Role of Agence nationale des fr

Radio frequencies belong to the public domain of the State and are used in many fields. Radio emissions can be subject to interference and, as they have no borders, require coordination at frontiers.

The Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) is a public administrative body set up in 1997 and employing some 310 people. ANFR defends French positions at international level, manages frequency bands, authorizes radioelectric sites and monitors the spectrum (field monitoring and measurements, as part of radioelectric equipment market surveillance and the processing of claims relating to radioelectric disturbance).

There are eleven assignees made up of nine government entities: Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Defense, National Center for Space Studies, High Commissioner of the Republic or Senior Administrator in overseas collectivities (for public safety purposes and for the benefit of radio amateurs), Ministry of the Interior, Meteorological Authority, Administration des ports et de la navigation maritime, Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, Télécommunications sur les territoires français outre-mer and two independent administrative authorities, the Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes (Arcep) and the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA). Allottees have access to frequency bands that are usually shared with others.

The ANFR proposes the allocation of bands, which is adopted by its Board of Directors. The resulting Table national de répartition des bandes de fréquences (TNRBF) is signed by the Prime Minister. ANFR's management is entrusted to the Director General, appointed by decree by the President of the Republic after consultation. The Agency is organized into five departments.

• The Strategy Department is a cross-functional department responsible for studying strategic issues relating to radio frequencies and making recommendations on the economic and societal use of the frequency spectrum. It is also responsible for coordinating ANFR's work on public exposure to electromagnetic fields, and for monitoring the radioelectric equipment market.

• The Spectrum Planning and International Affairs Department manages the frequency bands: it defends French positions in international bodies and examines applications for changes of allocation in France. It coordinates border frequencies. It also manages the Fonds de réaménagement du spectre (FRS), which finances the work required to free up frequency bands.

• The Frequency Management Division maintains a register of sites and frequencies: all frequencies used on transmitters exceeding 5 W useful are authorized by ANFR, while this agreement is...