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Summary of Issues Raised at Local Customer Panel Meetings January - December 2003 |
To ensure that all panel members and other interested parties have access to the issues raised across the country the summary below has been prepared:
PBR
Marine
Aeronautical
Low
Power Devices
Cave
Report
Managing
the Spectrum
Enforcement
Communications
with RA
Ofcom
General
Digital Information Interchange System (DIIS) - the system would allow better use of the spectrum - (Bristol).
Coded Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Europe is in looking at the possibility of a wide band PMR system. A draft paper to be produced (Bristol) (Falkirk).
IR2008 - launched in August 2002. Only 10 licences issued so far (2 February 2003). A review to make the licence more attractive to users is being carried out (Bristol) (Falkirk).
UHF1 - A CEPT aligned channel plan is being prepared by RA2 (Bristol) (Birmingham) (Haydock).
UHF2 - 410-430 and 450-470 Band Alignment - This will take place between 2005-2010 new spectrum will be made available in UHF1. UHF2 has now been closed. (Bristol) (Birmingham) (Haydock) (Falkirk) (Leeds) (Cardiff).
5 GHz Fixed wireless Access. RA looking at the possibility of opening up Band C for fixed Wireless Access (Bristol) (Falkirk) (Belfast).
PMR reception on Low Band systems. It was agreed that current weather conditions caused some reception problems, however the noise floor level had risen. (Bristol).
SMF Report circulated to all panel members. The report is available from www.smforg.uk. Members encouraged to make comments to their panel secretary (Bristol). It was described as a excellent document. It is available from the above website or phone 0207 222 7060 (Birmingham) The SMF Report was discussed at the Haydock meeting with the panel members, a number of queries and concerns were raised. Members were encouraged to make comments as soon as possible. The report is available from the above website or phone 0207 222 7060 (Haydock). (Falkirk).
A presentation on the Silver Award Scheme, a dealer accreditation scheme, for Mobile Radio installers was given by the Federation of Communication Services. The prime objective of the scheme is to show customers, that members are recognised as being able to do their job to satisfactory standards (Birmingham) (Leeds) (Cardiff)
Paul Jarvis head of Private Business Systems (PBS) gave a presentation on the current developments in PMR Technology (Baldock).
PMR446
Data on 446: This is a Europe wide service it would be difficult for the UK to introduce a UK only data service (Bristol). Data on 446 was not considered a desirable facility as it would reduce its efficiency (Falkirk).
Concerns were expressed over how the Data Protection Act might impact any interference management delegation (Bristol) (Haydock).
It was felt the present system worked well and PMR dealers only contact the Agency when absolutely necessary, in many cases they can diagnose the problem but they have no authority to implement a solution outside their own system. This is when they contact the RA (Birmingham) (Haydock) (Falkirk) (Leeds) (Belfast).
Dealers would be unable to afford the sensitive and expensive equipment necessary to deal with interference problems (Birmingham) (Baldock) (Leeds) (Belfast).
The proposed new structure would impact on close working relationship with local offices (Falkirk) (Baldock) (Leeds) (Belfast).
The organisation who supplies the spectrum should ensure it is fit for the purpose. Dealers wanted more policing not less (Leeds).
A Spectrum Management Organisation (SMO) indicated its reliance on Baldock and the Nation and Regional Offices to support it to resolve interference to its users on a UK wide basis (Baldock)
Panel members were concerned that despite their comments on the Cave Report that it seemed 90% of all recommendations are still going ahead (Cardiff).
A summary of the years activities in the areas of operations, infrastructure and strategic projects was given (Baldock).
It was agreed to collaborate with RA2/PBSU to carry out an exercise designed to indicate current PMR usage (Baldock).
A presentation on Spectrum Trading was given with some details of the recent 3.4 GH2 auction. Spectrum Trading would enable licensees to buy and sell spectrum from each other with out any direct involvement from the Agency (Cardiff).
Reference was made to the UK participation on a Europe wide campaign to check the compliance of radio equipment being sold with the administrative requirements of the RTTE Directive (Belfast).
A presentation was given on responses by panel members to a consultation on the agency’s enforcement and licensing policy (Cardiff).
A presentation on licence accounts by the Customer Liaison Unit (CLU) explaining how licences are issued and licence renewal fees are collected (Leeds).
Customers would like to receive one demand for licences. It was explained licence renewal dates can be harmonised (Leeds).
A number of suggestions concerning how the presentation of the invoices could be improved were made. CLU agreed to consider these (Leeds).
A Elicensing demonstration way give on the Mast project, which has been developed to provide an automated frequency assignment tool. The system is to go live in 2004 (Belfast).
It was explained that a new regulatory body had been set up at he end of 2002. The board has been appointed David Currie as Chairman and Stephen Carter as Chief Executive. Ofcom new building will be located at Riverside House situated close to the River Thames (near Cannon Street Train Station) (Bristol) (Leeds) (Belfast) (Cardiff).
Fears were expressed that Ofcom would let the big players in the industry take over and push PMR aside (Bristol).
Would radio licence fees increase to fund the new structure of Ofcom? It was explained that the structure would remain the same at present though changes may be introduced as a result of the CAVE Report in due course (Haydock).
The move to introduce more Elicensing had been put on hold until after Ofcom was up and running. All current Elicensing facilities would continue (Haydock).
Vic Brashko, the new Ofcom Operation Director, confirmed that the vesting date for Ofcom was 15 December 2003. He went on to say that existing reporting lines were likely to be preserved for interference matters (Baldock) (Cardiff).
The panel members gave strong support to Baldock and the Nations and Regions to continue to investigate interference complaints, as well as analyse usage of the bands (Baldock) (Cardiff).
Ofcoms view on Customer Panels is not yet known but the RA management are keen that they continue (Leeds) (Belfast) (Cardiff).
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