PURPOSE : to repeal Directive 90/544/EEC, the ERMES Directive, in order to adopt a new harmonised spectrum plan for this band in accordance with Decision 676/2002 on Radio Spectrum.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive 2005/0082 of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing Council Directive 90/544 on the frequency bands designated for the co-ordinated introduction of pan-European land-based public radio paging in the Community.

CONTENT: this legislative act has been adopted in response to the declining use of the 169,4 to 169,8 MHz spectrum band, four channels of which (through Directive 90/544) were reserved for the pan-European land-based public radio paging service (ERMES). Under provisions spelt out in Decision 676/2002 on Radio Spectrum the Commission has been given the authority to adopt technical implementing measure which guarantee harmonised conditions for the availability and efficient use of the spectrum band. The Commission proposes using the 169,4 – 169,8 band to better use including applications which could benefit people with impairments of disabilities. As such, the Commission mandated the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administration (CEPT) to examine applications for this band related to assistance for people with disabilities. Accordingly, the CEPT produced a new frequency plan and a channel arrangement, which allow six types of preferred application to share the band. For these reasons, Directive 90/544 has been repealed by the adoption of this Decision.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 27 December 2005.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Giles CHICHESTER (EPP-ED, UK) and approved the proposal.

The committee adopted the report by its chairman, Giles CHICHESTER ( EPP-ED , UK ), approving the proposal unamended under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure.

PURPOSE : to repeal Directive 90/544/EEC (the ERMES Directive) in order that the Commission may adopt a new harmonised spectrum plan for this band pursuant to Decision 676/2002/EC (the Radio Spectrum Decision.)

PROPOSED ACT : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT : The Commission proposes to repeal the ERMES Directive so that a new plan of the 169.4 to 169.8 MHz band could meet current and new EC policy needs, to be established by a Commission decision adopted pursuant to the Radio Spectrum Decision.

The ERMES Directive specifying spectrum use for pan-European land-based public radio paging services (ERMES) no longer meets EC policy needs as it requires reservation in the 169.4 to 169.8 MHz band of four channels for ERMES and of the whole band according to commercial demand. Use of the band by ERMES has decreased or even ceased and ERMES has been replaced by other technologies such as short messaging systems (SMS) over GSM.

Upon the ERMES directive repeal, the Commission will adopt a new frequency plan and channel arrangement allowing for six types of applications to share the band to meet EC needs in consistency with other EU policies and objectives. These applications include hearing aids for hearing impaired people, which would improve

travelling conditions in the EC and benefit from economies of scale and price decreases; social alarms allowing elderly people to send alarm messages; asset tracking or tracing devices to track stolen goods in the EC; meter reading systems for water and electricity utility companies, and existing paging systems such as ERMES and private mobile radio systems.

The new plan would benefit various EC sectors and businesses including radio communications equipment, water and electricity sectors, communications services, theatres, exhibition and conference halls, schools and social care entities. Positive economic impacts include reduction in prices for hearing aids and social alarms, increased employment and travelling possibilities for impaired people, lower insurance costs and increased retrieval of stolen goods, lower monitoring and operating costs for utility companies, new manufacturing, investment and services opportunities, new types of applications, increased competitiveness and economies of scale with radio equipment operational throughout EC.

PURPOSE : to repeal Directive 90/544/EEC (the ERMES Directive) in order that the Commission may adopt a new harmonised spectrum plan for this band pursuant to Decision 676/2002/EC (the Radio Spectrum Decision.)

PROPOSED ACT : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT : The Commission proposes to repeal the ERMES Directive so that a new plan of the 169.4 to 169.8 MHz band could meet current and new EC policy needs, to be established by a Commission decision adopted pursuant to the Radio Spectrum Decision.

The ERMES Directive specifying spectrum use for pan-European land-based public radio paging services (ERMES) no longer meets EC policy needs as it requires reservation in the 169.4 to 169.8 MHz band of four channels for ERMES and of the whole band according to commercial demand. Use of the band by ERMES has decreased or even ceased and ERMES has been replaced by other technologies such as short messaging systems (SMS) over GSM.

Upon the ERMES directive repeal, the Commission will adopt a new frequency plan and channel arrangement allowing for six types of applications to share the band to meet EC needs in consistency with other EU policies and objectives. These applications include hearing aids for hearing impaired people, which would improve

travelling conditions in the EC and benefit from economies of scale and price decreases; social alarms allowing elderly people to send alarm messages; asset tracking or tracing devices to track stolen goods in the EC; meter reading systems for water and electricity utility companies, and existing paging systems such as ERMES and private mobile radio systems.

The new plan would benefit various EC sectors and businesses including radio communications equipment, water and electricity sectors, communications services, theatres, exhibition and conference halls, schools and social care entities. Positive economic impacts include reduction in prices for hearing aids and social alarms, increased employment and travelling possibilities for impaired people, lower insurance costs and increased retrieval of stolen goods, lower monitoring and operating costs for utility companies, new manufacturing, investment and services opportunities, new types of applications, increased competitiveness and economies of scale with radio equipment operational throughout EC.