FAQ on Radio Regulations Board

The RRB has several main functions:

Considers reports of harmful interference investigations carried out by ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau (“the Bureau”) at the request of one or more Administrations (Member States) and formulates Recommendations to resolve such disputes between
Administrations.
Approves Rules of Procedure, which provide guidelines for the application of the Radio Regulations by the Bureau and for registering frequency assignments to Member States.
Addresses matters referred by the Bureau that cannot be resolved through application of the Radio Regulations and Rules of Procedure.
Considers appeals against Decisions made by the Radiocommunication Bureau regarding frequency assignments.
Advises the ITU Radiocommunication Assembly (RA) and the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) on matters related to the Radio Regulations.
Performs any additional duties prescribed by a competent conference or by the ITU Council.

The Radio Regulations Board consists of twelve members who are experts in the field of radiocommunications with practical experience in the assignment and utilization of radio frequencies. RRB members are elected by ITU’s principal governing body, the quadrennial ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. Seats are allocated as follows: The Americas (2 seats); Western Europe (2 seats); Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (2 seats); Africa (3 seats); Asia and Australasia (3 seats). Board members serve on a part-time basis and may serve up to two four-year terms.

Although Board members are elected from different regions, they serve as independent custodians of the radio-frequency spectrum as an international public trust. Board members do not represent their respective Member States or regions.

The twelve elected members of the RRB participate in meetings alongside representatives of the Secretariat staff. To support the RRB’s aim to resolve matters impartially and fairly, RRB sessions are not open to outside participation.

The Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau acts as Executive Secretary of the RRB. In this position, the Director leads the Secretariat effort to provide services to the RRB, that include:

Prepares and submits draft Rules of Procedure for consideration and approval by the Radio Regulations Board.
Reports to the Board information received from Administrations in the application of the Radio Regulations, Regional Agreements, and their associated Rules of Procedure.
Applies the Rules of Procedure approved by the Board, prepares and publishes findings based on those Rules, and submits to the Board any review of a finding requested by an Administration that cannot be resolved using those Rules of Procedure.
Assists in resolving cases of harmful interference at the request of one or more Administrations. When necessary, investigates and prepares a report including draft Recommendations to the Administrations concerned for the Board to consider.

The Executive Secretary does not have voting rights on the RRB.

The Agenda is set according to Submissions received from Member States and is adopted by the RRB at the beginning of each meeting. Submissions to Board sessions can refer to instances of harmful interference, unauthorized use of radio frequencies, and other matters within the RRB’s purview. The full RRB Agenda is not a public document. A list of Contributions provides the formal heading of each Submission and is publicly available on the RRB website. Late Submissions may be considered as part of an RRB agenda. The list of Late Submissions is also publicly available. While ITU can confirm what Submissions have been received, the organization is not in the position to specify the details of the Submissions, characterize the Submissions, or provide information that is not in the Submission title.

Harmful interference is defined as interference that endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or other safety services, or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication service, including from satellites, operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations.

Harmful interference, blocking, jamming or degradation of service can take place for a wide range of reasons which can be either accidental or intentional. In general, all stations, whatever their purpose, must be established and operated in such a manner as not to cause harmful interference to radio services or communications that operate in accordance with the Radio Regulations.

The application​ of the ITU Radio Regulations is the best instrument to keep interference levels under control and to prevent harmful interference. The Radio Regulations also contain other corrective measures to be applied when harmful interference occurs.

Additional information is available on this ITU Backgrounder.
Answers to frequently asked questions on interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can be found here.

Cases in which concerned Administrations are unable to bilaterally resolve harmful interference may be communicated to ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau with a request for assistance.

When harmful interference is referred to the Radiocommunication Bureau, the Bureau supports efforts to resolve matters between Administrations based on the Radio Regulations. In part, the Bureau contacts the Administration where the radio station responsible for harmful interference is located – or which is responsible for the space station in the case of satellites – and requests the Administration to take prompt action to eliminate it.

In cases that remain unresolved despite the assistance provided by the Bureau, matters are referred to the RRB.

When a case of harmful interference is referred to the Radio Regulations Board, the RRB examines the investigation details and seeks to obtain a resolution based on the Radio Regulations. The Board aims to resolve the issue impartially and fairly, often through coordination and cooperation between the affected parties.

In cases of harmful interference, the objective of the RRB is to resolve the matter to allow for the operation of radiocommunications services free of harmful interference in accordance with the rights and obligations of Administrations under the Radio Regulations. 

The Board’s Decisions can take different forms depending on each case and to fit the context of the situation, such as calling for cooperation from all concerned administrations in resolving the case, activating the international monitoring system to locate the source of the interference, or other technical measures. Typically, these Decisions address the Administration where the radio station which may be causing harmful interference is located or which is responsible for the space station in case of satellites. The Board endeavours to reach its Decisions unanimously. If it cannot do so, a Decisioncan be taken if at least two-thirds of the members of the Board vote in favour thereof.

Past Summaries of Decisions from RRB sessions are available here.

The RRB relies on Administrations to act on its Decisions in accordance with their rights and obligations under the Radio Regulations. RRB Decisions are specific to each individual matter brought before the Board and, when implemented, should resolve the case of harmful interference being addressed. If left unresolved, Administrations may bring the matter back to attention of the RRB.

In cases of harmful interference that remain unresolved or contested, the Board’s Decisions and technical guidance, are the tools available to the RRB and ITU to ensure radiocommunications operate free from harmful interference. The RRB cannot impose sanctions or other measures.

RRB Decisions may be appealed to the subsequent World Radiocommunication Conference. These are generally related to decisions about frequency assignments, not cases of harmful interference.

The Rules of Procedure are detailed guidelines that the RRB approves and the Radiocommunication Bureau uses to apply the provisions of the Radio Regulations. They provide additional details, as necessary, for applying various provisions of the Radio Regulations to ensure their correct and uniform application across all ITU member states.

Only Member States can make submissions to the RRB. They can submit their queries or cases of interference to the Bureau, which will then forward the relevant information to the RRB for consideration.

The RRB supports World Radiocommunication Conferences by providing expert advice, as requested, on matters before the Conference. Also, the RRB reports to each WRC on the results of its studies on how the application of the radio regulations promote efficient use and equitable access to the radio spectrum. These reports, along with RRB Recommendations and prior Decisions, can influence the outcomes of the WRCs, ensuring that the Radio Regulations remain effective and up to date.

The RRB oversees the application of the Radio Regulations, including the process through which Member States assign frequencies to specific satellite networks along with their associated orbits.

The RRB normally meets three times a year to address matters brought to it by the Radiocommunication Bureau, via the BR Director’s Report to the RRB, or through the Submissions of ITU Member States.