23 October 2023- RSPG Should recommend more clearly to maintain the harmonization of the 470-694 MHz band for Culture in Europe
Ahead of the meeting of RSPG , ie the advisory commitee to the Commission on spectrum policy matters, Wider Spectrum Group publishes the response sent to the RSPG public consultation on the future use of the frequency band 470-694 MHz beyond 2030 in EU.
We emphasize that Europe has created a unique asset by having harmonized a band suited for the long-term needs of Culture.
This strategic allocation enables a single market for content creation, production and delivery, for events and culture, in line with the values of the European Declaration of Digital Rights and Principles.
5 June 2023 – Position paper
The Wider Spectrum Group asks the Council to preserve the current UHF Band allocation by defending No Change at WRC-23.
While recognizing the value of considering a secondary mobile allocation in view of envisaging a compromise with the minority of Region 1 countries who insist on a change in regulations, the Wider Spectrum Group calls on the Council to support “No Change” and oppose a co-primary allocation to mobile in the international debate on the allocation of the UHF Band at WRC-23.
Regarding any possible agenda item at WRC-31 impacting the European cultural band 470-694 MHz band, the Wider Spectrum Group calls for a neutral wording that would not prejudge any specific regulatory action.
Full position at WSG position June 2023
2 May 2023 – Third Call to Europe
In May 2023, more than 100 cultural and media organizations call on decision makers, governments and regulators to protect production and distribution via the lower UHF spectrum band (470 -694 MHz).
The Wider Spectrum Group is part of this initiative and many of its members also participate directly.
At the World Radiocommunication Conference in the autumn of 2023, there is a risk of transferring this frequency band to mobile broadband services.
This so-called “co-primary” allocation will result in a de facto exclusion of the media and the cultural sector from the airwaves.
28 March 2023 – Position paper after RSPG opinion on WRC-23 preparation
The Wider Spectrum Group asks the European Commission, the Council and CEPT to preserve the current UHF Band allocation by defending No Change at WRC-23. While recognizing the value of the opinion by RSPG in view of envisaging a compromise with the minority of Region 1 countries who insist on a change in regulations, the Wider Spectrum Group calls on the European Commission to propose to the Council to oppose co-primary allocation and support “No Change” in the allocation of the UHF Band at WRC-23. Regarding any possible agenda item at WRC-31 impacting the European cultural band 470-694 MHz band, the Wider Spectrum Group calls for a neutral wording.
see full position paper WSG emphasizes No Change at WRC-23 after RSPG opinion
9 November 2022- 2nd Call to Europe
Today, more than 83 companies and organisations join force to send a clear message to decision makers to protect the existing UHF spectrum. The Wider Spectrum Group fully supports this initiative, and many of our members have also joined that action individually. This call to Europe takes place in a series of national, multi national and European initiatives united under the banner "Call to Europe Week", which was opened yesterday with the Wider Spectrum Group event in Brussels and online.
Click here to see the text of the Call to Europe and the supporting organizations
8 November 2022 – Graphic Summary of Wider Spectrum Group Event
A good picture is worth 1000 words, as demonstrated by Cartoonist Alix Garin from Cartoonbase.com at the Event organized on 8 November by the Wider Spectrum Group.
8 November 2022
"Broadcasting and PMSE need preservation of the current rules (no change) regarding the allocation of the UHF band"
Statement by the Wider Spectrum Group released at the Event "Frequencies for a Creative and Inclusive Europe- EU's way to WRC-23
8 November 8:45-10:00 Wider Spectrum Group Breakfast Event
Brussels & Online
European Broadcasting Union Brussels office (Av. des Arts 56, 1000 Brussels)
8 November 2022 | 08:45am - 10:00am CET
12 August 2022
The Wider Spectrum Group answers the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) public consultation on the preparation of the WRC-23. The response is focused on Agenda Item 1.5 of WRC-23, dealing with the UHF band. The conclusion of our response is "Among the options considered by RSPG, the first one with No Change with a possible agenda item for WRC-31 is the most aligned with the interest of the European viewers and listeners, workers and companies in the Content and creative industry. While the Wider Spectrum Group is not asking for another discussion in 2031, the Wider Spectrum Group believes that this option of RSPG would respect the EU UHF Decision."
The full response is available at the following link Response to RSPG consultation on WRC-23 Wider Spectrum Group final
24 July 2022
The Wider Spectrum Group answers the Commission's call for evidence in preparation of a WRC-23. This initiative aims to establish a common EU position to be negotiated by Member States on behalf of the EU at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023.
In this matter where the EU long-term policy is defined with no ambiguity by a recent co-decision (1) of the Parliament and Council, it is essential that Europe speaks with one voice in international negotiations. The preparatory process described by the Commission in this call for evidence is very important. The Wider Spectrum Group is calling for the Commission, EU institutions and Member States’ representatives to actively support at WRC-23 a No Change to the Radio Regulations affecting the 470-694 MHz band, and to oppose a co-primary allocation to mobile, even with a deferred entry into force.
(1) Decision (EU) 2017/899 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union
WSG - Answer to the Call for Evidence on World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 final
6 July 2022
Wider Spectrum Group welcomes two new national members, SPIO from Germany and Television Abierta from Spain.
SPIO is the umbrella association for German Film Industry, representing cinemas, film producers, film distributors, film tech companies. SPIO’s interest in spectrum issues is directly on spectrum used for microphones and on stage, and indirectly because broadcasters are important partners for SPIO members,
Television Abierta (Open Television) is the Spanish coalition group made up of the main agents of Digital Terrestrial Television, a reflection of a global and plural impulse of all those who contribute to universal, free and free access television.
30 June 2022
European broadcasting and cultural industry call to Europe to secure UHF broadcasting spectrum
On June 30, 2022 – 57 associations and companies active in the broadcasting and cultural industry from 18 European countries have joined forces in a "Call to Europe" to urge policymakers and regulators to preserve the Lower UHF Band (470-694 MHz) for broadcasting and wireless production equipment (PMSE: Programme Making and Special Events).
The Wider Spectrum Group strongly supports this initiative, and many of the Wider Spectrum Group members also participate as individual organizations.
9 June 2022
Presentation of the Wider Spectrum Group at the 17 European Spectrum Management Conference
Anita Debaere from Pearle* spoke on behalf of the Wider Spectrum Group in the session on the future of the 470-694 MHz UHF Band in Europe. She emphasized that "The frequencies for a creative Europe in the UHF Band must be clearly defended for the long term in European spectrum policy and in the ITU process"
Download the presentation ESMC 2022
30 March 2022
Declaration at the workshop on the Commission study on the Use of the Sub-700 MHz band
The principles behind the UHF band allocation are balanced and in line with the general interest. Now that the frequencies for the telco sector have been delivered, the frequencies in the UHF for a creative Europe must equally be clearly defended in EU spectrum policy and in the ITU process. Those frequencies are essential to secure content creation and delivery through broadcasting and PMSE, for the benefit of all.
Read the full declaration below
05 January 2022
Response to the Public consultation on the Draft RSPG Work Programme for 2022 and beyond - In its response to the public consultation, the Wider Spectrum Group is watchful that the RSPG work programme takes full account of the letter and the intent of the relevant Union law, namely the UHF Decision, when addressing questions relative to the 470-694 MHz band. In particular the WSG comments on the EU preparation of WRC-23, including the necessary transparency, and on the proposed work item “Strategy on the future use of the frequency band 470-694 MHz beyond 2030 in the EU”.
23 June 2021
William Maunier from UNI-MEI represented the WSG at a round table on a new spectrum roadmap for Europe -watch William around 1:21:06 and 1:49:30
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26 March 2021
Response to the Public consultation on the Draft RSPG Opinion on a Radio Spectrum Policy Programme
15 Octobre 2020
Celebrating the enduring value and relevance of Digital Terrestrial Television
19 July 2018
Response to the Public consultation on the Draft RSPG Opinion on the ITU-R World Radiocommunication Conference 2019
02 December 2016
Europe’s creative sector calls on policy makers to provide safeguards on UHF spectrum vital to sustaining free to air television and content creation
21 June 2016
WSG statement on the Parliamentary Event hosted by Members of Parliament Stefano Maullu and Patrizia Toia “Growth of the European Cultural and Creative Sector: Why Spectrum Matters”
29 February 2016
The Wider Spectrum Group (WSG) met with Andrus Ansip, the European Commission Vice President for the Digital Single Market, today to urge support for creative producers and distributors of European cultural content in upcoming EU legislation on the UHF frequencies.
“European content is at risk” says WIDER SPECTRUM GROUP
30 November 2015
WSG Statement on the 2015 World Radio Conference (WRC 2015):
«Frequencies for the creative sector gain future regulatory certainty after World Radio Conference» welcomes the Wider Spectrum Group
22 October 2015
Free-to-Air | Free to Create | Free to Grow. Wider Spectrum Group Brussels high-level conference featuring Pascal Lamy and Günther Oettinger as keynote speakers as well as Anthony Whelan (Director, DG Connect) and Kaja Kallas (MEP, ITRE Rapporteur on Digital Single Market report). Two panels bring together leading representatives from the media, creative and cultural space to discuss the importance of spectrum for the future of the EU's AV model and the sustainability and prosperity of its creative industries.
27 July 2015
Wider Spectrum Group writes to Telecom Council Chair ahead of WRC-15 to support rejection of the co-primary allocation to the mobile service of the band 470-694 MHz in Europe
14 July 2015
Commissioner Oettinger appears before European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, upholds Lamy report and the spectrum needs of broadcasting
15-16 June 2015
Members of the Wider Spectrum Group take part in the 10th Annual European Spectrum Management conference in Brussels
9 June 2015
Commission publishes the result of Lamy Consultation, 36 out of 96 stakeholder contributions submitted by “stakeholders from the creative and cultural industries, including broadcasting companies, broadcasting network operators, program making and special events (PMSE) manufacturers as well as art and audiovisual associations”
9 June 2015
MEP Michał Boni (EPP) asks EC precisions on the spectrum and implementation of Lamy report
15 May 2015
Wider Spectrum Group grows 10 members strong as CEPI, DigiTAG, Digital UK and VLV come on board
12 May 2015
Question to Vice-President Ansip during European Parliament's Digital Single Market Intergroup - response focuses on Broadband but what of impact and potential for creative economy and jobs?
6 May 2015
Wider Spectrum Group asks Commission for greater clarity on and alignment of spectrum policy approach following DSM strategy publication
29 April 2015
Wider Spectrum Group writes to President Juncker and Commissioners Ansip, Oettinger, Thyssen and Navracsics to outline concerns over treatment of spectrum in upcoming Commission Communication on the Digital Single Market
13 April 2015
Wider Spectrum Group formally launches and calls for an EU spectrum policy that sustains and grows jobs and value for Europe's cultural and creative sector
12 April 2015
European Commission's Consultation on Lamy report closes. Members of the Wider Spectrum share their contributions
Access WSG contributions to EC consultation on Lamy Report
28 January 2015
Assembled in the European Parliament, employers and workers speak as one to call for an industrial policy for Europe’s creative and cultural industries, urge decision-makers to see the bigger picture on the spectrum