The Radiocommunications Sector (ITU-R) is one of the three sectors of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). All ITU work in the field of radiocommunications is now consolidated in the Sector, which is charged with reaching consensus on the coherent use of a huge and growing range of wireless services, including the popular new mobile communications technologies.

The ITU-R Sector was created on 1 March 1993, as part of the overall reorganisation of the ITU, and comprises the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA) and the ITU-R Study Groups, the Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) and the Radio Regulations Board (RRB).

The mission of the ITU-R is primarily to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using satellite orbits, and to carry out studies and adopt recommendations on radiocommunication matters. As such, the functions of the ITU-R are laid down in the Constitution and Convention of the ITU.

The Sector took over all work in the field of radiocommunications from the CCIR and IFRB, which were established in 1927 and 1947, respectively, and were formerly responsible for radio matters in the ITU. The previous functions of World Administrative Radio Conferences, which had no regular schedule and were usually convened on a service specific basis, were replaced by a regular cycle of WRCs able to tackle issues relevant to any service, especially sharing issues between services. A regular conference schedule, combined with a comprehensive agenda setting mechanism, has met one of the main objectives set for the ITU-R Sector, in that the ITU is now able to respond much more effectively to rapid developments in radiocommunication technology.

The Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) is responsible for organizing and coordinating the work of the Sector under its Director, Mr Valerie Timofeev (Russia). An important task of the Bureau is to promote knowledge and understanding of ITU-R activities through Radiocommunication seminars.

The ITU-R Sector thus plays a vital role in the management of the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, finite natural resources which are increasingly in demand from a large number of services such as fixed, mobile, broadcasting, amateur, space research, meteorology, global positioning systems, environmental monitoring and vitally, those communication services that ensure safety of life at sea and in the skies.

The following provides a brief description of the elements that support the WRC process and the study programme of the ITU-R Sector:

Radiocommunication Assemblies

Radiocommunication Assemblies are normally convened at two to three year intervals, and operate under the remit to:

	consider the reports of the ITU-R Study Groups, and approve, modify or reject the draft recommendations contained in those reports
	consider the reports of the Radiocommunication Advisory Group
	report to the following World Radiocommunication Conference on the progress in matters that may be included in the agenda of future radiocommunication conferences

A Radiocommunication Assembly may also refer specific matters within its competence to the Radiocommunication Advisory Group for advice.

A major function of Radiocommunication Assemblies has been to provide the necessary technical bases for the continuing work of the World Radiocommunication Conferences and to respond to all requests from WRCs (click here to view UK delegation report on RA-2000). Because of this relationship, Radiocommunication Assemblies have till now taken place immediately prior to a WRC. However, in order to explore more flexible approaches to organising the work of the Sector, there is no longer a constitutional requirement for them to be associated in place and time with a WRC.

ITU-R Study Groups

ITU-R work is carried out by Study Groups, in which representatives of the ITU-R membership develop Recommendations for the various fields of international radiocommunications on the basis of the study of questions (UK ITU-R Study Group activities).

More than 1500 specialists, from telecommunication organizations and administrations throughout the world, participate in the work of the ITU-R Study Groups concerned with:

	Drafting Technical Bases for Radiocommunication Conferences
	Developing Draft ITU-R Recommendations on the technical characteristics of, and operational procedures for radiocommunication services and systems
	Compiling Handbooks on spectrum management and emerging radiocommunication services and systems

The ITU-R Study Groups address the following topics:

Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG)

The Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG) is a functional part of the ITU-R operating under the remit to:

	review the priorities and strategies adopted in the Sector
	monitor progress of the work of the ITU-R Study Groups
	provide guidance for the work of the ITU-R Study Groups
	recommend measures for fostering cooperation and coordination with other organizations and with the other ITU Sectors

The RAG provides advice on these matters to the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau. Radiocommunication Assemblies may refer specific matters within their competence to the RAG.

The current Chairman of the RAG is Mr Gracie (Canada).

Click here to view the UK report on the last RAG meeting

Radiocommunication Bureau (BR)

The Radiocommunication Bureau was established to support and coordinate the work of the ITU-R Sector and operates under an elected Director - an important position which is effectively the "face" of the Sector. The current Director, Mr Valerie Timofeev (Russia), was elected for a further 4 year term at the 2002 Plenipotentiary Conference, Marrakesh.

The Bureau consists of the Director's Office (DIR) assisted by the following Departments:

	Informatics, Administration and Publications Department (IAP)
	Space Services Department (SSD)
	Study Group Department (SGD)
	Terrestrial Services Department (TSD)

The Bureau plays a critical role in carrying out the strategic objectives of the ITU-R. Most importantly, the Bureau:

	provides administrative and technical support to Radiocommunication Conferences, Radiocommunication Assemblies and Study Groups, including Working Parties and Task Groups
	applies the provisions of the Radio Regulations and various Regional Agreements; records and registers frequency assignments and also orbital characteristics of space services, and maintains the Master International Frequency Register
	provides advice to Member States on the equitable, effective and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, and investigates and assists in resolving cases of harmful interference
	coordinates the preparation, editing and dispatch of circulars, documents and publications developed within the Sector
	provides technical information and seminars on national frequency management and radiocommunications, and works closely with the Telecommunication Development Bureau in assisting developing countries

The Director of the Bureau also has number of specific functions within the Sector, notably to:

	coordinate the preparatory work of the study groups and the Bureau, communicate to the Member States and Sector Members the results of this preparatory work, collect their comments and submit a consolidated report to the conference which may include proposals of a regulatory nature
	distribute to all Member States the Rules of Procedure of the Board and collect comments thereon received from administrations
	provide the necessary support for the RAG, and report each year to Member States and Sector Members and to the Council on the results of the work of the RAG
	provide practical measures to facilitate the participation of developing countries in the ITU-R Study Groups
	carry out studies to furnish advice with a view to the operation of the maximum practicable number of radio channels in those portions of the spectrum where harmful interference may occur, and with a view to the equitable, effective and economical use of the geostationary-satellite and other satellite orbits, taking into account the needs of Member States requiring assistance, the specific needs of developing countries, as well as the special geographical situation of particular countries
	exchange with Member States and Sector Members data in machine-readable and other forms, prepare and keep up to date any documents and databases of the Radiocommunication Sector, and arrange, with the Secretary-General, as appropriate, for their publication in the working languages of the Union
	submit to the world radiocommunication conference a report on the activities of the Radiocommunication Sector since the last conference; if a world radiocommunication conference is not planned, a report on the activities of the Sector covering the two-year period since the last conference shall be submitted to the Council and, for information, to Member States and Sector Members
	prepare an annual operational plan and financial plan of activities to be undertaken by the Bureau in support of the Sector as a whole, to be reviewed by the radiocommunication advisory group and provided to the Council

Radio Regulations Board (RRB)

The Radio Regulations Board (RRB) has twelve members, who are elected at each Plenipotentiary Conference. They perform their duties on a part-time basis, normally meeting up to four times a year, in Geneva.

The Board:

	approves Rules of Procedure, used by the Radiocommunication Bureau in applying the provisions of the Radio Regulations and registering frequency assignments made by Member States
	addresses matters referred by the Bureau which cannot be resolved through application of the Radio Regulations and Rules of Procedure
	considers reports of unresolved interference investigations carried out by the Bureau at the request of one or more administrations and formulates Recommendations
	provides advice to Radiocommunication Conferences and the Radiocommunication Assemblies

The Director of the Bureau is the Executive Secretary of the Radio Regulations Board.

UK contact for ITU-R work is Malcolm Johnson: Malcolm.Johnson@ra.gsi.gov.uk