The EU Council has endorsed a text drawn up with the European Parliament and the Commission for setting a European radio policy. The agreement will foster the roll-out of enhanced wireless broadband systems, by requiring member states to authorise the use of the 'digital dividend' 800 MHz band for wireless broadband by January 2013. The states and the Commission will be responsible for jointly implementing these priorities. The Radio Spectrum Policy programme, first proposed by the Commission over a year ago, will begin in early 2012 and run through to the end of 2015, but its principles and objectives are of a permanent nature and will not expire in 2015. The agreed Radio Spectrum Policy Programme includes several measures including creating an European radio spectrum inventory and putting in place a process for determining usage. It also includes fostering the deployment of wireless broadband by setting deadlines for authorising the use of harmonised spectrum bands for electronic communication services. It offers making at least 1200 MHz of spectrum available for wireless broadband services in the EU by 2015, following an assessment based on the spectrum inventory, promoting spectrum management, encouraging collective and shared use of scarce spectrum. It also includes defining concrete steps to promote competition in the single EU telecommunications market, avoiding possible distortions arising from the accumulation of spectrum in the hands of certain operators. It also includes meeting the spectrum requirements of EU policies in sectors such as transport, energy, earth observation and monitoring, civil protection, wireless microphones and cordless cameras, and the internet of things and underlining the need for enhanced EU coordination in international spectrum negotiations. The agreement remains subject to a formal vote by Parliament.
