OrbitSpectrumAllocationProceduresRegistrationMechanism.docVIP

ORBIT/ SPECTRUM ALLOCATION PROCEDURESREGISTRATION MECHANISM Yvon Henri, Space Services Department Radiocommunication Bureau E-mail: yvon.henri@itu.int 1 Major Principles During the last 40 years, from the Administrative Radio Conference in 1963 and up to and including the last World Radiocommunication Conference, in Istanbul (WRC-2000), many ITU conferences have addressed the regulation of spectrum/orbit usage by stations of the space radiocommunication services. The ITU Member States have established a legal regime, which is codified through the ITU Constitution and Convention, including the Radio Regulations. These instruments contain the main principles and lay down the specific regulations governing the following major elements: frequency spectrum allocations to different categories of radiocommunication services; rights and obligations of Member administrations in obtaining access to the spectrum/orbit resources; international recognition of these rights by recording frequency assignments and, as appropriate, orbital positions used or intended to be used in the Master International Frequency Register. The above regulations are based on the main principles of efficient use of and equitable access to the spectrum/orbit resources laid down in No. 196 of the ITU Constitution (Article?44), which stipulates that In using frequency bands for radio services, Members shall bear in mind that radio frequencies and the geostationary-satellite orbit are limited natural resources and that they must be used rationally, efficiently and economically, in conformity with the provisions of the Radio Regulations, so that countries or groups of countries may have equitable access to both, taking into account the special needs of the developing countries and the geographical situation of particular countries. As indicated in the above provision, further detailed regulations and procedures governing orbit/spectrum use are contained in the Radio Regulations (RR), which is a bi