ITU member countries were asked to approve work on 11 new matters...

October meeting. Reports and ITU- R recommendations should result from studying performance objectives of digital links in the fixed-satellite and mobile-satellite services in the next generation network, the letter said. Studies on the availability and performance of digital paths in the mobile-satellite services also should produce reports and recommendations. Other studies will take up satellite broadcasting of HDTV signals and its compatibility with standard-definition TV and with other services sharing broadcasting satellite service in the 12, 17 and 21 GHz bands. Other subjects will include receiving earth station broadcasting satellite service, digital techniques for sound and television in the broadcasting satellite service, spectrum management and frequency sharing issues for sound broadcasting by satellite to portable and vehicular receivers in the 1 to 3 GHz frequency range, a 2.6 GHz band allocation to the fixed-satellite service (space-to- Earth) in the Americas and Asia and to the mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space), and a World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 resolution called for convening a conference on the broadcasting-satellite service (sound). The study group on satellite services will look at digital broadcasting of multiple services and programs in the broadcasting- satellite service, as well as out-of-band spurious emission limits for various satellite services.