Why the World Radiocommunication Conference Continues to be Relevant Today

I. INTRODUCTION 287 II. WHAT IS THE WRC? 288 III. WHY IS THE WRC RELEVANT TODAY? 291 A. Harmonization of Spectrum 291 B. Creating Technical and Operational Certainty 296 IV. CONCLUSION 298 I. INTRODUCTION The World Radiocommunication Conference ("WRC" or "Conference") is held every three to four years to ensure that on a global and regional basis the radiocommunications spectrum resource is used efficiently, that new radiocommunications services can be deployed, and that existing radiocommunications services are protected from harmful interference. At this year's Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, spectrum was allocated to further the deployment of many exciting uses of the radiocommunications spectrum, including wireless access ("wi-fi") services, (1) broadband wireless services on airplanes and ships, and additional data services over satellites. Despite the accomplishments of past WRCs, some have argued that the WRC process is outdated and slow, and that it should be phased out. While improvements certainly can be made to further streamline the WRC process, the WRC remains an integral part of the world's ability to use the radiocommunications spectrum resource as effisiently as possible and to ensure the deployment of new and innovative services to consumers. In particular, the WRC is extremely important in accomplishing two critical goals in managing the radiocommunications spectrum on a global basis. First, the WRC provides an international forum to maximize the global harmonization of the radiocommunications spectrum resource. Second, the WRC decision-making process creates technical and operational certainty for new and existing users. These two components often overlap. This article examines why these two critical functions, in addition to the traditional WRC functions of spectrum allocation and protection of existing radiocommunications services, ensure that the WRC process is essential for sound global spectrum management into the twenty-first century. II. WHAT IS THE WRC? The WRC process is a tremendous undertaking to arrive at a consensus on a wide range of spectrum-related issues. Each WRC is attended by as many as 170 countries and must conclude in a four-week period of time. The WRC is one of the key activities of the International Telecommunications Union ("ITU"). The ITU is an international treaty-based organization that is affiliated with the United Nations. Its mission is to bring together the world's countries to coordinate global telecommunications networks and services. (2) The ITU is comprised of three sectors: the Radiocommunications Sector ("ITU-R"), (3) the Telecommunications Standardization Sector ("ITU-T"), (4) and the Telecommunications Development Sector ("ITU-D"). (5) WRCs are held under the auspices of the ITU-R. The main role of the ITU-R is to help manage the world's radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. A major part of this task is to administer the ITU's Radio Regulations, which is a treaty document that includes the International Table of Frequency Allocations and accompanying technical rules. As part of this process, WRCs are held every three to four years to examine and adopt appropriate changes to the Radio Regulations. Specifically, each Conference is able to (1) adopt changes that allocate spectrum for deployment of new services, (2) protect existing services from harmful interference, and (3) adopt accompanying technical rules. (6) Since not all spectrum-related issues can be addressed at each Conference, every WRC follows an established agenda which is finalized at the prior WRC. The agenda for upcoming Conferences is often one of the most controversial items discussed at the WRC. Member states often have very strong views on what items should be considered and what items should not be considered at each future Conference. …