About SFCG

• Mission Statement
• Objective
• SFCG Membership
• Authority
• Charter

Mission Statement

SFCG is the pre-eminent radio-frequency collegiate of Space Agencies and related national and international organizations through which global space systems spectrum resources are judiciously husbanded for the benefit of humanity.

Objective

The SFCG was established in order to provide a less formal and more flexible environment, as compared to the official organs of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) (i.e., Radiocommunication Bureau (RB); Radio Communication Study Groups (SG) of the Radiocommunication Bureau), for the solution of frequency management problems encountered by member space agencies. The Terms of Reference and other aspects of SFCG organization and procedures may be found in Section II of the SFCG Handbook.

The SFCG is concerned with the effective use and management of those radio frequency bands that are allocated by the Radio Regulations of the ITU to the Space Research, Space Operations, Earth Exploration Satellite, and Meteorological Satellite services. The Group will also concern itself with feeder links and data relay satellites operated in connection with these services, and with satellite-borne radio astronomy (including radar astronomy). Within the formal framework of the Radio Regulations, there is the need and opportunity for international informal agreement among participating space agencies concerning assignment of specific frequencies, and related technical issues.

The principal result of SFCG meetings is the adoption of resolutions and recommendations which express technical and administrative agreements. These agreements may be used by space agencies to make best use of allocated bands and to avoid interference.

The effectiveness of SFCG recommendations depends upon voluntary acceptance and use by member agencies. There is no formal process by which agencies formally agree to accept and be bound by SFCG recommendations.

Agency representatives that participate in SFCG meetings are generally expected to be able to speak for their agencies in an informed way and to be able to influence compliance with SFCG recommendations.

Details can be found in the SFCG Method of Operation.

SFCG Membership

Admission of new members is governed by Resolution A3-1R3. A listing of SFCG members and observers may be found on the SFCG Members page. Application by space agencies for membership can be made through the submission of a   Membership Application Form.

This website is published under the authority of the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG). Correspondence regarding the content of this website or the SFCG may be directed to:

Mr. Edoardo MARELLI
ESTEC/APP-W
Postbus 299
2200 AG Noordwijk ZH
THE NETHERLANDS
TEL: 31 71 565 4305
FAX: 31 71 565 4696
Edoardo.Marelli@esa.int

Charter

Terms of Reference of the Space Frequency Coordination Group (Resolution A6-1R2)

The SFCG,

NOTING

i) the letter of the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) of 16 January, 1980 in which he proposed the creation of SFCG and accepted that ESA provide the permanent secretariat;

ii) the importance of periodically updating its Terms of Reference;

CONSIDERING

a) that the Group has successfully conducted annual meetings since 1980;

b) that the Terms of Reference are updated periodically to maintain current relevance;

RESOLVES

To establish the following Terms of Reference:

SFCG provides a forum for multilateral discussion and coordination of spectrum matters of mutual interest concerning, in particular, the following space radiocommunication services, as defined in the ITU Radio Regulations:

• Space research
• Space operations
• Earth exploration satellite
• Meteorological satellite
• Inter-satellite
• Radionavigation satellite
• Radioastronomy and radar astronomy to the extent that they are relevant to spacecraft missions,

The agreed upon results of SFCG work will be expressed in the form of Resolutions, Recommendations, or whatever form may be appropriate for the case. SFCG members will attempt to ensure that findings of SFCG are taken into account by their agencies.

SFCG will:

• facilitate early understanding of present and future plans for space systems and services and of other systems affecting these;
• identify problem areas and coordination needs, and study potential solutions associated therewith;
• identify issues and policy matters relating to the future orderly use of the frequency bands allocated to respective space radiocommunication services;
• suggest courses of action to be taken by SFCG member agencies with regard to current and future frequency needs of the space radiocommunications services identified above,
• identify those matters for which member agencies should facilitate contributions to regional bodies (e.g. APT, CEPT, CITEL), ITU-R Study Groups; or to encourage their administrations to make proposals to ITU WRCs;
• closely cooperate in the area of frequency management with other space agencies as well as with commercial or research users of frequency bands allocated to the services identified above;
• consider any other items of technical, operational, or administrative nature which affect the interests of the Group; and
• maintain strong ties with other international bodies with related objectives.

DECIDES

to accept ESA's offer to provide the permanent Secretariat of the SFCG.