[HCDX]: UNAUTHORISED RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIAL HFCC DATA

[Bob Padula <BPadula@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

To All:

I refer to the recent unauthorised postings on public access Web sites and
servers of confidential HF planning data, designated as "HFCC A99"
originating from a New Zealand source.

Please be advised:

1. The data, as posted, is NOT the "EBU-HFCC A99" Master File, despite the
poster's indication to the contrary

2. The data is in fact en early version of the "Asia-Pacific Broadcasting
Union HF Engineering Planning Database A99", containing tentative
registrations and assignments for the A99 period, for administrations
within the ABU. Additional data is included from the EBU-HFCC Internal
Master File, for operations coordinated with the ABU group

3. Data contained in this file includes confidential, proprietry and
classified frequency planning information prepared for the Radio
Regulations board (ITU), EBU-HFCC, and ABU-HFC, by the Australian and
United States Governments, on which had been imposed very strict "no
release" conditions.

4. Several other administrations have specific restrictions in place for
the non-release to the general public of HF planning data submitted to HFCC
and/or RRB

5. The public version of the EBU-HFCC data has been withdrawn, as of March
1999. This had previously been sponsored by the NEXUS/IRRS organisation in
Milano, Italy, and was accessable either from the European or North
American  mirrors, and also via the FCC (Washington) Web site, as the
outcomes of commercial agreements between the parties. The ABU-HFC data was
never available publicly.

6. The internal EBU/ASBU-HFCC master file was and is a classified document,
and edited extracts from it constituted the public version.

7. Access to either the EBU or ABU Master Files is restricted to people
with a need-to-know, and who have been cleared to receive it. Parties are
not authorised to release any, or all of this data to others. Actual
operating schedules are derived from the HFCC data and are released to the
general public directly by administrations, either via hard copy or
Internet. In many instances those schedules differ from planning proposals
submitted to HFCC/RRB

8. Access to the EBU-HFCC Master File is normally limited to participants
attending the bi-annual HFCC conferences (such as took place in Lisbon
during February 1999), their parent organisations, and members of the
ABU-HFC, on a strictly controlled "need-to-know" basis.

9. The EBU-HFCC Master File also contains assignments requested by the Arab
States Broadcasting Union representatives (ASBU).

10. Many assignments contained in the EBU and ABU master files overlap, due
to the impact of relay and reciprocal operations across the various
geographical regions.

11. Several administrations participate as "observers", not linked directly
ether to the EBU/ASBU or ABU. Their requirements are integrated
accordingly.

12. Contrary to the advice given in the unauthorised posting, I know of no
proposal for the ABU confidential data to be provided to members of the
general public. Neither am I aware of any plans for early release of the
EBU/ASBU data on public access servers, either from NEXUS or anywhere else.

13. The public release of the ABU data is to be condemned, posted by
someone who is neither in the "need-to-know" category, nor is cleared to
view or receive this material. I cannot support the excuse offered that he
was unaware of any restrictions on forwading this data to others. All
information is Copyright, at the moment of its publication, and I regard it
as astonishing that someone would distribute a 500K compressed file
globally, without recognising its confidentiality. We are not talking about
a trivial set of data concerning the schedule of some minor broadcaster,
but rather high level, sensitive, and confidential information of strategic
and commercial importance.


Regards

Bob Padula,
ENGINEERING CONSULTANT - INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING

Bob Padula,
404 Mont Albert Road,
Surrey Hills,
Victoria 3127,
Australia

Tel/FAX:
+61 3 9898 2906

Mobile: 
0409 948 660

E-mail:
bpadula@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
bobpadula@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



* Copies of this message are being forwarded to relevant personnel within
the HFCC, ITU, IBB, FCC, Radio Australia, and NEXUS/IRRS organisations.
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