§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on protocols that exist between this country and other EU member states on the allocation of digital radio frequencies; and what198W reduction of available frequencies in regions of the UK in close proximity to other EU member states he expects. [139581]
§ Ms HewittThe Radiocommunications Agency is responsible for the allocation of spectrum for broadcasting services and for ensuring that the UK's use of radio frequencies, including for digital radio, does not cause interference within the UK or in other countries and that other countries' transmissions do not interfere with UK services. The international co-ordination of frequency use is ordered by the decisions of the International Telecommunication Union. An international agreement, known as the Wiesbaden Plan (1995), which was agreed by the European radio administrations, set the parameters within which the UK and neighbouring countries may co-ordinate bilaterally their respective frequency plans for digital radio.
It is too early to consider the outcome of the international negotiations on the sharing of spectrum for individual radio stations given the current state of the planning and international co-ordination processes within Europe, including the prospect that further frequencies for digital radio may become available for this service in the next few years arising out of a European Planning Conference set for 2002.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has(a) to conduct a national audit of radio frequencies and their usage and (b) to increase the number of frequencies open for new local radio stations. [139575]
§ Ms HewittThe Radiocommunications Agency, supported by the Radio Authority and the BBC, commissioned a survey of the current use of the FM spectrum, the efficiency with which it has been planned and the scope for planning additional services. The report was published in June 2000 and is available on the Radiocommunications Agency website at www.radio.gov.uk and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House shortly.
In recent years, additional spectrum has been made available for radio broadcasting in the FM Band. In addition, spectrum has been made available in the VHF band to enable the launch of Digital Radio. Further frequencies may become available for local digital radio services as a result of a European Planning Conference in 2002.