WRC–12Industry Debrief23 April 2012

Agenda item 1.5 – Electronic News GatheringPresenter: Andrew King on behalf of Roger Bunch

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> to consider worldwide/regional harmonization of spectrum for electronic news gathering (ENG), taking into account the results of ITU‑R studies, in accordance with Resolution 954 (WRC-07)

> Terminology

ENG often considered as video links for news gathering

SAB European term for Services Associated to Broadcasting, a more encompassing term to include other radio technologies used in generation of broadcasting content

AI1.5 includes video links, wireless camera operation and wireless microphones / in-ear systems

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Australian Position

> Australia supports worldwide/regional harmonisation of user requirements and spectrum usage (e.g. tuning ranges/frequency bands) for ENG applications.

> Australia considers it would be beneficial if tuning ranges were harmonised for common deployment of ENG systems between administrations and encourages further consideration of candidate tuning ranges at WRC-12.

> The term ‘tuning ranges’ in regard to ENG means a range of frequencies over which radio equipment is envisaged to be capable of operating. Within a tuning range, the use of the radio equipment in any one country by radio equipment from another country will be limited to the range of frequencies identified nationally in that one country for ENG, and will be operated in accordance with the related national arrangements.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Australian Position

> Australia supports Method B of the CPM Report. Under Method B administrations could take into account tuning ranges/frequency bands currently allocated to FS and MS in the Radio Regulations Article 5 Table of Frequency Allocations, as they are already used by ENG systems. These tuning ranges/frequency bands can then be used as a basis for the development of a WRC Resolution/Recommendation detailing harmonisation of user and spectrum requirements for cross border ENG operation on a worldwide/regional basis.

> Furthermore, Australia would favourably consider development of an ITU-R Resolution at the 2012 Radiocommunication Assembly to address tuning ranges for worldwide/regional harmonisation for terrestrial ENG systems.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Australian Contribution to WRC-12

> Australia submitted and proposed in Document 48 to WRC-12 the following tuning ranges as candidate tuning ranges for cross border ENG deployment in Region 3:

– 520-694 MHz for wireless microphones

– 7 100-7 250 MHz for wireless cameras.

> Australia considered the above frequency bands/tuning ranges suitable for cross border deployment into Australia and that they may be suitable candidates for regional harmonisation as they could avoid clashes with many national assignments, particularly at times of heightened ENG activity.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> APT Position

> APT members supported Method C of the CPM Report – No change to the RR. Development and approval within ITU-R of Recommendation(s) and/or Reports listing preferred frequency bands and tuning ranges for ENG applications preferably on a regional or worldwide basis. The resulting proposals are shown below:

NOC ASP/1.5/1

No change to Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Radio Regulations.

Reason: No modification to the Radio Regulations is required in

response to this agenda item.

SUP ASP/1.5/2

RESOLUTION 954 (WRC-07)

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Drafting Group 5C-1

> No duplication should occur i.e. referring to approval of the RA-12 Resolution 59.

> 9 countries in favour of a WRC Resolution or Recommendation

> RA-12 Resolution 59 should be ‘tested’ as it did not address resolves 1 of Resolution 954 (WRC-07) i.e. ‘feasibility of achieving a satisfactory degree of worldwide/regional harmonization of spectrum for ENG use in terms of the frequency bands and tuning ranges.’

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Drafting Group 5C-1

> A draft WRC Recommendation ‘Guidance on studies of towards harmonisation of tuning ranges/frequency bands for cross border deployment of electronic news gathering applications’ addressing ‘feasibility of achieving a satisfactory degree of worldwide/regional harmonization of spectrum for ENG use in terms of the frequency bands and tuning ranges’ was presented.

> While it was noted administrations should consider how the studies were going to be undertaken without a focus on ENG applications that required harmonisation it was agreed that consensus existed for Method C i.e.

No Change to the Radio Regulations

Suppression of Res 954

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Drafting Group 5C-1

> To take into account the support for the RA-12 Resolution 59. Drafting Group 5C-1 developed text reflecting the views expressed at the meeting to which Australia provided the following:

‘A spirit of cooperation and positive attitude was expressed at your

meeting toward the new Resolution ITU-R ENG. In the interest of the

objectives of WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 Australia encourages

participants in future studies to work efficiently and cooperatively to

assistance global and regional harmonisation of frequency bands /

tuning ranges for cross border deployment of ENG.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Working Group 5C

In the work of WG 5C a number of Region 1 countries sought to add

their names to the footnote 5.296 i.e. services ancillary to

broadcasting/land mobile in the band 470-790 MHz. A number of

countries sought more time to consider the proposals and the

proposed changes to RR 5.296 in Article 5 with several square

brackets around country names were passed up to Committee 5 in

Document 320.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Committee 5

Committee 5 addressed Document 320, the proposed changes to RR

5.296 in Article 5, at two meetings before it was approved presented

in its fifth series of texts to the Editorial Committee which contained

the text for Article 5 re Agenda item 1.5.

> Plenary

At the 8th plenary of WRC-12 the Editorial Committee presented in

Document 425 a reference to Document 407 for consideration.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Outcome

WRC-12 decided the only change to the Radio Regulations was that

proposed to RR No. 5.296 in Article 5. In recognition of studies on

global and regional harmonisation of frequency bands/tuning ranges

for cross border deployment of ENG, WRC-12 deferred to RA-12

Resolution ITU-R 59 and suppressed Resolution 954 (WRC-07).

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Follow Up Action

> Resolution ITU-R 59 ‘Studies on availability of frequency bands and/or tuning ranges for worldwide and/or regional harmonization and conditions for their use by terrestrial electronic news gathering systems’

> Remember this issue is larger than ENG as Australian understand it – it also includes wireless microphones and in-ear systems.

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Completed work

> Recommendation ITU-R BT. 1871 User requirements for wireless microphones

> Recommendation ITU-R BT. 1872 User requirements for digital electronic news gathering

> Recommendation ITU-R F.1777 System characteristics of television outside broadcast, electronic news gathering and electronic field production in the fixed service for use in sharing studies

> Recommendation ITU-R M.1824 System characteristics of television outside broadcast, electronic news gathering and electronic field production in the mobile service for use in sharing studies

> Report ITU-R BT.2069 Tuning ranges and operational characteristics of terrestrial electronic news gathering (ENG), television outside broadcast (TVOB) and electronic field production (EFP) systems  

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

> Further work

> 5C/602 Annex 10 - Preliminary draft new Report - Sharing and compatibility issues between ENG and other systems in frequency bands allocated to the fixed and mobile and broadcasting services

> 5C/602 Annex 11 - Working document towards a preliminary draft new Report ITU-R F.[ENG FREQ-USAGE] - Spectrum Usage for Electronic News Gathering

WRC–12Industry Debrief

WRC-12 Agenda item 1.5 – ENG

Australia should continue to participate, where appropriate, and monitor developments in ITU-R studies which may impact on the Australian technical and regulatory framework for electronic news gathering.

>THANK YOU