The document summarizes the activities and future plans of Cluster 4 of the UK Spectrum Policy Forum. It discusses Cluster 4 completing its consideration of 5G parameters and review of the WRC process. It outlines future activities may include analyzing the European Commission's review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications and a possible follow up on a paper about international representation. The document also provides recommendations to improve the UK's representation at international conferences like improving advocacy skills and increasing industry involvement.

1. Spectrum Policy Forum
Cluster 4 update
Simon Pike - Chair

2. http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum
Cluster 4 Completed activities
5G Parameters
- To consider the parameters needed for coexistence studies of 5G
- In preparation for WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.13
- Two meetings held
- 4th February
- 18th March
- The first meeting was held before WP5D and was an open discussion
- The second meeting was after WP5D, and used its output as a baseline
- This topic will be handed over to Ofcom IFPG WGD (preparatory group for WP5D)
- A document summarising the conclusions in Cluster 4 is being prepared
Review of WRC process
- One meeting was held on 14th March
- A document containing SPF recommendations has been prepared
- For approval at this meeting
- This will be an input into the reviews by DCMS and Ofcom

3. http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum
Cluster 4 Future activities
Status of Commission review of Regulatory Framework for Electronic Comms
- The Commission consultation closed on 7th December 2015
- techUK submitted a response, with contribution from SPF
- The Commission has published a brief ‘summary report’ of the responses1
- It will publish a full report (synopsis) of responses ‘in due course’
- The next announcement from the Commission is expected in the autumn
Potential future activities of Cluster 4 on the review
- DCMS would welcome the view of SPF members on the spectrum paragraphs of the
summary report
- A meeting will be announced shortly to consider this
- Further meetings will be organised as Commission proposals emerge.
- Possible follow-up to paper on International Representation
- WIK Study for Commission on Regulatory Framework Review
- Proved impractical to contribute due to short timeframe
1 https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/summary-report-
public-consultation-evaluation-and-review-regulatory-framework-electronic

4. http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum
International Representation -
Ten categories of UK interest in spectrum
1) Benefits to UK citizens and consumers through spectrum use in UK
2) Benefits to UK citizens and consumers from global harmonisation
3) Opportunities and threats to UK spectrum users
4) EU policy objectives (especially binding Decisions)
5) Benefits to UK businesses from global harmonisation
- Spectrum users
- Equipment manufacturers and suppliers
6) Use of spectrum outside UK by UK businesses
- E.g. satellite operators and users, international mobile operators
7) Societal benefits
- e.g. EESS (earth observation satellites), meteorology
8) Government use of spectrum
9) Defence use of spectrum 2
10) Interests of Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.
2 Defence is distinguished from other Government uses of spectrum
because of the global dimension and the classified nature of some uses

5. http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum
International Representation -
Prioritisation of UK Objectives
Recommendation 1: Ofcom and Government should consider how all the
categories of interest of UK businesses in spectrum can be considered together
during the development of UK positions for a WRC – for example, by holding
joint or parallel consultations.
Recommendation 2: Ofcom should, in consultation with relevant UK
Stakeholders, start the development of high-level policy objectives for the
agenda items of a WRC immediately after the preceding WRC (which agrees
the agenda for the following one), before the preparatory work in CEPT or ITU
gets underway.
Recommendation 3: Ofcom and the Government Departments responsible for
the management of the IFPG committee should consider:
i) Opening more of its meetings to industry stakeholders (as was the case
before WRC-12).
ii) Making the minutes of its other meetings available to industry stakeholders
(redacted if necessary).

6. http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum
International Representation -
Diplomacy and advocacy skills
Recommendation 4: The skill set of future UK delegations to a WRC should
be reinforced to include people with experience and contacts in diplomacy, both
in the Conference itself and through Government channels (e.g. British
embassies in key countries).
Recommendation 5: UK spokespeople should receive training in advocacy
and negotiating skills when they take up these roles.
Recommendation 6: The UK relies on CEPT Coordinators for WRC agenda
items to present its positions and lead negotiations at the Conference.
Therefore, diplomacy and advocacy skills should be regarded as important
attributes in the choice of these coordinators, in addition to subject matter
expertise.

7. http://www.techuk.org/about/uk-spectrum-policy-forum
International Representation -
Increased role for industry stakeholders
Correction: in contrast to countries like USA, Germany, Japan and Brazil, which had
spokespeople from industry on contentious topics or and in positions of responsibility ...
Recommendation 7: Ofcom should consider the designation of an industry
coordinator at the WRC for appropriate agenda items, who would be a single
point of contact between the UK Coordinator and the industry stakeholders. If
there are distinct groups of UK stakeholders for an agenda item, more than one
industry coordinator may be needed.
Recommendation 8: Ofcom should consider how it can make more use of
industry delegates at WRCs. In particular, Ofcom should seek to ensure that
there is a UK delegate at all meeting sessions of interest, and should request
industry delegates to attend if it does not have resources to do so itself.
Recommendation 9: At WRC-15, industry participants on the UK delegation
were excluded from many CEPT coordination meetings, whereas industry
participants on other delegations were able to attend. There should be a
consistent policy on attendance.

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International Representation -
Other
Reviewing of proposals from other Regional Groups to a WRC
Recommendation 10: The skill set of future UK delegations to a WRC should
be reinforced to include people with experience and contacts in diplomacy, both
in the Conference itself and through Government channels (e.g. British
embassies in key countries).
Updating of the documentation describing the responsibilities of Ofcom
Recommendation 11: The current documentation on the representation of UK
in CEPT and ITU should be reviewed, updated, and consolidated into a single
document.