§ Mr. LuffTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for introducing pricing to promote efficient use of the radio spectrum [21517]
§ Mr. LangThe White Paper, "Spectrum Management into the 21st Century", Cm 3252, announced that national and regional services would be candidates for selective auctions; and that auctions could be used to promote the release of analogue broadcasting spectrum, subject to satisfactory safeguards for existing broadcasters. It also outlined administrative pricing proposals focused on areas and services affected by spectrum congestion. In responses to the White Paper, there was broad support for this package of measures.
The success of the radio industry depends on timely provision of its raw material, radio spectrum. This finite resource is becoming increasingly congested. We intend to proceed, as soon as parliamentary time is available, with legislation to introduce a package of measures to sustain future growth by encouraging its more efficient use.