Legal bases for PMSE use
Apply for a Radiocommunications Licence
Typical national spectrum use
UK national Table of Frequency Allocation:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/isu/ukfat/ukfat08.pdf
Note:
Radio Microphones can be found on page 197
Wireless Audio can be found on page 198
Special page on Olypics: Spectrum Planning for London 2012
National government address
Regulatory body:
Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7981 3040 or +44 (0) 300 123 3333.
Switchboard: +44 (0) 20 7981 3000 or +44 (0) 300 123 3000
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7981 3333
New licensing arrangements for microphones
Ofcom update: New licensing arrangements for wireless microphone users (16th December 2009)
Ofcom today announced it is revising licensing arrangements for wireless microphone users. From 4 January 2010, channel 38 will become available on a shared use basis. This means that equipment used in different locations can be covered by the same licence, reducing costs and bureaucracy, particularly for those who travel with their equipment. It will also give confidence to those looking to invest in new equipment that uses this channel.
More information is available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumer/2009/12/new-licensing-arrangements-for-wireless-microphone-users/
For more information visit www.ofcom.org.uk
Present national discussion on PMSE
Digital Dividend at 600 MHz
Ofcom today a consultation on the potential uses of the 600 MHz band and geographic interleaved spectrum. This information will help Ofcom develop proposals on how best to make the spectrum available.
The consultation can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/600mhz_geographic/
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BEIRG, 11th September 2009:
Response to DDR Funding Consultation
BEIRG has published its response to OFCOM's consultation on funding of PMSE equipment that will be displaced from its current frequency bands.
You can download a copy here [502 KB]
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Ofcom, September 2009:
Digital dividend: band manager award – second consultation on detailed award design
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/bandmanager09/bandmanager09.pdf
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BEIRG: Ofcom - Clearing the 800MHz Band
(30th June 2009)
Ofcom has published a Statement on how it intends to clear existing users from the 800MHz band as part of DSO. Section 5 covers in detail the arrangements for PMSE to be moved from ch.69 to ch.38.
The document is available here.
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APWPT Response to consultation ‘Clearing the 800 MHz band’
(20th April 2009)
Get the document here [166 KB]
(english)
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Ofcom Consultation affecting Ch.69 (Source: BEIRG)
Ofcom has published its consultation on the clearing of the 800MHz band after DSO. This process requires the removal of PMSE from channel 69. Various alternatives are discussed for substitute PMSE spectrum, with the preferred option being channel 38. The costs of replacing equipment are also discussed.
The closing date for the consultation is 20 April 2009.
The consultation paper can be found here
This document is concerned with how Ofcom will clear the frequencies 790-862 MHz - in particular TV bands 61, 62 and 69 which are currently allocated for DTT (61 and 62) and nationwide PMSE (69). This will widen the originally proposed 'upper cleared band' - TV bands 63 to 68 inclusive. The decision to clear these additional TV channels will mean that the entire band will fall into line with the IMT community's desire to establish 790-862 MHz as a pan-European band - most likely for mobile broadband services though other uses are also technically possible. It will however, be highly disruptive to the PMSE community.
1) PMSE access to TV band 69 nationwide will no longer be permitted by the end of 2012/early 2013
2) PMSE access to TV bands 61 thru 68 on an interleaved basis will no longer be permitted by the end of 2012/early 2013
The consultation document suggests that TV band 38 will be the probable replacement for TV band 69 but this has yet to be confirmed. This leaves the PMSE community in a very difficult position. It has essentially been given notice to quit but has not been given a formal change of address card.
There are ongoing discussions regarding a possible funding scheme to assist the PMSE community with the financial costs involved with the migration from TV band 69. However, no firm plans are yet in place and what has been suggested in the consultation document falls way short of what will be required. Additionally, Ofcom have stated in the consultation document that any TV band 69 PMSE equipment or licences purchased after the publication date of the consultation document will not qualify for any funding assistance. There are no current plans to offer funding to PMSE users who have equipment that operates outside of TV band 69. 2009 looks set to be the critical year in determining the quality, quantity and costs of spectrum access that will be afforded and applied to the PMSE community for the next ten years at least.
The BEIRG (British Entertainment Industry Radio Group) steering committee will meet on 19th March to begin the process of putting a formal response together to this consultation.
The OFCOM consultation paper can be found here
Note: This consulation has been closed
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Digital Dividend Review:
Future Spectrum Access
Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) Pro User Group:
* Consultation Submission (March 2007) [69 KB]
* Consultation Submission (August 2007) [141 KB]
British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG):
* Too soon. To little [140 KB]
* Response to DDR Regulatory Statement [75 KB]
Band manager award
British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG):
*Response to consultation on detailed award design [169 KB]
Geographic interleaved awards 470 - 550 MHz and 630 - 790 MHz
British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG):
* Response to consultation on detailed award design [123 KB]
550-630 MHz and 790-854 MHz
British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG):
* Response to consultation on detailed award design [241 KB]
National studies
Ofcom have published in February another consultants' study into the future of PMSE, entitled "The Potential for More Efficient Use of Spectrum by Radio Microphones".
It can be downloaded from here:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ddr/documents/wirelessmics.pdf
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Ofcom published in January an independent technical report by ERA Technology.
This gives measurements and modelling results concerning the potential for cognitive radio devices to operate on a licence-exempt basis in the spectrum used by digital terrestrial television and other wireless applications. The full report can be found here
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ddr/documents/eracog.pdf
Note
The content for this national page will be collected by Alan March
Send your input to alan.march@apwpt.org
The APWPT executive committee says 'THANK YOU VERY MUCH'!