Article 5

1.

The continued availability of the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band for automotive short-range radar applications shall be kept under active scrutiny to ensure that the main premise of opening this band to such systems remains valid, which is that no harmful interference is caused to other users of the band, in particular through the timely verification of:

(a)

the total number of vehicles registered, placed on the market or put into service equipped with 24 GHz automotive short-range radar in each Member State, to verify that this number does not exceed the level of 7 % of the total number of vehicles in circulation in each Member State;

(b)

whether adequate information has been made available by Member States or by manufacturers and importers regarding the number of 24 GHz short-range radar-equipped vehicles for the purpose of monitoring effectively the use of the 24 GHz band by automotive short-range radar equipment;

(c)

whether the individual or cumulative use of 24 GHz automotive short-range radar is causing or is likely to cause within a short period of time harmful interference to other users in the 24 GHz band or in adjacent bands in at least one Member State, whether or not the threshold referred to in (a) has been reached;

(d)

the continuing appropriateness of the reference date.

2.

In addition to the review process in paragraph 1, a fundamental review shall be carried out by 31 December 2009 at the latest to verify the continuing relevance of the initial assumptions concerning the operation of automotive short-range radar in the 24 GHz range radio spectrum band, as well as to verify whether the development of automotive short-range radar technology in the 79 GHz range is progressing in such a way as to ensure that automotive short-range radar applications operating in this radio spectrum band will be readily available by 1 July 2013.

3.

The fundamental review may be triggered by a reasoned request by a member of the Radio Spectrum Committee, or at the Commission’s own initiative.

4.

The Member States shall assist the Commission to carry out the reviews referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 by ensuring that the necessary information is collected and provided to the Commission in a timely manner, in particular the information set out in the Annex.