The Directorate for Spectrum Control (DCS) manages and carries out monitoring activities for radio equipment in space, on land or on board ships for the purpose of checking compliance with the regulation. The Regulatory conditions are defined in particular by registrations in the Agency’s legal databases (COMSIS, CAF) and those of ITU (MIFR), completed by their frequency usage permits for equipment under the auspices of ARCEP, by licences for those under the auspices of the Minister of Maritime Affairs or by an operator’s certificate for amateur stations under the auspices of DGCIC.
The DCS plans radio actions on a case-by-case basis at the request of the assigning authorities within the framework of agreements or work associated with requests from the DPSAI or the DGF.
It organises and runs the radio amateur licence examinations giving access to operator certificates for amateur services and to the restricted Radio Telephone Operator’s certificate for the mobile maritime and rivers service.
The DCS supervises the market in Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) and receives declarations of release onto the market of radio equipment using frequency bands whose use has not been harmonised throughout the whole European Community.
It handles interference compalins from TV viewers in close liaison with the Directorate for Agreements with assigning authorities.
The DCS receives and deals with international complaints concerning interference and national requests for an investigation into interference between assigning authorities. It checks the admissibility, analyses the context and investigates the origin of these, whilst providing regular information updates to the assigning authority, the service or the viewer suffering from interference. If applicable, the DCS plans and initiates technical research activities, locate and identify the origin of the interference using mobile, transportable or fixed equipment. It defines interference resolution actions, monitors their implementation and, if applicable, pursues the first stage of legal action by drawing up an infringement report, or a technical report, and sending this to prosecutors. It assists investigating officers when radio equipment is seized.
The DCS carries out spectrum monitoring activity, expert surveys, actions, research, localisation and identification of planned transmissions in situ within the framework of the activities described above using mobile, transportable or fixed equipment. It carries out studies on new measurement methods and opens a COFRAC accreditation procedure on compliance with limits, in terms of reference levels, of public exposure to levels of radio frequency ranges. It participates in consultation organisations at the request of Prefects, working closely with the DGF.
It participates in the international control of frequencies.
Working closely with the DPSAI, the DCS participates in the work of international working parties within the areas of its competency described above.