda item 7, 9.1.1, 9.1.2, 9.1.5, 9.1.8
Agenda Item 7: to consider possible changes, and other options, in response to Resolution86 (Rev.Marrakesh, 2002) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, an advance publication, coordination, notification and recording procedures for frequency assignments pertaining to satellite networks, in accordance with Resolution 86 (Rev.WRC07) to facilitate rational, efficient, and economical use of radio frequencies and any associated orbits, including the geostationarysatellite orbit;
Resolution 86 (Rev.WRC-07) – Implementation of Resolution 86 (Rev. Marrakesh, 2002) of the Plenipotentiary Conference
Issue A – Informing the Bureau of a suspension under RR No. 11.49 beyond six months
1. Background
WRC-12 modified RR No. 11.49 to expand the time an administration is allowed to suspend the use of a recorded frequency assignment to a space station from a two-year time period to three years. In addition, in the modified RR No. 11.49, an administration does not need to inform the BR of suspensions lasting less than six months, but must inform the BR of suspensions lasting longer than sixmonths as soon as possible, but in any case no later than six months from the start date of the suspension. Although WRC-12 clarified its intention that suspensions would be reported quickly, it did not specify the consequences for the assignments of an administration that failed to report a suspension by the six-month period deadline.
Upon considering how the results of WRC-12 would be implemented in practice, the BR proposed a draft Rule of Procedure (RoP) that would have cancelled the suspended frequency assignments if the BR did not receive a notification of the suspension before or at the end of the six-month period. Although this would have been a legitimate reading of the obligation, the suppression of a frequency assignment for the reporting of a suspension beyond the six-month period could be viewed as inconsistent with the WRC-12 decision for administrations to have a maximum of three years from the suspension date to resume use of their frequency assignments.
ITU-R has made efforts to address this situation, leading to two methods to clarify application of RR No. 11.49 in the CPM Report, as follows:
- Method A1: No change to the RR;
- Method A2: Modifications to the RR No. 11.49 to provide a regulatory mechanism.
2. Views and Proposals
It is believed that the procedures to address this issue are already provided in the RR. Particularly, RR No. 13.6 provides a method for the BR to query an administration and address the situation for when it appears that an administration has not informed the BR of a suspension within the six-month period specified in RR No. 11.49.
Based on the above, the Republic of Korea supports Method A1 of the CPM Report for WRC-15 agenda item 7, Issue A, which is no change to the Radio Regulations.
ARTICLE 11
Notification and recording of frequency
assignments1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7bis (WRC12)
SectionII − Examination of notices and recording of frequency assignments
in the Master Register
NOC KOR/7.A/1
11.49
Issue B – Publication of information on bringing into use of satellite networks at the ITU website
1. Background
Under Agenda item 7, WRC-12 proposed changes to the regulatory provisions, including bringing into use and suspension of satellite networks (RR Nos. 11.44B, 11.49, 11.49.1), were received and adopted. As a result, actions of administrations were significantly clarified. However, the BR’s actions regarding the publication of information were not considered.
ITU-R has considered this issue and proposed three possible methods for addressing the issue of the BR’s publication of such information in the CPM Report as follows:
- Method B1
∙ Option A: Modifications to RR Nos. 11.44B, 11.49, 11.49.1, so that the procedure of the BR would be clearly documented within the RR;
∙ Option B: Identical to Option A, except that the modifications shall state clearly that the BR shall publish in the BR IFIC the bringing into use or suspension information;
- Method B2
∙ Option A: Modifications to RR Nos. 11.44B, 11.49, 11.49.1, so that the information about bringing into use would be available at the ITU-R website and contained in a dedicated special section that could be combined with the data currently provided under Resolution 49 (Rev. WRC-12);
∙ Option B: Identical to Option A, except that the modifications shall state clearly that the BR shall publish in the BR IFIC the bringing into use or suspension information;
- Method B3: Identification of the actions of the BR that are required, in addition to the current actions, and inclusion of specific instructions to the BR to implement these required additional actions in the minutes of a plenary meeting of a WRC.
2. Views and Proposals
The Republic of Korea supports bringing full clarity to the BR’s publication procedure of information relating to bringing into use and suspension of frequency assignments of satellite networks through modifications to RR Nos. 11.44B, 11.49 and 11.49.1.
Based on the above, the Republic of Korea may support Method B1 or B2, preferably Method B2, Option B of the CPM Report for WRC-15 agenda item 7, Issue B.
Issue C – Review or possible cancellation of the advance publication mechanism for satellite networks subject to coordination under sectionII of Article 9 of the Radio Regulations
1. Background
The required six-month period between the receipt by the BR of an API and a related coordination request was originally intended for administrations to consider and potentially comment upon the information contained in the API as well as for the administration responsible for the proposed satellite network to take into consideration the comments of other administrations before submitting the associated coordination request. It also has the purpose of allowing administrations to have a six-month minimum period as from the identification of an orbital position requested to BR through the API, to prepare and submit the complete information corresponding to CR/C. Initially the API contained information on the planned types of carriers, associated power levels and earth stations characteristics.
As a consequence of the changes to the RR made at WRC-95, APIs for satellite networks subject tocoordination under Section II of RR Article 9 now contain a much more limited number of information (e.g. orbital position and frequency bands as well as an indication of the intended service area). There is consequently much less data for administrations to review and comment upon.
Moreover, WRC-12 modified RR No. 9.36.2 to establish a definitive list of satellite networks to be coordinated with. As a consequence, there is now approximately 15-16 months between the receipt of API and the publication of the definitive list: 6 months between the API and coordination request, 3-4 months to publish the coordination request, 4months to comment and approximately 2 months to publish the definitive list following the comments. This period of 15-16 months is almost entirely dedicated to administrative work leading to the establishment of the coordination requirements and represents 18-19% of the sevenyear period after the date of receipt of API to bring into use the frequency assignments to the satellite network.
This issue was discussed during WRC-07 where it was felt that it was premature to suppress the API mechanism and again very briefly during WRC-12, where it was agreed not to implement the suppression of the API mechanism because of insufficient time to address all issues raised in connection with this proposal.
Under the agenda item 7, this issue has been considered by ITU-R and as a result, three methods have been proposed in the CPM Report, as follows:
- Method C1: No change to the API mechanism;
- Method C2: Cancellation of the current API mechanism for satellite networks subject to coordination under Section II of RR Article 9
∙ Option A: Suppression of the need for an API for satellite networks subject to coordination under Section II of RR Article 9;
∙ Option B: Suppression of the current API mechanism and automatic generation of API by the BR as soon as a new coordination request is received;
- Method C3: Review of the API mechanism for satellite networks subject to coordination under Section II of RR Article 9
∙ Option A: Reduction of the period before expiry of API for satellite networks subject to coordination under Section II of RR Article 9 and not covered by a coordination request;
∙ Option B: Suppression of the six-month minimum period between the date of receipt of an API and the date of receivability of the associated coordination request.
2. Views and Proposals
The Republic of Korea does not support cancellation of the API mechanism for satellite networks subject to coordination under Section II of RR Article 9, since it is believed that the mechanism can give a useful opportunity for the administration submitting the API to take into account the optimal orbital location and frequencies for a new satellite network due to the congested geostationary satellite orbit. However, the period before expiry of API for satellite networks subject to coordination under Section II of RR Article 9 and not covered by a coordination request would need to be reduced.
Based on the views above, the Republic of Korea supports Method C3, Option A of the CPM Report for WRC-15 agenda item 7, Issue C.
ARTICLE 9
Procedure for effecting coordination with or obtaining agreement of other administrations1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8bis(WRC12)
SectionI − Advance publication of information on satellite
networks or satellite systems
General
MOD KOR/7.C/1
9.1 Before initiating any action under this Articleor under Article11 in respect of frequency assignments for a satellite network or a satellite system, an administration, or one9 acting on behalf of a group of named administrations, shall, prior to the coordination procedure described in SectionII of Article9 below, where applicable, send to the Bureau a general description of the network or system for advance publication in the International Frequency Information Circular (BRIFIC) not earlier than seven years and preferably not later than two years before the planned date of bringing into use of the network or system (see also No.11.44). The characteristics to be provided for this purpose are listed in Appendix4. The coordination or notification information may also be communicated to the Bureau at the same time; it shall be considered as having been received by the Bureau not earlier than six months after the date of receipt of the information for advance publication where coordination is required by SectionII of Article9. Where coordination is not required by SectionII, notification shall be considered as having been received by the Bureau not earlier than six months after the date of publication of the advance publication information.(WRC0315)
Sub-SectionIB − Advance publication of information on satellite networks or satellite
systems that are subject to coordination procedure under SectionII
MOD KOR/7.C/2
9.5D If the information under No.9.30 has not been received by the Bureau within a period of 24 six months after the date of receipt by the Bureau of the relevant complete information under No.9.1 or 9.2, as appropriate, the information published under No.9.2B and not covered by a coordination request under No.9.30 shall be cancelled, after the administration concerned has been informed at least three months before the end of the 24-month period. The Bureau shall also publish the cancellation in its BRIFIC.(WRC0315)
Issue D – General use of modern electronic means of communications in coordination and notification procedures
1. Background
Modern electronic means of communications can nowadays be used for implementing the various provisions of the RR related to satellite coordination and notification. The BR can be entrusted to devise a harmonized approach to implement this more general use of modern electronic means of communications.
In devising such approach, the aspects of security will have to be considered and properly implemented, both in the sense of reliability (i.e. to ensure that the BR has well received a message from an administration and vice-versa) and of authentication (i.e. to ensure that messages sent or received by an administration are indeed originating from, or addressed to, the responsible authority of the administration). WRC-12 already contemplated this aspect by including the word “secure” in the instructs the Radiocommunication Bureau 1 of both Resolutions 907 (WRC-12) and908 (WRC-12).
WRC-15 may need to provide more detailed guidelines to the BR. The Director of the BR may include in his Report to WRC-15 the BR’s requests in this regard.
It should also be noted that this transition should not affect administrations that may experience difficulties in its implementation. Therefore, it is also proposed to maintain unchanged resolves 2 of Resolution 907 (WRC-12) (“other, traditional means of communication can continue to be used if modern electronic means are not available”).
Furthermore, the availability of SpaceWISC also suggests that Resolution 908 (WRC-12) could be amended to expand its scope to all kind of satellite network filings.
The BR could finally be requested to analyse whether it is possible to have a single consolidated interface for both the submission of satellite network filings and the related correspondence (correspondence between the BR and the notifying administration, comments submitted following the publication of the special section, correspondence between administrations about the special section, etc.).
Under the agenda item 7, this issue has been considered by ITU-R and as a result, a single method has been proposed in the CPM Report, which is to modify Resolutions 907 (WRC-12) and 908 (WRC-12) to ensure that, wherever the words “telegram”, “telex” or “fax” are used in provisions related to coordination and notification procedures of satellite networks (including RR Appendices 30, 30A, 30B and relevant Resolutions), modern electronic means can be used instead, as far as possible, without however replacing “telegram”, “telex” or “fax” since telefax is still used in many administrations as the most reliable means of communication due to the fact that, in some instances, in particular in some developing countries, Internet may not be always available.