Activities of Jens ROHDE related to 2016/0027(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union PDF (729 KB) DOC (111 KB)
Amendments (12)
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Radio spectrum is a critical resource for the internal market for mobile, wireless broadband electronic communications, as well as for broadcasting, and is essential for the future competitiveness of the Union; a harmonised and pro-competitive framework for an effective management in spectrum allocation is a priority.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In its strategy for the digital single market (DSM)21 , the Commission highlights the importance of the 694-790 MHz (‘'700 MHz’') frequency band for ensuring the provision of broadband services in rural areas and stresses the need for a coordinated release of that frequency band, while accommodatingin order to ensure access and connectivity, as the development of digital solutions heavily relies on fast and effective connections to adapt to a moving digital framework. At the same time, the specific needs of audiovisual media services distribution. should be accommodated. __________________ 21 See http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/digital- single-market/index_en.htm.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Rapidly growing wireless broadband traffic makes enhanced wireless network capacity a necessity. Spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band provides both additional capacity and universal coverage, in particular for the economically challenging rural and remote areas, for indoor use and for wide-range machine- type communications. In this context, coherentharmonised measures for high-quality terrestrial wireless coverage across the Union, which build on best national practice for operators’' licence obligations, should aimcontribute to meeting the RSPP objective that all citizens should have access to broadband speeds of not less than 30 Mb/s by 2020. In this way, the measures will promote innovative digital services and ensure long-term socioeconomic benefits.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In his report to the Commission (the ‘'Lamy report’')22 , Pascal Lamy, the Chairman of the high-level group on the future use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band, recommended that the 700 MHz frequency band be made available for wireless broadband by 2020 (+/- two years). This would help achieve the goal of long-term regulatory predictability for DTT in having access to the sub-700 MHz frequency band until 2030, although this would have to be reviewed by 2025. The Lamy Report also recommended national flexibility in spectrum use of the sub-700 MHz frequency band, which is limited to downlink-only. Downlink-only is the restriction of all transmissions in a wireless system, independent of its technology, to unidirectional transmission from central infrastructure stations such as a TV broadcasting tower or a mobile base station to portable or mobile terminals such as TV sets or mobile phones. However, such a flexibility scheme could delay the availability of the 700MHz frequency band and should therefore not be considered as an option for Member States. __________________ 22 Report by Mr Pascal Lamy, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/digital- agenda/en/news/report-results-work-high- level-group-future-use-uhf-band.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) recommends in its opinion on a long-term strategy on the future use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union (the ‘'RSPG opinion’') the adoption of a coordinated approach across the Union to make the 700 MHz frequency band available for effective use for wireless broadband electronic communications services by the end of 2020. This would be in conjunction with ensuring long-term availability until 203025 of the sub-700 MHz frequency band for the downlink-only provision of audiovisual media services. The RSPG particularly recommends introducing flexibility so that the sub-700 MHz frequency band can also be used for downlink-only wireless broadband electronic communications services.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In any case, spectrum usage in the 470-694 MHz frequency band should be reassessed at Union level no later than 2025. Such an assessment should also take into accountas soon as possible before the planned review of this frequency band at the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2023. Changes in the use of the sub-700 MHz frequency band should take into consideration technological developments, consumer behaviour, the importance of continuing the delivery of free television26 service and social, economic and cultural general interest objectives. In this context, studies on technical and regulatory conditions for co-existence between incumbent and new spectrum uses in the sub-700 MHz frequency band are necessary. These would ensure coherence between the approaches taken by different Member States on flexible and efficient spectrum use and would enable technical harmonisation measures for use and co- existence in this band. Such studies and measures may be developed pursuant to Decision No 676/2002/EC. __________________ 26 In the meaning of Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (Audiovisual Media Services Directive).
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Member States should adopt coherentharmonised national roadmaps to facilitate the use of the 700 MHz frequency band for terrestrial wireless broadband electronic communications services while ensuring continuity for the television broadcasting services that vacate the band. Once adopted, Member States should communicate the roadmaps in a transparent manner around the Union. The roadmaps should cover activities and timescales for frequency re-planning, technical developments for network and end-user equipment, co-existence between radio and non-radio equipment, existing and new authorisation regimes and information on the possibility to offer compensation for migration costs, where these would arise, in order to avoid, inter alia, costs for end- users. Where Member States intend to maintain DTT, the roadmaps should give particular attention to facilitating upgrades of broadcasting equipment to more spectrum-efficient technologies such as advanced video formats (e.g. HEVC) or signal transmission technologies (e.g. DVB-T2).
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The scope and mechanism of possible compensation for completing the transition in spectrum use within the 470- 790 MHz frequency band should be analysed in accordance with the relevant national provisions as provided by Article 14 of Directive 2002/20/EC27 , and have to be consistent with the provisions of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. The Commission should adopt guidelines on possible incentives in order to facilitate the transition in spectrum use. __________________ 27 Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (Authorisation Directive) (OJ L 108, 24.04.2002, p. 21)
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Since the objective of this Decision, namely to ensure coordinated and harmonised transition in spectrum use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union according to common objectives, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective,
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
By 30 June 20220, Member States shall allow the transfer or leasing of the rights of use of spectrum for electronic communications services in the 694-790 MHz frequency band.
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Member States may, if appropriate and in accordance with Union law, ensure that the migration or reallocation costs of spectrum usage are compensated in a proportionate and transparent way, including compensation for end-users. To that effect, the Commission shall provide guidelines.
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1