The ITU Radio Regulations (short: RR) is a basic document of the
International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies. It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Unio ...
(ITU) that regulates on law of nations scale
radiocommunication service
Radio communication service or radiocommunication service is according to Article 1.19 of the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations (ITU RR),ITU Radio Regulations, Section III – Radio services, Article 1.19, definition: Ra ...
s and the utilisation of
radio frequencies
Radio frequency (RF) is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic, electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around to around . This is roughly between the upper ...
. It is the supplementation to the
ITU Constitution and Convention and in line with the ITU
International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR). The ITU RR comprise and regulate the part of the allocated
electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies (the spectrum) of electromagnetic radiation and their respective wavelengths and photon energies.
The electromagnetic spectrum covers electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging fro ...
(also:
radio frequency spectrum) from 9 kHz to 275 GHz.
Structure
The current approved version of the ITU Radio Regulations (addition 2012) is structured as follows:
Volume 1 – Articles
* CHAPTER I – Terminology and technical characteristics
**Section I – General terms (article 1.1-1.15)
**Section II – Specific terms related to frequency management (article 1.16-1.18)
**Section III –
Radiocommunication service
Radio communication service or radiocommunication service is according to Article 1.19 of the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations (ITU RR),ITU Radio Regulations, Section III – Radio services, Article 1.19, definition: Ra ...
s (article 1.19-1.60)
**Section IV –
Radio stations and systems (article 1.61-1.115)
**Section V – Operational terms (article 1.116-1.136)
**Section VI – Characteristics of Emissions and Radio Equipment (article 1.137-1.165)
**Section VII – Frequency Sharing (article 1.166-1.176)
**Section VIII – Technical terms relating to space (article 1.177-1.191)
* CHAPTER II – Frequencies
* CHAPTER III – Coordination, notification and recording of frequency assignments and Plan modifications
* CHAPTER IV – Interferences
* CHAPTER V – Administrative provisions
* CHAPTER VI – Provisions for
services and
stations
* CHAPTER VII – Distress and safety communications
* CHAPTER VIII –
Aeronautical services
* CHAPTER IX –
Maritime services
* CHAPTER X – Provisions for entry into force of the Radio Regulations
Volume 2 – Appendices
Volume 3 – Resolutions and Recommendations
Volume 4 – ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by reference
Maps to be used in relation to Appendix 27
Definitions
The ''Radio Regulations'' define:
* the allocation of different frequency bands to different radio services;
* the mandatory technical parameters to be observed by radio stations, especially transmitters;
* procedures for the coordination (ensuring technical compatibility) and notification (formal recording and protection in the Master International Frequency Register) of frequency assignments made to radio stations by national governments;
* other procedures and operational provisions.
Update
The drafting, revision and adoption of the ''Radio Regulations'' is the responsibility of the
World Radiocommunication Conference
The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is a conference organized by the ITU to review and, as necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum as well as geostationary and ...
s (WRCs) of the ITU, meetings of which are typically held every three or four years.
Recent WRCs are:
* Geneva, 1995 (WRC-95)
* Geneva, 1997 (WRC-97))
* Istanbul, 2000 (WRC-2000)
* Geneva, 2003 (WRC-03)
* Geneva, 2007 (WRC-07)
* Geneva, 2012 (WRC-12)
* Geneva, 2015 (WRC-15)
* Sharm el-Sheikh, 2019 (WRC-19)
The most recent published version of the ''Radio Regulations'', the "Edition of 2016"
[Edition of 2016](_blank)
/ref> contains the complete texts of the ''Radio Regulations'' as adopted and revised by WRC-15, including all articles, appendices, resolutions, and a subset of the recommendations issued by ITU-R
The ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is one of the three sectors (divisions or units) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is responsible for radio communications.
Its role is to manage the international radio-frequency sp ...
(previously known as the CCIR) (those "recommendations" which have a mandatory nature, as a result of being cited in the ''Radio Regulations'').
The "Edition of 2020", adopted and reviewed by the WRC-19, is scheduled for publication in October 2020.[Edition of 2020](_blank)
/ref>Edition of 2020 - Publication notice
/ref>
References
External links
''Radio Regulations'' website
World Radiocommunication Conferences website
* {{webarchive , url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120803034923/http%3A//www.itu.int/en/history/radioregulations/Pages/radioregulations.aspx , title=Historic editions of the Radio Regulations (History of ITU Portal) , date=2012-08-03
100 Years of ITU Radio Regulations (1906-2006)
100 years of International Radio Regulations
(including selected sections)
ICT Regulation Toolkit
by infoDev in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union