ITU/93-9
19 November 1993
original: English
The first ITU Radiocommunication Assembly concludes its work:
approves Recommendation to assure compatibility between VHF broadcasting and aeronautical navigation services and makes major progress toward future public mobile communications 
The first ITU Radiocommunication Assembly (Geneva, 8 – 16 November 1993) is the successor of the Plenary Assembly of the International Consultative Radio Committee (CCIR). Its role is to act as a management body for the work carried out by the study groups of the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU–R). 545 delegates representing 96 countries participated. Thirty-three operators, 8 scientific and industrial organizations, 16 international organizations and 2 United Nations specialized agencies also took part. The Conference elected Prof. L.W. Barclay (United Kingdom) as its chairman assisted by 5 Vice-chairmen: Messrs A.J. Gabrielli (Argentina), M.J. Mulla (Saudi Arabia), V.V. Timofeev (Russia), E. Kamdem Kamga (Cameroon) and A. Motai (Japan).
Taking account of the new sectoral structure of the ITU the 1993 Assembly overhauled the work programme, working methods and structure of the Radiocommunication Study Groups to enable a better response to the needs of the radiocommunication community of users. In keeping with the new forward-looking mission of the ITU set in motion by the 1992 Additional Plenipotentiary Conference (APP–92), the Assembly identified principal issues to be addressed by a strategic plan and endorsed major decisions concerning work in inter-sector areas, including the Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunication Systems (FPLMTS) and fixed-satellite service matters, where Inter-Sector Coordination Groups (ICGs) have been set up with the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T). The distribution of work between the ITU–R and ITU–T study groups identified during the first World Telecommunication Standardization Conference (WTSC–93, Helsinki) was further clarified and agreed.
Relationships with the Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU–D) were defined and a Resolution covering activities in support of telecommunication development was forwarded to the first World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC, Buenos Aires, March 1994). Handbooks, especially for the benefit of development, were endorsed.
The APP-92 assigned major new responsibilities to the ITU–R to prepare procedural as well as technical and operational bases for World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences. The Assembly established a Conference Preparatory Meeting to coordinate and harmonize the work of the concerned Study Groups in this regard.
The effectiveness of the predecessor CCIR ad hoc Advisory Group on Strategic Review and Planning in preparing the work of the Radiocommunication Assembly served as the basis for the Assembly to set up a Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) as the vehicle for future strategic planning and advice to the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau. It will be open to all members of the Radiocommunication Sector.
Procedures for approval by correspondence of new and revised study Questions and Recommendations were incorporated in a Resolution which sets out the working methods, organization and publication principles. This further extended the fundamental changes in accelerated and more efficient working methods adopted at the Düsseldorf Plenary Assembly.
The former Study Groups on propagation in ionized and non-ionized media were merged into a single propagation Study Group 3. The carefully-focused studies on inter-service sharing and compatibility were extended under a new number as Study Group 2.
A maximum of  8 years was approved as the duration of study group chairmanships.
In addition to adopting a fully-revised work programme, defined by prioritized Questions assigned to the study groups, the Assembly developed a new Question of planning procedures for high-frequency broadcasting, the study of which is to be completed by 1997.
Professor Les Barclay was elected chairman at the assembly. He had previously chaired the ad-hoc working group which had undertaken much at the preparation for the meeting. With only 7 working days available, which included overlap with WRC 93, a brisk pace was set for wide ranging and positive debates on all significant issue. The Assembly completed its work on time. In the closing session the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau and the Secretary-General both complemented the chairman on the efficient, productive and friendly meeting. Professor Barclay was presented with the Silver Medal of the ITU.
More details on these and other salient points of the work of the Assembly are in annex.

Annex
Main highlights
Role of study groups
The 1993 Assembly reaffirmed the changes adopted by the 1990 Plenary Assembly of the CCIR in Düsseldorf but also gave a greater role to Study Groups in studying and reporting, to World and Regional Radiocommunication Conferences, on radio regulatory procedures as well as technical and operational aspects, according to the mandate of the Additional Plenipotentiary Conference of 1992.  
It also decided that the chairmen of Study Groups could be re-elected for a maximum of eight years to enable a reasonable amount of stability while providing the opportunity for different individuals to bring their expertise and skills to the management of study groups. 
Following the restructuring of the ITU in March 1993, some issues dealing with matters of standardization and performance of radio systems interconnecting with public telecommunication networks were identified for transfer to the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU–T). The Assembly completed the work initiated jointly by the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group and the Ad Hoc Group on Strategic Review and Planning and endorsed by the 1993 World Telecommunication Standardization Conference. The ITU–R Study Groups will however continue to be responsible for radio system characteristics.
Work programme
In a detailed review of the entire work programme of the Radiocommunication Study Groups, Questions were categorized as "urgent" (questions associated with the preparatory work of a radio conference or questions which the Assembly has requested that a Recommendation be formulated within 1 to 3 years) or "important" (general studies for preliminary or progressive study or questions not falling under the urgent category) in assigning them to specific study groups, usually with specified completion dates. Completed or inactive Questions were deleted.
The 1994–1995 work programme comprises 413 questions covering nearly every aspect of radiocommunications and include service-oriented topics such as digital television (conventional, enhanced and HDTV), digital sound broadcasting, future mobile services (universal personal telecommunications and LEOs). Other non-service specific fields of study include radio wave propagation, spectrum management and inter-service sharing and compatibility issues. 
Structure for the 1994–1995 study period
The Assembly consolidated Study Group 5 (Radio wave propagation in non-ionized media) and Study Group 6 (Radio wave propagation in ionized media) into a new Study Group 3 addressing all issues in relation to radio wave propagation to achieve optimum management of propagation studies.

Study Group 12 (Inter-service sharing and compatibility), set up by the Düsseldorf Plenary Assembly, was maintained to carry out further urgent (specific) studies requested by the World Administrative Radio Conference of 1992. It was however renumbered Study Group 2. Long-term strategies for frequency spectrum utilization, principles and techniques on frequency management issues including monitoring will continue to be dealt with by Study Group 1.
As a result, Study Groups 1 to 3 are concerned with general or spectrum management  issues and the six others (Study Groups 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) with service-oriented issues. In addition, a Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) was set up to act as a focal point for the consolidation and harmonization of the study of technical, operational, regulatory and procedural matters in relation with radio conferences. As Radio Conferences are now scheduled to take place at regular two-year intervals, the management of the CPM will be based on rotation of chairmen. The chairman will be responsible for the studies relating to the nearest radio conference and the vice-chairman for the subsequent radio conference. After the first conference, the vice-chairman takes over the chairmanship and a new vice-chairman is designated to carry out the preparatory work of the following radio conference. A second vice-chairman will be responsible for the coordination of regulatory/procedural studies.
In preparing its reports, the CPM will reconcile, to the extent, possible the differences in approach which contributions might put forward. The setting up of CPMs will be effective immediately after the Radiocommunication Assembly and will meet twice between WRCs. The Assembly nominated Mr S. Pinheiro of Brazil as chairman of the CPM and Mr R. Taylor of the USA as first vice-chairman. The second vice-chairman will be selected by the first meeting of the CPM.
The nine study groups falling under the administrative responsibility of the Radiocommunication Sector will be set up as from March 1994 at the close of the current study period. 
Study Group
number	Responsibility	Chairmanship	
1	Spectrum management	Chairman: 	M.J. Hunt (Canada)	
2	Inter-service sharing and compatibility	Chairman: 	J. Karjalainen (Finland)	
3	Radio wave propagation	Chairman: 	L.W. Barclay (United Kingdom)	
4	Fixed-satellite service	Chairman: 	E. Hauck (Switzerland)	
7	Science services	Chairman: 	H.G. Kimball (USA)	
8	Mobile, radiodetermination,
amateur, and related satellite
services	Chairman: 	E. George (Germany)	
9	Fixed service	Chairman: 	M. Murotani (Japan)	
10	Broadcasting service, sound	Chairman: 	C. Terzani (Italy)	
11	Broadcasting service, television	Chairman: 	M. Krivocheev (Russia)	
The Chairman of the Coordination Committee for Vocabulary (CCV) is Mr Thué of France.
The procedure for the approval of Recommendations by correspondence between Radiocommunication Assemblies, established in 1990 by a resolution of the Düsseldorf Plenary Assembly, was endorsed and integrated into the normal working methods of the Radiocommunication Sector. The decision by the Study Group participants to apply this procedure must be unanimous. If 70% or more of the replies received from the Members, within three months, indicate approval, the Recommendation is adopted and published. 
Strategic Planning
A broadly based "top down" approach toward strategic planning was adopted leaving to the Director the need to consider strategies at a detailed functional and organizational level to include both medium and longer-term issues. The Assembly agreed on a general framework for such a plan and some proposals for the contents. 
A possible mission statement of the Sector would be to aim at an efficient contribution to technical standards and the most effective utilization of the radio spectrum in the context of the world's economies and needs. Against this mission, criteria against which issues and strategies could be measured and prioritized are to be identified.
The Assembly identified issues to be addressed by the strategic plan:
	the need to define priorities on the use of the spectrum
	the need to use more precise criteria for the coordination between GSO and LEO
	the possible redefinition of the service-based approach to spectrum allocation
	the contribution of new technologies for rural communications in developing countries
	the need for Study Groups to have flexibility to rapidly initiate or terminate questions 
	the need to re-assess the role of the Radiocommunication Bureau in satellite network coordination
The Assembly endorsed the current priorities identified by the Director of the Bureau and it invited the Sector to develop strategies, both functional and organizational, to take account of the environment and emerging issues while recognizing the resource limitations for both the ITU and the Administrations.
The proposal was approved to set up a Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG), open to members of the Radiocommunication Sector. Mr M. Goddard of the United Kingdom was elected chairman of the RAG.
Coordination
The coordination between other sectors of the ITU (Telecommunication Development and Standardization) as well as that with external organizations having interest in radiocommunications was reviewed with the aim of fostering cooperation and coordination.
Coordination on substantive issues with the ITU–T sector will be ensured by Liaison Rapporteurs who will participate in the work of ITU–T study groups dealing with matters of mutual interest and concern. Coordination may also be undertaken exceptionally by Intersector Coordination Groups Their mandate will be clearly defined by a joint decision of the Radiocommunication and Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Groups and their  lifetime will be determined at the outset. They will fall under the administrative responsibility of only one sector.
Two ICGs, set up by the 1993 World Telecommunication Standardization Conference already exist: on satellite matters which held a meeting last June and another one of FPLMTS. The ICG on satellites will also address the issue of interconnection of very-small aperture terminals (VSATs) to public switched networks.
Principles for the allocation of work between the ITU–R and ITU–T sector, including transitional arrangements to ensure satisfactory pace, quality of output and avoidance of delays in progressing current work, were also adopted in a resolution.
Other institutional mechanisms of coordination include the meetings of the joint advisory groups and the daily coordination at the management level of each bureau.
As for coordination with external bodies, a resolution was adopted inviting administrations to encourage the participation of radiocommunication organizations and institutions in the activities of the Radiocommunication Sector. The Assembly adopted a text inviting the ITU to "make every effort to persuade regional bodies, national authorities and other entities to support the Radiocommunication Sector in the development of Recommendations on FPLMTS in the interest of achieving a single worldwide standard".
The coordination with the ITU Development Sector (ITU–D) was dealt with by a resolution which addresses issues of concern to developing countries. In particular, the Assembly requests that ITU–R Study Groups and the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau assist the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) in organizing regional and world information meetings that will familiarize developing countries with the substance and implications of ITU–R Recommendations; to provide assistance in developing and updating handbooks for developing countries and in their preparation for radio conferences. Participation in the ITU–D Study Groups by the Director of the BR and by ITU–R Study Group chairmen and vice-chairmen is requested when relevant studies are considered to which they may give valuable inputs. The resolution also calls upon members of the Radiocommunication Sector to provide experts to assist developing countries in radiocommunication activities and to host trainees.
Another resolution addresses the forthcoming World Telecommunication Development Conference (Buenos Aires, 21–29 March 1994). It calls for the participation of a representative of the ITU–D in the Radiocommunication Advisory Group to facilitate the review of matters of common interest and concern as well as his/her on-going participation in the joint ITU–R/ITU–T Advisory Group meetings to encourage the tripartite review of work together with issues of a policy and strategic planning nature.
High frequency broadcasting 
In addition to the approximately 33% expansion introduced by WARC 79, WARC 92 extended the bands allocated to HF broadcasting by a further 25% to be available by 1 April 2007, provided that these would be used exclusively by single-sideband emissions and be subject to planning procedures to be drawn up by a future world radio conference. 
In the absence of planning procedures, the additional spectrum allocated in 1979 and in 1992 has not become available and congestion in the HF broadcasting bands has continued to increase.
In this respect, the Radiocommunication Assembly adopted a new Question aimed at the development of alternative planning procedures with a  target date for completion of 1997.