Council Directive 86/529/EEC of 3 November 1986 on the adoption of common technical specifications of the MAC/packet family of standards for direct satellite television broadcasting

COUNCIL  DIRECTIVE
of 3 November 1986
on the adoption of common technical specifications of the MAC/packet family of standards for direct satellite television broadcasting
(86/529/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas, in the near future, satellites for direct television broadcasting will be brought into service by several European countries and subsequently new television sets corresponding to public needs will be introduced by the manufacturers;
Whereas the use of common technical specifications for direct satellite broadcasting of television programmes and possibly for their redistribution by cable is necessary in order to attain the objectives set out hereafter;
Whereas the implementation of common technical specifications simplifies the broadcasting of television programmes in all countries of the Community and makes a significant contribution to European unification and to the development of a true European identity;
Whereas the technical capability to transmit simultaneously on several sound channels opens the way to truly pan-European multilingual television programmes;
Whereas the implementation of common technical specifications leads to the creation of a large unified market, on which products will be freely exchanged without any technical barriers, which will be of great economic benefit for the European consumer electronics industry as regards its competitiveness;
Whereas it is indispensable that a guarantee be given to manufacturers and operators in respect of their investments and supplies, by the application of common technical standards at Community level;
Whereas the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the European manufacturers of the relevant branch represented by their associations have perfected and published technical specifications forming part of the MAC/packet family for the direct television breoadcasting and the redistribution of programmes by cable; whereas these specifications have been confirmed at international level by the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR);
Whereas the MAC/packet family now includes:
- for direct satellite broadcasting: the system C-MAC/packet and the system D2-MAC/packet with frequency modulation,
- for cable distribution: the system D-MAC/packet and the system D2-MAC/packet;
Whereas these systems are very largely compatible with each other on the operational level;
Whereas these systems make it possible to meet the service and economic requirements in the different national contexts;
Whereas, in view of the foreseeable technical progress in this sector, account should now be taken of any subsequent developments of the existing systems and provision made for an eventual review of this Directive,