Further Spectrum Restriction May Cause 'Irreparable Damage', Says BEIRG

Further Spectrum Restriction May Cause 'Irreparable Damage'
Every single aspect of current UK UHF spectrum policy represents a threat to the future of the PMSE industry.
The industry has already suffered significant upheaval and a reduction of spectrum allocation. Each new policy that comes forward is looking at further restricting the industry’s access to spectrum, or threatening increased interference. Unless this is recognised and addressed soon, our industry will be irreparably damaged.
Spectrum is a limited resource, and there is a large mobile lobby which argues that without access to more and more spectrum the mobile sector will not be able to expand and deliver the 4G mobile broadband services that Governments want to see made available to citizens and consumers. They say that to deliver film, TV and games content direct to iPads, laptops and mobile phones they need access to more UHF spectrum, despite the fact that they are not fully utilising, and do not seem to be under any great pressure to fully utilise, the spectrum holdings that they already have.
BEIRG (www.beirg.co.uk) as an organisation is campaigning and lobbying for the people who produce that content; content which is sold around the world. Without access to spectrum, they cannot produce that content. Not only will TV and film production suffer, but this will affect theatre and music performances. All aspects of cultural life will be affected, and the world leading creative industries which have so much to offer in helping us grow the economy will be destroyed.
The threat comes not from one isolated policy targeting part of the spectrum that we currently have access to. It comes from an inundation of policies, each of which is looking to remove, restrict or severely compromise our spectrum access. Unless vital decisions are made now to protect our creative services, in the near future the industry could have insufficient access to spectrum, and the Government will have destroyed a £36bn industry. Having seen their resource already depleted, the PMSE industry is now facing a further reduction in the quantity of available spectrum.
As part of the DDR, Ofcom intended to clear the 600MHz band for sale. PMSE users were preparing to move from this by the end of 2012. Ofcom is now looking at clearing the 700MHz band of PMSE services. The PMSE sector urgently requires confirmation on the future of the 600MHz and 700MHz bands. In light of potential changes to the 700MHz band Ofcom is delaying the 600MHz auction and is extending use of the 600MHz band for PMSE. This is a positive development, but the industry needs certainty that this is a long term solution rather than a temporary measure. To meet current demand for PMSE services, BEIRG believes that an absolute minimum of 96 MHz (excluding guard bands) of harmonised UHF spectrum is required for wireless microphones (and in-ear monitors, instrument systems, etc.). To allow PMSE professionals to produce the best possible content, as much as possible of this should be reserved solely for PMSE use, and be contiguous.
To facilitate production of high quality content, PMSE access to spectrum must be free of interference. Protection from interference is essential for existing users. This is now being put at risk by Ofcom’s intention to allow unlicensed White Space Devices (WSD) to operate in the same spectrum as PMSE. There are significant levels of concern within the entertainment industry that these devices will interfere with existing users. Under Ofcom’s present plans, interference could also only be corrected after the event. BEIRG questions whether WSD should be permitted to operate on an unlicensed basis. BEIRG suggests that they should be licensed in the same way as existing users of white space frequencies.
Under the current licensing regime, the Band Manager (currently JFMG) has no powers to prosecute illegal unlicensed spectrum users. Policing powers are retained by Ofcom, who have not, in the last five years, prosecuted any party for unlicensed usage of spectrum utilised by the PMSE community. BEIRG believes policing powers should be moved from the regulator to the licence issuing authority. Increasing prosecutions from interference caused by unlicensed usage would lead to an increased uptake in licences, and the revenue generated would increase.
Demand for spectrum in the UK is substantial, and growing. Upwards of 90,000 requests for PMSE spectrum access are made to the licencing band manager in the UK each year. These include temporary and annual assignments.
On September 10th representatives of the UK's entertainment industry met Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP. The roundtable meeting brought together representatives from the British TV, theatre and live music industries to discuss these challenges facing the industry's access to adequate radio spectrum in the future.
Lord Grade on behalf of the industry commented, "We appreciate the opportunity to meet the Minister and discuss issues affecting the future viability of our industry. Spectrum policy is an important and evolving area of the Government's work, and essential to the future of world-leading content production in the UK.
"It is good to see that the Government is listening to the concerns of the industry, and committing to an on-going dialogue."
Peter Roberts on behalf of BEIRG said, "The UK creative industries generate tens of billions of pounds for the UK economy, providing entertainment for citizens and tourists year round. It is essential that these industries are not damaged by short sighted policies."
"We were pleased to discuss the state of the industry with the Minister, and to receive reassurance that he understands the importance of our industry."