Views are being sought by the Radiocommunications Agency on whether details of radio assignments could in future be made public.

At present, license details are treated as confidential, but the R.A. says that moves towards electronic licensing, online assignments, and eventually spectrum trading are creating a need for more information on the use of the radio spectrum to be placed in the public domain.

A new consultation document issued by the Agency proposes the publication of frequency assignments and the locations of base stations and mast sites, though it suggests identifying license holders by general labels rather than revealing personal information.

Launching the consultation, e-commerce minister Douglas Alexander said "Radio spectrum is an invaluable national asset and it is vital that it is managed in an open and transparent way, and as efficiently as possible.

Access to information about licences and frequencies is key to bringing the licensing process into the electronic age, as well as developing a marketplace for spectrum trading."

Freer access to license details will also help resolve interference problems and will encourage the industry to share mast sites, the Government hopes.

The proposals apply to a wide range of civil radio licence holders, from public to private business network operators. One option now being considered by the R.A. is to offer the information on a CD-ROM available by monthly subscription.

Source : Land Mobile Magazine Feb 2002

Comment

Not before time! I have never understood why the British Government are so secretive about things like this. Surely we have a right to know what transmissions are taking place in the air all around us. Especially bearing in mind the recent scares over mobile phone masts it would seem to me not to be too much to ask. In fact we should be told the exact power levels being used.

After reading the document which is available by clicking hereit is clear that some of the more interesting frequencies such as police will still remain confidential and for those that are published, only limited information will be released.

Still, it's a step in the right direction. Eventually we may adopt America's attitude that every citizen has the right to monitor their local police communications.