PPARC Response To The Third Stage Of Spectrum Pricing Consultation Document

PPARC
Response To The Third Stage Of Spectrum Pricing Consultation Document

Licensing Policy Unit
Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SX

16/12/99

Dear Sir

SPECTRUM PRICING: IMPLEMENTING THE THIRD STAGE AND BEYOND

- Response from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council on behalf of the UK Radio Astronomy

and Astronomy Space Research Community

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the consultation paper issued in September 1999. We have followed the development of the Spectrum Pricing implementation with both interest and some concern. Steps to improve the efficiency of the allocation and management of spectrum are welcomed by PPARC, as are the reassurances which have been given, although sometimes obliquely, that protection for use for radio astronomy and space research will continue to be given a high priority.

For the latest stage of the implementation we would like to again state that:

radio astronomy is a passive user of spectrum;
much of the spectrum protected for radio astronomy (which is only 2% of the total spectrum) is in fact shared with other users – both private and government;
because of the nature of the passive signals being monitored, it is not possible for radio astronomers to move to other frequencies;

without major capital investment it is not an option for radio astronomers to move the location of their antennae to more remote, and thus radio quite, zones in the UK;
existing protection for key frequencies is paid for by PPARC and science applications will not be able to compete for spectrum on the same cost basis as private users.

The UK plays a leading role in international radio astronomical research, in space-based astronomy and earth observation. We therefore hope that its importance and scientific value will be continue to be recognised and protected in the further development of Spectrum Pricing, and look for your reassurance.

Yours sincerely

Dr C Vincent
Technology Section

Cc: Dr J Cohen, Jodrell Bank
Dr P Murdin, British National Space Centre

Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1SZ

Direct line (01793) 442095
Local fax (01793) 442036
E-mail colin_vincent@pparc.ac.uk
Our Ref CA/342/C6

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