Answer given by Mr Oettinger on behalf of the Commission

10.8.2015

The Commission is in full agreement regarding the need to keep a balanced approach to acheive a Digital Single Market, containing both a vibrant audiovisual ecosystem and strong wireless broadband development. As the Lamy report proposes, this implies a considered repurposing of part of the UHF band to wireless broadband, while safeguarding access for broadcasting to the rest of the band.

The European Union is not a full member of the ITU and it will be the Member States that negotiate at the WRC-15. The Commission has identified some items on the agenda where EC law could be affected and has proposed positions regarding those to the Council. Under the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union 218(9), it is that body that will adopt the Union position, which has to be defended by all Member States.

One of the proposed positions is to reject a change of the allocation of the band 470-694 MHz from broadcasting to co-primary for both broadcasting and mobile. This proposal was immediately transmitted to the Parliament . The Commission has in addition concluded a public consultation on the Lamy report and will soon launch a major consultation on the review of the framework for electronic communications services, including its spectrum aspects.