Background

The National Agency for Frequencies (ANF) is the French agency responsible for managing the national allocation of radio spectrum frequencies, in accordance with rules agreed upon internationally. This management has an impact on many industrial sectors: telephony, audiovisual (CSA), space industry, industrial applications of radio equipment, military applications. It was the ANF that was at the heart of the approach to avoid the establishment of the American GPS as the single international standard and the creation of the Galileo system.

Managing frequencies at the international level is based on regulations related to public domain under French law. An international body, backed by its national correspondents, provides the distribution of frequencies in the general interest on the basis of a concession system for temporary occupancy.

The ANF has submitted an application for support to the Foundation, to the extent that it is exposed to approaches under the common law legal systems that are attempting to challenge the existing structures by promoting excessive deregulation.

The Foundation’s support will consist of organizing a group of high-level lawyers, teachers and professionals as participants to work on strengthening the existing system, with financial support from the French and foreign industrial sectors involved.

The objective

Strengthening the international system of regulation of radio frequencies based on civil law.

The means

The projected costs include the compensation of an expert project manager and specialized legal participants, the dissemination of the texts submitted and support for the presence of lawyers alongside representatives of the ANF at international meeting.

This action helps to educate and involve industries in the sector, in France and in other countries with the same legal tradition, as well as participating in the joint promotion of the new standards at the international level with ANF’s counterpart authorities, and to benefit from learning about legal developments in the sector.

The prospects

The adoption of international standards that favor the industrial sectors which rely on frequency allocations and the Foundation’s participation in international bodies allow it to anticipate changes in the legislation regulating its business activity.