APG15-2/INP-21
/ ASIA-PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITYThe 2nd Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-15 (APG15-2) / Document No:
APG15-2/INP-21
01 – 05 July 2013, Bangkok, Thailand / 01 July 2013
Japan
Preliminary views on wrc-15 agenda item
9.1, issue 9.1.6
Agenda item 9.1, Issue 9.1.6 - Studies towards review of the definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station;
1 Background
At WRC-03, a proposal to discuss a review of the Radio Regulations(RR) to address fixed and mobile convergence was submitted at WRC-07. While the proposal was not set as an item on the agenda of WRC-07, Resolution 951(WRC-03) was set and input to WRC-07 as the report of the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau.
After the discussion based on the report at WRC-07, an option of the review of the RR upon the revision of Resolution 951, which included the procedure of Resolution 951, was decided. Also, this agenda was approved as an item on the agenda of WRC-12.
As a result of the discussion about a review of the RR at WRC-12, Resolution 951 was abolished and a new resolution(Res.957) to continue discussions at WRC-15 was approved. Also, the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau will report the topic to WRC-15 as an Agenda Item 9.1, Issue 9.1.6 after continious discussions of the feasibility of the change of these definitions.
2 Japanese View
Japan supports the opinion that the current definitions of the RR should be sustained.
Japan defines fixed service, fixed station and mobile station in its domestic radio regulations basically based on their current definitions in the RR. In addition, Japan has established the Regulation of License Examination, which includes how to examine an application for a radio station license by type of radio station or by type of radio service based on the definitions in the RR(in some cases, more detailed station/service classification could be applied). On the examination procedure of approval of licenses, Japan applies the Regulation to investigate whether interference with other radio stations can happen or not.
In Japan, we recognize there are no problems derived from the current definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station.
On the other hand, the revision of the definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station is likely to have a significantly undesirable influence on the license examination procedure, operations of radio stations, and spectrum policies including spectrum allocations and assignments.
For example, the location of each fixed station defined by the current definition of the RR is clearly determined. Therefore, based on its location and its surrounding radio environment, an administration can strictly investigate possible interference with other stations in the same neighborhood. The license examination procedure through such detailed investigations of interference with other stations can enable efficient spectrum use.
However, if the definition of “fixed station” is expanded to include, for example, a fixed station at any fixed point within a specified area is also defined as “fixed station”, it is difficult to apply a license examination procedure including strict investigations on interference based on radio station location(s) , to “fixed stations” defined by this new definition. As a result, efficiency of spectrum use can be declined because certain additional spaces or distances from other radio stations may be required.
Moreover, Article 5 of the RR(frequency allocations to services) has been determined in the WRC, based on ITU-R recommendations regarding frequency sharing condition and compatibilities with other services operating in the same band or in adjacent and nearby bands. Thus, the revision of the definition of the fixed service, fixed station and mobile station will bring enormous impacts such as verifications including whether the change of the definitions will require reviews of the compatibilities and frequency sharing conditions or not.
In addition, at the domestic level, the revision of the definitions will require thorough investigation and revision of whole structures, definitions and descriptions of the Radio Act, and related orders in Japan, which are constructed based on the current definitions. These investigations and revisions will require enormous efforts, and could also bring about confusion.
In conclusion, Japan supports the opinion of maintaining the current definitions of the RR, because the revision of the definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station is likely to have a potent potentially undesirable influence on the license examination procedure, operations of radio stations and spectrum policies, but Japan doesn’t recognize any problems derived from the current definitions of fixed service, fixed station and mobile station.
Attachment 1
The following text is excerpts from part of the “Fortieth SERIES OF TEXTS SUBMITTED BY EDITORIAL COMMITTEE TO THE PLENARY MEETING (Revision 1 to Document 509-E 14 February 2012)”
ARTICLE 1
Terms and definitions
Section III – Radio services
ISSUE A - Terrestrial (Fixed and Mobile Convergence)
Option 1
No changes are necessary to the Radio Regulations.
Option 2
No changes to No. 1.24, No. 1.67, Article 11 or Volume 2 are necessary under Issue A of Agenda item 1.2. The following changes to No. 1.20, No. 1.66 and No. 1.67 are proposed.
MOD B40/509/1#7486
1.20 fixed service:A radiocommunication service between a fixed station at a specified fixed points and one or more fixed stations located either at specified fixed points or at any fixed point within a specified area.
Section IV – Radio stations and systems
MOD B40/509/2#7487
1.66 fixed station:A station in the fixed service that operates at a fixed point.
MOD B40/509/3#7488
1.67 mobile station:A station in the mobile service intended to be used while in motion or during halts at unspecified points, whose location can change at any time.
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