BR IFIC (Terrestrial services) 1 Introduction The BR International Frequency Information Circular (BR IFIC) is a service publication published every two weeks by the Radiocommunication Bureau in accordance with Article 20 of the Radio Regulations (RR 20.1 to RR 20.6 and RR 20.15). The purpose of the BR IFIC is to provide information on the frequency assignments/allotments submitted by administrations to the Radiocommunication Bureau for recording in the Master International Frequency Register and various regional or world Agreements/Plans. Given the volume of the data it contains, the BR IFIC is published in two parts: one for terrestrial services, the other for space services. The BR IFIC (Terrestrial services) is issued on DVD-ROM in the six official languages of the Union: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. 2 Contents of BR IFIC (Terrestrial services) The BR IFIC (Terrestrial services) contains: the International Frequency List; the Master International Frequency Register; the frequency assignment/allotment Plans for terrestrial services; notices undergoing RR Article 11 processing for updating of the Master Register; notices undergoing processing pursuant to regional agreements for updating of the Plans; the TerRaQ program for querying the published information; the TerRaNV program for checking electronic notices; the Preface to the BR IFIC (Terrestrial services). Furthermore, within the framework of implementation of the decisions taken by RRC-06 (conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz), RRC-06-Rev.GE89 and RRC-06-Rev.ST61 (conferences for the revision of certain parts of the Geneva 1989 and Stockholm 1961 Agreements, respectively), the Bureau recently added the following information to the BR IFIC: the List of assignments to primary terrestrial services other than the broadcasting service, established by RRC-06; the digital Plan comprising the T-DAB assignments/allotments and DVB-T assignments/allotments; the analogue Plan comprising the assignments previously recorded in the GE89 and ST61 Plans in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz, the assignments appearing in the RRC List 1 and assignments recorded in the Master Register as at 31 December 1989 with no equivalent in the ST61 and GE89 Plans. 1 Concerns the territories belonging to the RRC-06 planning area not governed by the ST61 or GE89 Agreement.
- 2 - For querying the above information, the Bureau has also incorporated software in the BR IFIC allowing the data in the List and two Plans to be displayed; in the near future, it will also be possible to identify affected administrations and examine conformity vis-à-vis the digital Plan. 3 Hardware/software Use of the BR IFIC requires a desktop computer turning under Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Microsoft Access Version 2000 or later. Approximately 3.5 gigabytes of disk storage are required (with the data copied to the hard disk), or 400 megabytes if the BR IFIC is to be consulted directly from the DVD-ROM without installing the data on the hard disk. 4 Description of database The database is divided into three parts: FM/TV (sound and television broadcasting in the VHF and UHF bands); LF/MF (sound broadcasting in the LF and MF bands); FXM (fixed, mobile and other services, with the exception of the broadcasting service in the LF/MF and VHF/UHF bands). Each part is subdivided into: recorded assignments (MIFR and Plans); notices being processed (TIP). 4.1 FM/TV broadcasting service The FM/TV part contains all notices being processed and assignments concerning the sound and television broadcasting service in the VHF and UHF bands. It comprises the following fragments: ST61: the Plan for the European Broadcasting Area (the ST61 Regional Agreement continues to regulate the use of frequency bands 47-68 MHz, 87.5-100 MHz and 162-170 MHz by the broadcasting service; GE84: the Plan for the use of the band 87.5-108 MHz for FM sound broadcasting (Region 1 and part of Region 3); GE89: the Plan for the VHF/UHF television broadcasting service in the African Broadcasting Area and neighbouring countries (the GE89 Regional Agreement continues to regulate the use of frequency bands 47-68 MHz, 230-238 MHz and 246-254 MHz by the broadcasting service); GE06A: the analogue Plan approved by RRC-06 and comprising the assignments previously recorded in the GE89 and ST61 Plans in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz, the assignments appearing in the RRC List and assignments recorded in the Master Register as at 31 December 1989 with no equivalent in the ST61 and GE89 Plans; GE06D: the digital Plan approved by RRC-06 and comprising the T-DAB and DVB-T assignments/allotments.
- 3-4.2 LF/MF broadcasting service The LF/MF part contains all notices being processed and assignments concerning the LF/MF sound broadcasting service. It comprises the following fragments: GE75: the Plan for LF/MF broadcasting (Regions 1 and 3); RJ81: the Plan for MF broadcasting (Region 2). 4.3 Fixed and mobile services, FXM The FXM part contains all the notices being processed and assignments and allotments for the fixed, mobile or other land services (with the exception of the broadcasting service in Plan FM/TV or LF/MF bands). It comprises the following fragments: Req_agrt: notices submitted under RR 9.21 for terrestrial services; Com_Freq: recordings in the Master Register for frequencies for which common use is prescribed in accordance with RR 11.13 and RR 11.14; AP25: RR Appendix 25 allotment Plan; AP26: RR Appendix 26 allotment Plan; AP27: RR Appendix 27 allotment Plan; GE85M: frequency Plan regulated by the regional agreement for the MF maritime mobile and aeronautical radionavigation services (Region 1), Geneva, 1985; GE85N: frequency Plan regulated by the regional agreement for the planning of the maritime radionavigation service (radiobeacons) in the European Maritime Area, Geneva, 1985; GE06L: List of assignments to primary terrestrial services other than the broadcasting service, established by RRC-06. 5 Master International Frequency Register The Master International Frequency Register contains the complete characteristics of assignments notified to the Bureau and recorded in conformity with the provisions of the Radio Regulations. Any assignment liable to cause interference to existing or planned stations of another country or liable to receive interference from any such stations must be notified to the Bureau in order to be recorded in the Master International Frequency Register and thus benefit from the right to international recognition. The MIFR is updated by the Bureau based on the information published in Parts I, II and IIB of the BR IFIC. Thus, any notice received is published in Part I if it contains all required information. The Bureau then examines the notice based on the frequency band and category of service concerned. If its findings are unfavourable, the Bureau returns the notice to the notifying administration once it has been published in Part III of the BR IFIC. If the findings are favourable, the Bureau publishes the notice in Part II of the BR IFIC and records the assignment in the Master Register. Part IIB, when included in a BR IFIC, lists frequency assignments for which the findings recorded in MIFR were reviewed by the Bureau pursuant to RR Article 14.
- 4-6 Plans Requests for modification of the various Plans are published in corresponding special sections of the BR IFIC, as are requests for coordination under RR Article 9 (RR 9.21/C for the information provided by an administration seeking agreement under the Article 9 procedure and RR 9.21/D on progress made in coordination). The ST61, GE75, RJ81, GE84 and GE89 special sections provide the information published in accordance with Article 4 of the regional agreement concerned. Each special section has three parts: A Particulars of proposed modifications; B Particulars of modifications on which agreement has been reached; C Particulars of assignments in the Plan which have been cancelled. The Plans are updated by the Bureau based on the information published in Parts A, B and C. Thus, any SUPPRESS notice received is published in Part C to acknowledge receipt of the notice, and the assignment corresponding to the notified identification parameters is removed from the Plan concerned. Any ADDITION or MODIFICATION notice received is published in Part A. Once the prescribed time for comments has passed, the assignment is published in Part B and recorded in the corresponding Plan if there are no objections and the notifying administration has requested BR to do so. 7 Preface to the BR IFIC (Terrestrial services) The Preface describes the contents of the BR IFIC. As the BR IFIC is published in two parts (one for terrestrial services and the other for space services), the Preface is also published in parts. The Preface to the BR IFIC (Terrestrial services) explains the meanings of the abbreviations, symbols and coded remarks used in the BR IFIC. The Preface is updated regularly by the Bureau and published in the BR IFIC and on the ITU website at the following URL: http://www.itu.int/itu-r/publications/brific-ter/preface/preface_fr.pdf. It is available in PDF in the six official languages of the Union: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. In practical terms, all the information published in the Preface is updated solely by the Bureau. Nevertheless, regarding the addresses of administrations and the list of operating agencies (Tables 12A/12B, section 3 of Chapter IV of the Preface), it is essential that administrations inform the Bureau regularly of any changes that have taken place. 8 Conclusions The BR IFIC is a reference publication for frequency managers. In conformity with No. 8.3 of the Radio Regulations, any frequency assignment recorded in the Master Register with a favourable finding has the right to international recognition. Within the framework of application of this fundamental provision fundamental, as it provides for the avoidance of harmful interference it is essential for frequency managers to consult the BR IFIC regularly. To this end, a free copy of the BR IFIC is provided to each administration and the Bureau publishes the list of assignments in Parts I, II, III and IIB and those in Parts A, B and C of the special sections on the ITU website at the following URL: http://www.itu.int/itu-r/publications/brific-ter/index-fr.html. Furthermore, under No. 11.28 of the Radio Regulations, the Bureau publishes the complete notices received in the BR IFIC within two months. Such publication constitutes acknowledgement of receipt for the notifying administration and the staff responsible for filing notices with the Bureau can use it to verify that the published information corresponds to the notices submitted to the Bureau.
- 5 - The staff responsible for coordination can also use the BR IFIC to keep abreast of notices filed by other administrations (including neighbouring countries, for example) so as to determine whether coordination is necessary in each case. In conclusion, the BR IFIC is a working tool which must be available to every frequency manager. If an organization responsible for frequency management is not receiving the BR IFIC, it should take steps to ascertain what is happening to the free copy of each issue that ITU sends out to all member administrations. Otherwise, a subscription should be taken out with the ITU Sales Service to ensure that the BR IFIC is received regularly (for further information in this regard, please consult the publication notice on the ITU website at the following URL: http://www.itu.int/opb/pubnotices_pop.aspx?lang=e&folder=/dms_pages/itu-r/opb/sp/r-sp-ln.it- 2006.