INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
RADIOCOMMUNICATION
ADVISORY GROUP
Document RAG2002-1/21-E
6 February 2002
Original: English
GENEVA, 25 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH 2002
Director, BR
BR PUBLICATION ACTIVITIES – 2001
1.
Year 2001 publications
All ITU-R Publications are available on the web at the following address:
http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/index.html
1.1
Study Group Publications
1.1.1
2000 Volumes of ITU-R Recommendations
During 2001, all Recommendations in force following the Radiocommunication Assembly
(Istanbul, 2000) have been published in the 2000 Series Volumes of ITU-R Recommendations, e.g.
32 Volumes including 897 Recommendations in force for a total 10413 pages per language
(English, French and Spanish).
In parallel, these Recommendations as well as all Recommendations approved after the
Radiocommunication Assembly by correspondence and those reviewed according to Resolution
ITU-R 44 are published on the web and on CD-ROM.
139 new or revised Recommendations and 56 editorial updates were prepared for the web and CDROM in 2001, involving the preparation, alignment and checking of 3696 pages of text per
language (English, French and Spanish) and associated figures.
1.1.2
Reports
Two reports were published on paper and/or on the web in 2000, involving the preparation,
alignment and checking of 66 pages of text per language (English, French and Spanish) and
associated drawings. By nature, the information contained in Reports tends to be of interest for a
limited period only, or it is revised frequently. Consequently, and taking into account the low level
of demand for Reports on paper, an increasing number of Reports will be published on the web
only.
1.1.3
Handbooks
A new version of the handbook on satellite communications was completed during 2001. This
involved the checking of 1000 pages per language. This handbook will be published externally. The
handbook on Land mobile (including wireless access – Volume 1 (2nd edition) was published in
English (192 pages) in 2001. The French and Spanish versions will be published in 2002. The
attached Table shows the complete list of handbooks to be published in 2002-2003.
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Handbooks to be published in 2002-2003
Publication
date
Estimated
pages
February 2002
1000
February 2002
(F and S)
202
- Volume 3 (Dispatch systems)
2003
150
- Volume 4 (TICS)
2002
50
A guide to digital terrestrial television broadcasting in
the VHF/UHF bands
2002
280
Digital sound broadcasting
2002
400
May 2002
140
Handbook on space research
2002
200
Use of radio frequency spectrum for meteorology
2002
120
Mobile satellite communications
2003
150
Adaptive HF systems and networks
2003
100
Radiowave propagation information for predictions
for terrestrial path communications
2003
150
Radiowave propagation information for predictions
for signal levels likely to cause interference and for
evaluation of coordination distances
2003
150
Spectrum monitoring handbook (revision)
2002
500
Handbook on IMT-2000 deployment
2002
200
Title
Handbook on satellite communications (FSS)
(Published externally)
Land mobile (including wireless access)
- Volume 1 (FWA) (revision) (English
published)
Terrestrial land mobile radio propagation in the
VHF/UHF bands
1.2
Regulatory publications (including publication of service documents)
1.2.1 In 2001, the preparation of the regulatory publications and the service documents followed
the standard pattern, as foreseen in the Operational Plan.
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1.2.2 With regard to the basic regulatory publication, the “BR International Frequency
Information Circular” (BRIFIC on the CD-ROM), which represents a consolidated regulatory
publication in pursuance to the Radio Regulations (Articles 9 and 11, Appendices 25, 26, 30, 30A
and 30B) and various Regional Agreements, twenty-five regular issues were published in 2001 on a
bi-weekly basis (Nos. 2435 to 2459).
For space services, each IFIC CD-ROM contains (in pdf format) the various parts for publication of
the notification process (Part I-S, II-S and III-S), as well as the special sections relating to space
services. It also contains:
-
an Access database - the Space Circular database, containing an extract from the SNS, as
well as the GIMS (Graphical Interference Management System) database;
-
the Preface (Space Services);
-
on a quarterly basis, the SNL (Space Networks List) publication;
-
based on the instructs BR 3 of RES 55 (WRC-2000), space filings “as received” by the
BR;
-
the payment status of invoices that have been issued for cost recovery of satellite
network filings;
-
the BR space software for data capture, query, publication, and validation
-
space related BR Circular Letters.
All of this information is also posted on the ITU Web site at: http://www.itu.int/brspace/
As far as terrestrial services are concerned, each IFIC contains, in Access database format, the complete
and the permanently updated IFL, the updated versions of the terrestrial frequency assignment plans, as
well as details on the transactions (frequency assignment notices) in progress. It also contains the
permanently updated Preface, as well as software for validation of notices to terrestrial services. It also
contains particulars of FXM notices treated under the provisional arrangements, including information
on the provisional findings for FXM notices in the bands that are not shared with space services. As a
complement to this publication, relevant extracts from the CD-ROM (Special sections, index of notices
under treatment comprising incremental changes in the last edition of BRIFIC compared with the
previous one, FXM data, etc.) are also posted on the ITU Web site.
1.2.3 The other regulatory publication, as required for the application of the procedures of Article S12
of the Radio Regulations (Seasonal planning of the HF bands allocated to the broadcasting service),
resulted in the publication of eleven CD-ROMs in 2001, which contain, inter alia, HFBC schedules,
results of compatibility analysis and the latest version of the HFBC software.
1.2.4 The publication of service documents, as listed in Article S20 of the Radio Regulations,
followed the dynamics indicated in the Operational Plan and specified in the concerned publication
notices, notably:
-
List of Coast Stations (List IV): two supplements (Nos. 2 and 3 to the 17th edition of the
List): 394 pages.
-
List of ship stations (List V): one supplement to the 40th edition, the 41st edition itself and
one supplement to the 41st edition: 3 371 pages and 2 CD-ROM. It is to be noted that, in
response to several categories of users, the 41st edition of List V (and its supplement) was
published in a combined format: paper version containing particulars of all ship stations that
are normally engaged on international voyages, and a CD-ROM version containing the
complete information on all ship stations included in the ITU database on ship stations. The
innovative approach is widely accepted by the customers.
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-
List of Radiodetermination and Special Service Stations (List VI): two supplements (Nos. 2
and 3 to the 14th edition): 154 pages.
-
List of Call-signs of Maritime mobile Stations (List VIIA): one supplement to the 19th
edition (No. 7), the 20th edition of the list itself and two supplements to the 20th edition (Nos.
1 and 2): 3880 pages. It is to be noted that, due to increased volume of the information, the
20th edition was published in two volumes.
-
List of call signs of stations other than the amateur stations, experimental stations and
stations of the maritime mobile service (List VIIB): two supplements to the 16th edition
(Nos. 2 and 3): 53 pages. It is to be noted that these were the last activities with respect to
this publication, which is discontinued with effective date of 31 December 2001,
consequential to the decisions of WRC-2000.
-
List of Monitoring Stations (List VIII): one complete edition (9th edition): 150 pages.
1.2.5 In addition to the standard treatment of notifications from administrations related to the
above publications, activities were also undertaken on the publication of the relevant information in
the ITU Operational Bulletin. The Bureau also continues to maintain and to update, on a regular
basis, the ship-station database for use by the maritime mobile access and retrieval system (MARS).
Pursuant to the request from Cospas-Sarsat, and following the meeting of WP 8B, arrangements
were considered for enhancing the search capabilities of MARS.
1.2.6 In 2001, preparatory activities were undertaken with a view to the publication, in 2002, of
the next edition of the “Manual for use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite
Services”, and which incorporates the modifications performed at WRC-2000 and RA-2000
(English: 538 pages, French: 547 pages, Spanish: 551 pages).
1.3
Radio Regulations
The Radio Regulations were published in January 2002, both in paper (A4 and A5 editions) and
electronic format on CD-ROM and on the web. This involved the preparation, alignment and
checking of 2070 pages of text per language (English, French and Spanish) as well as the whole
series of maps to be used in association with Appendix 27 which were redrawn and reformatted to
take into account the new reprographic equipment available in the Common Services Department.
1.4
Rules of Procedure
From 1999, the Rules of Procedure were published in a loose-leaf binder to allow easy updating.
Following meetings of the Radio Regulations Board, 4 updates were published in 2001. Updates are
available, free of charge, from the ITU web site. A new edition of the complete set of Rules of
Procedure will be published in 2002.
2.
Electronic publications
2.1.
CD-ROM publications
Two CD-ROMs of ITU-R Recommendations were published in 2001. In order to reduce the timeto-market of ITU-R Recommendations, it was decided in 2001 to include the pre-published
Recommendations in the CD-ROM.
Considering the large number of Recommendations approved by correspondence each year, the
CD-ROM is now published in March and September every year. Customers have the option of
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buying a single edition or an annual subscription (2 editions). The price of the CD-ROMs has been
reduced by 10% in 2001 (single edition 600 CHF, annual subscription 850 CHF).
2.2
Online subscription service
All Recommendations in force are made available online, and access to draft, pre-published and
superseded Recommendations is now included in the annual Online subscription.
2.3
Electronic Bookshop
The Electronic Bookshop enables the purchase of individual documents via the Web, with payment
made by account or credit card. In force, draft, pre-published and superseded Recommendations are
available. Draft and pre-published Recommendations were originally priced at 3 times the price of
Recommendations in force. Since 1 January 2001, the price of draft and pre-published
Recommendations has been reduced to equal the price of Recommendations in force.
ITU-R Reports are also available through the Electronic Bookshop, though older Reports dating
from 1990 have not been posted because they are not available in electronic format. Other
publications include the Final Acts of WRC-2000, the Radio Regulations (2000 edition), the Rules
of Procedure and the Maritime Manual.
2.4
Free Services
Since 1 January 2001, the public may now download up to 3 ITU Recommendations per year, free
of charge. It is hoped that this offer will promote the ITU's role in establishing international
standards for telecommunications, enhance the dissemination of ITU Recommendations and
encourage subsequent sales of ITU publications.
The complete texts of all ITU-R Resolutions, Opinions and Questions were kept updated online as a
free service. Updates to the Rules of Procedure are also provided, free of charge, on the ITU web.
The 2001 List of ITU-R Recommendations is now available on paper from the ITU Sales and
Marketing Service. This List is kept updated online and is also included on the ITU’s free
Catalogue of Publications CD-ROM.
3.
Observations
3.1
New Document Management System
For a decade, access to ITU Recommendations via the web was made possible by using ITUDOC.
This system was aging and security and reliability were not guaranteed any longer. A new
Document Management System, based on Documentum, was developed and implemented in 2001,
offering easier access to ITU Recommendations. This system will also facilitate the management of
single master copies of documents, solving a recurring problem of the standardization process.
3.2
Publication delay
Prior to the Radiocommunication Assembly, the objective of making Recommendations available
online within one month of their approval was generally met. Following the Assembly, however,
this objective was not able to be met for all Recommendations. This is because so many
Recommendations were approved by the Assembly simultaneously and because the publications
staff were also occupied with the World Radiocommunication Conference. From the publication
perspective, it is preferable that Recommendations be approved by correspondence so that the
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publication work is more evenly distributed throughout the year. Disassociating the Assembly from
the WRC in time would also greatly assist in avoiding this peak workload.
This problem was increased by the priority given in 2001 to the preparation of the Radio
Regulations (see Table 1).
Table 1 - Recommendations approved & posted in 2001 (by month)
60
1400
1200
50
1000
40
800
Recommendations approved
Recommendations posted
30
Pages approved
600
Pages posted
20
400
10
200
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However, once the preparation of the RR was completed and the new DMS fully implemented for
Recommendations, preparation and posting of new and revised Recommendations again reached
appropriate levels (see Table 2).
As a result, the number of Recommendations still to be published at the end of year 2001 is almost
at the same level as at the end of year 2000 (See Table 3).
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Table 2 - Recommendations approved & posted (moving annual production)
160
3000
140
2500
120
2000
100
Recommendations approved
80
Recommendations posted
1500
Pages approved
Pages posted
60
1000
40
500
20
0
0
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Table 3 - Recommendations still to be published and posted (at the end of each month in 2001)
120
2500
100
2000
80
1500
Recs to be published
60
Pages to be published
1000
40
500
20
0
0
j
f
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3.3
Advertising
Notwithstanding the lack of resources in marketing, the BR has been further exploring the
possibility to include advertising in ITU-R publications. An experiment has been launched to
include advertisement in the Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring. Some 50 companies have been
approached and feedback is expected by the end of March 2002, with a view to reduce the price of
the Handbook for ITU customers.
__________________
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