REMIT OF RADIO SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT REVIEW ANNOUNCED- CAVE

The radio spectrum is a key resource for many new and developing high-tech industries. The management and development of the spectrum will play an important role in creating a knowledge driven economy.

The Chancellor announced in Budget 2001 that Professor Martin Cave, Vice Principal at Brunel University, will lead the independent review of spectrum management.

The review will publish an issues paper in May 2001, setting out initial areas of interest.

Professor Cave said:

?The radio spectrum is a key resource for many new and developing high-tech industries that are important to the future growth and productivity of the UK. Ensuring spectrum is managed in the best interests of the economy will mean we fully benefit from these new technologies. Consultation by the review will be wide and extensive, and involve many interested parties in industry, academia and government.?

The review will ensure that the spectrum management framework is at the forefront of change. It will advise on the principles that should govern spectrum management and what more needs to be done to ensure that all users, including non-commercial users, are focussed on using their spectrum as efficiently as possible. The review will consider the use of spectrum management tools such as spectrum valuation, trading and pricing.

The review will report to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by the end of the year. It will address issues early where its advice will be relevant to the institutional framework for spectrum management proposed in the Communications White Paper.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Professor Martin Cave, professor of economics and Vice-Principal at Brunel University, has published on a wide range of subjects, including telecommunications regulation and spectrum management as well as competition policy and higher education. He has also advised OFTEL and a number of regulatory bodies. He is a member of the Competition Commission.

2. The Communications White Paper was published in December 2000 by the Department for Trade and Industry, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It sets out the institutional framework for communications regulation, including the establishment of a single regulator for the sector. This single regulator will incorporate the spectrum management functions of the Radiocommunications Agency.

3. The Review invites initial responses from all interested parties to the following addresses:

and/or to the Secretary to the Review, Daniel Storey, at

Radio Spectrum Management Review
c/o Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX

In light of initial responses and analysis, the Review will publish an issues paper in May. This press notice, and subsequent Review documents, will be available at the following web address listed below or via the Radiocommunications Agency website listed below.

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ANNEX

Independent review of radio spectrum management: terms of reference

1. In the November 2000 Pre-Budget Report, the Government announced an independent review of radio spectrum management.

2. The review will advise on the principles that should govern spectrum management, and what more needs to be done to ensure that all users, including non-commercial users, are focused on using their spectrum in the most efficient way possible. In doing so, it will consider the use of spectrum management tools such as spectrum valuation, pricing and trading.

3. The review will report to the Chancellor and to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Context and timing

4. In December 2000 the Government published the Communications White Paper. This sets out the future for regulation in the communications sector, including the transfer of spectrum management functions into the new unified regulator, OFCOM.

5. The purpose of the review is not to revisit these institutional arrangements. However, it may be the case that the review wishes to make recommendations for the implementation of the legislation. In order to ensure that this is possible, the review will provide advice on these areas for late summer 2001.

6. The review will provide a final report by the end of the year, and if possible for the 2001 Pre-Budget Report.

Process

7. In order to ensure that the review is fully informed and authoritative, it will carry out full consultation with interested parties, including from the private sector (such as broadcasters, telecommunications companies, manufacturers, etc.), and from relevant Government departments (including, but not necessarily limited to, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions).