Italy

[IT] AGCOM Action Plan for the Management of DTT Frequencies

IRIS 2006-7:1/26

Maja Cappello

Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni (AGCOM)

On 22 March 2006, the Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni (Italian communications authority - AGCOM) adopted an Action Plan concerning the management of frequencies for digital terrestrial television broadcasting.

The first aim is to amend the existing regulatory framework for the assignment of spectrum capacity on the multiplexes (see IRIS 2001-4: 9), according to which independent content providers benefit by law from a 40% quota of the DTT capacity available on the multiplexes managed by the different network operators. This is to be achieved by introducing a transparent selection procedure monitored by AGCOM.

Another purpose is to revise the existing DVB-T frequency plan (see IRIS 2003-4: 9) according to the results of the Geneva negotiations of the Stockholm plan of 1961, maintaining the destination of one-third of available multiplexes to local broadcasters and ensuring a rational and efficient exploitation of the spectrum. A prerequisite for the revision of the plan is the exact knowledge of the frequencies that are used by Italian operators.

The action lines of AGCOM will thus be as follows:

- Realisation of a national database of available and employed frequencies in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications;

- Revision of the existing frequency plan in order to increase the number of national networks, taking into consideration the frequencies that must be reserved to local broadcasting;

- Resolution of interference problems in the various geographical areas, including those deriving from the spill-over from other countries;

- Survey of the difficulties originating from international coordination;

- Approval of the digitisation of the analogue networks managed by RAI and Mediaset (see IRIS 2005-5: 16) within the limits of 80% of the population and with the obligation to give exceeding frequencies back to the State;

- Introduction of a transparent procedure for the assignment of capacity to content providers, capable of ensuring the interoperability of the services;

- Adoption of a white paper on contents delivered through digital technology.