where the bandwidth is much greater, driven by the emergence of bandwidth-intensive multi- media applications. There is currently a great deal of discussion about what to do with the analog television channels as broadcasting is required to move to digital. That spectrum is coveted by many, especially the wireless industry. Wireless Communications Regulations Issues Regulation plays a critical role in radio communications. In the early twentieth century, the first people experimenting with radio were largely amateurs. There were no laws or regulations until 1912. The first step to regulating the U.S. radio spectrum was adopted in August 1912, referred to as "An Act to Regulate Radio Communication." In 1927, the international community formed the Consultative Committee on International Radio (CCIR), which was responsible for creating international radio standards and coordinating the technical studies, tests, and measurements being car- ried out in the various fields of wireless telecommunications. In 1932, the CCIR and several other organizations (including the original ITU, which had been founded as the International Telegraph Union in 1865) merged to form what became known as the International Telecommunication Union in 1934. The ITU is organized under the United Nations. In 1992, the CCIR became the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), a standards body subcommittee of the ITU. The role of the ITU-R is to reg- ulate the allocation of radio frequencies and SO reduce the interference between radio stations in various countries. Although the ITU-R works on coordinating spectrum allocation on a global basis, it does not have the authority to mandate that countries comply with its recommendations. The ITU-R also has responsibility for regulating orbital positions of satellites relating to radio communications. In addition, it pub- lishes international engineering standard documents in its area of responsibility. The ITU-R also organizes the World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC), held periodically to address