Radiocommunications: Green Paper on radio spectrum, results of the public consultation

The committee adopted the report by Konstantinos ALYSSANDRAKIS (GUE/NGL, GR) on the results of the public consultation on the Commission's Green Paper on radio spectrum policy. The report stressed the need to ensure a balance between commercial interests and the public interest when using a limited natural resource such as radio spectrum. It also felt that, with increasing competition for such a limited resource, technical decisions supported by Member States within international organisations responsible for allocating frequencies should accord with established EU policy. While acknowledging that further harmonisation of Community radio spectrum policy could be desirable, in particular for satellite communications systems, the committee nevertheless felt that the national regulatory authorities of the Member States should retain sufficient flexibility to respond to national, regional and local needs. It also expressed support for the principle of set payments for frequency use and general licence fees for commercial uses and services, but said that the allocation of frequencies could not be separated from the particular application that frequency bands were used for. Member States were urged to harmonise their approach and to invest revenue from auctions, payments, etc. in research into new technologies, rather than regarding such revenue as fiscal income. Lastly, the report called for the debate on mutual recognition of licences for satellite communications within the EU to be reopened, as this could optimise the development of cross-border broadband services and thereby favour efficient use of spectrum in Europe. �