WRC-07 RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS MEETING: GOI SUPPORTS U.S.-

UNCLAS ROME 002216 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/CIP/MA, OES/SAT, AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS TSPA KSCA IT SUBJECT: WRC-07 RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS MEETING: GOI SUPPORTS U.S.- PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS, SUBJECT TO EUROPEAN PARTNER CONSULTATIONS REF: STATE 063585 ¶1. Summary: Italian officials from both the Space Agency and the Communications Ministry have expressed support for reftel U.S. proposals. However, the communications officials leading ItalyQs delegation to the World Radiocommunications Conference- 07 (WRC-07) cautioned that they will need to consult with other members of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) before finalizing ItalyQs position. End summary. ¶2. On June 4, SCICouns delivered ref points, and abbreviated copies of the U.S. proposals for WRC-2011 agenda items amending the international Radio Frequency Allocation Table, to Dr. Loredana Bruca at the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Post also delivered the material on June 12 to Communications Ministry International Affairs Director Stefania Michelangeli. ¶3. On June 15, SCICouns and Econ Specialist met with Dr. Bruca and Luciano Garramone of the Space Geodesy Center (Matera, Italy). The two GOI space officials confirmed that ASI supports NASA's positions on both proposals under WRC-07 Agenda item 7.2, one calling for the space research service (SRS) to receive an allocation of 500 MHz of bandwidth in the 22.55 to 23.55 GHz band to support future lunar and Martian exploration, and the other calling for consideration to modify the primary mobile service allocation in the 37-38 GHz band to exclude aeronautical mobile stations to protect primary services in the band from interference. ¶4. Dr. Bruca opined that the proposal to allocate 500 MHz of bandwidth in the 22.55 to 23.55 GHz band would receive European support at the ITU WRC-07 because European communications authorities had already discussed and "not opposed" the proposal at the most recent meeting (date not supplied) of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). She said she also was aware that the proposal was discussed favorably at the most recent meeting (date not provided) of the Space Frequency Coordination Group, of which Italy is a member. ¶5. Dr. Bruca said that to her knowledge the Europeans had not yet discussed our second proposal regarding aeronautical mobile stations and interference within the 37-38 GHz band, and expressed concern that time was becoming short to reach a European position before the start of WRC-07 on October 22. She also expressed concern that the GOI lead agency, the Ministry of Communications, had not yet held interagency consultations necessary in order to finalize the GOI's position. She promised to contact counterparts at the Communications Ministry to convey ASI's position informally, and find out the status of preparations for the inter-agency coordination. She also said that industry representatives had informally promised support for the proposal regarding the 37-38 GHz band. ¶6. Since June, Post has repeatedly contacted the Communications Ministry to seek their views and the status of inter-agency coordination for WRC-07. Unfortunately, the responsible senior official, Director General of Radio-electric Spectrum Planning and Management Francesco Troisi, has been gravely ill, hampering GOI consideration of these proposals. TroisiQs deputies Francesco Augello and Antonio Vellucci will alternate in leading the Italian delegation in Geneva; Vellucci will be the lead when the meeting starts on October 22. Mr. Augello told Post that his directorate supports both U.S. proposals, but will need to consult with other CEPT members in Geneva before the Italian position can be finalized. SPOGLI