98/577/EC: Commission Decision of 16 September 1998 on a common technical regulation for very small aperture terminals (VSATs) satellite earth stations operating in the 4 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands (notified under document number C(1998) 2723) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1998-09-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: computer terminal, harmonisation of standards, satellite communications, technical regulations, waveband

15. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 278/43

COMMISSION DECISION

of 16 September 1998

on a common technical regulation for very small aperture terminals (VSATs)
satellite earth stations operating in the 4 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands

(notified under document number C(1998) 2723)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(98/577/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Directive 98/13/EC of the European
Parliament and of
the Council of 12 February 1998
relating to telecommunications terminal equipment and
satellite earth station equipment, including the mutual
their conformity (1), and in particular
recognition of
Article 7(2), second indent, thereof,

Whereas the Commission has adopted the measure iden-
tifying the type of satellite earth station equipment for
which a common technical regulation is required, as well
as the associated scope statement according to Article 7(2),
first indent;

Whereas the corresponding harmonised standards, or
parts thereof,
implementing the essential requirements
which are to be transformed into common technical regu-
lations should be adopted;

Whereas in order
to ensure continuity of access to
markets for manufacturers, it is necessary to allow for
transitional arrangements regarding equipment approved
according to national type-approval regulations;

Whereas
Committee (ACTE), according to Article 29(2);

the proposal has been submitted to the

Whereas the common technical regulation to be adopted
in this Decision is in accordance with the opinion of
ACTE,

This Decision establishes a common technical regu-
2.
lation covering the very small aperture terminals (VSATs)
satellite earth stations operating in the 4 GHz and 6 GHz
frequency bands.

Article 2

1.
The common technical regulation shall include the
harmonised standard prepared by the relevant standard-
isation body implementing to the extent applicable the
essential
referred to in Article 17 of
Directive 98/13/EC. The reference to the standard is set
out in the Annex.

requirements

2.
Satellite earth station equipment covered by this
Decision shall comply with the common technical regu-
lation referred to in paragraph 1, shall meet the essential
requirements
referred to in Article 5(a) and (b) of
Directive 98/13/EC, and shall meet the requirements of
any other applicable Directives,
in particular Council
Directives 73/23/EEC (2) and 89/336/EEC (3).

Article 3

Notified bodies designated for carrying out the proced-
ures referred to in Article 10 of Directive 98/13/EC shall,
as regards satellite earth station equipment covered by
Article 1(1) of this Decision, use or ensure the use of the
harmonised standard referred to in the Annex after the
notification of this Decision.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 4

Article 1

1.
This Decision shall apply to satellite earth station
equipment falling within the scope of the harmonised
standard identified in Article 2(1).

1. National type-approval regulations covering equip-
ment within the scope of
the harmonised standard
referred to in the Annex cease to be applicable with effect
from three months after the date of adoption of this
Decision.

(1) OJ L 74, 12. 3. 1998, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 77, 26. 3. 1973, p. 29.
(3) OJ L 139, 23. 5. 1989, p. 19.

L 278/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

15. 10. 98

Satellite earth station equipment, approved under such national type-approval regula-

2.
tions may continue to be placed on the national market and put into service.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 16 September 1998.

For the Commission

Martin BANGEMANN

Member of the Commission

15. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 278/45

ANNEX

Reference to the harmonised standard applicable

The harmonised standard referred to in Article 2 of the Decision is

Satellite earth stations and systems (SES);
very small aperture terminal (VSAT) transmit-only, transmit-and-receive, receive-only satellite earth
stations operating in the 4 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands

ETSI

European Telecommunications Standards Institute

ETSI Secretariat

TBR43: May 1998

(excluding the foreword)

Additional information

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute is recognised according to Council Directive
83/189/EEC (1).

The harmonised standard referred to above has been produced according to a mandate issued in
accordance with relevant procedures of Council Directive 83/189/EEC.

The full text of the harmonised standard referred to above can be obtained from:

European Telecommunications Standards Institute
650 route des Lucioles
F-06921 Sophia Antipolis Cedex

European Commission,
DG XIII/A/2 — (BU 31, 1/7),
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200,
B-1049 Brussels

or from any other organisation responsible for making ETSI standards available, of which a list can be
found on the Internet under address www.ispo.cec.be.

(1) OJ L 109, 26. 4. 1983, p. 8.