Satellite personal communication services in the Union: Community action

OBJECTIVE: the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a common market for satellite personal-communication services through coordinated action at European Union level regarding selection and authorisation on the basis of harmonised conditions and criteria. SUBSTANCE: * The aim of the action is to guarantee within three years: - the selection of space-segment operators for satellite personal-communication services (PCS); - the adoption of common conditions for granting authorisations for satellite PCS space-segment operators; - the harmonisation of conditions linked to authorisations; - the establishment of dialogue and, where necessary, negotiations between the Union and third countries, with a view to establishing international cooperation aimed at promoting the development of satellite personal-communication services and eliminating any obstacles to their development; * Firstly, a call for expressions of interest will be published in the Official Journal within six months of the adoption of the decision. This will define the common selection criteria for each category of service, the selection procedures and the principles governing the common conditions on which authorisations will be granted; * The Commission may call upon European standardisation bodies (ETSI, CEN/Cenelec, ERC and Ectra) to consider the necessary harmonised criteria and conditions on the basis of mandates granted in accordance with the framework agreements concluded with these bodies; * The Commission, assisted by both an advisory and a regulatory committee, will take decisions on: - the common conditions for granting authorisations for the selected space-segment operators for satellite personal-communication services; - the harmonised conditions to be applied when granting authorisation to providers of satellite personal-communication services and uplink operators, and, where necessary, to the movement and use of equipment; - any other measures aimed at facilitating the development of satellite personal-communication services; * As regards the international aspects, the Commission follows developments outside the EC and consults third countries on the introduction of satellite personal-communication services at global level. Whenever appropriate, the Commission will enter into negotiations with third countries on these issues; * The annex to the draft decision contains a timetable of the measures to be taken under the auspices of Community action by March 1997. �