Artikel 60

1. Insofar as this Article does not provide otherwise, a force, a civilian component, their members and dependents, shall use the public telecommunications systems of the Federal Republic. Subject to other arrangements provided for by administrative agreement, such use shall be governed by the German regulations in force at the time. In the application of such regulations, the treatment accorded to a force shall be no less favourable than that accorded to the German Armed Forces.
2. To the extent required for military purposes a force may set up, operate, and maintain:
(a) telecommunication facilities (except radio installations) within accommodation used by it;
(b) radio stations for fixed services, subject to prior consultation with the German authorities;
(c) facilities for mobile radio services and radio location services;
(d) other radio receiving facilities;
(e) temporary telecommunication facilities of any kind for training exercises, manoeuvres, and in cases of emergency, in accordance with procedures agreed upon with the German authorities.
3. (a) With the consent of the German authorities a force may set up, operate, and maintain wire telecommunication facilities outside accommodation used by it if (i) compelling reasons of military security exist, or
(ii) the German authorities are either not in a position to provide, or forgo the provision of, the facilities required.
(i) compelling reasons of military security exist, or
(ii) the German authorities are either not in a position to provide, or forgo the provision of, the facilities required.
(b) Expeditious procedures for obtaining the consent of the German authorities shall be ensured by administrative agreement.
4. (a) A force may continue to operate and maintain telecommunication facilities taken into use under then existing regulations prior to the entry into force of the present Agreement.
(b) Vervallen.
5. (a) A force shall have the right to operate its own sound and television broadcasting stations for the force, the civilian component, their members and dependents, provided that such stations do not adversely affect German broadcasting services in an unreasonable manner. Subject to this condition, existing broadcasting stations of this type may continue in operation. Additional stations may be established and operated only with the agreement of the German authorities.
(b) A force, a civilian component, their members and dependents may set up and operate sound and television broadcast receiving apparatus free of charge and without individual licences, provided no electromagnetic interference is caused to radio communication services.
6. Radio frequencies together with their specific data shall be governed by the provisions of paragraph 5 of the Section of the Protocol of Signature referring to this Article.
7. a) Telecommunication facilities established by a force may be interconnected with the public telecommunication networks of the Federal Republic.
b) Telecommunication facilities of the force for interconnection with the public telecommunication networks of the Federal Republic, as well as radio installations, shall meet the basic requirements laid down in German legal regulations. Existing special features shall be taken into consideration for a transitional period. The transitional period shall not be terminated without mutual agreement between the forces and the German authorities.
c) Exceptions to the principle referred to in sub-paragraph b) of this paragraph shall only be permissible (i) for telecommunication facilities already in the possession of the force or being procured upon entry into force of the Agreement of 18 March 1993 to amend the present Agreement, or
(ii) on the basis of special agreements between the force and the Federal Minister of Posts and Telecommunications. Any questions of liability arising as a result thereof shall be settled in conformity with the provisions of existing agreements.
(i) for telecommunication facilities already in the possession of the force or being procured upon entry into force of the Agreement of 18 March 1993 to amend the present Agreement, or
(ii) on the basis of special agreements between the force and the Federal Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
8. (a) In establishing and operating telecommunication facilities, a force shall observe the provisions of the International Telecommunication Convention, done at Nairobi on 6 November 1982, or of such other instrument as may replace it and any other international instruments in the field of telecommunications binding on the Federal Republic.
(b) A force shall be exempt from the provisions referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph to the extent that such exemption is granted to the German Armed Forces under German domestic regulations.
(c) In concluding future international agreements in the field of telecommunications, the German authorities shall, after consultation with a force, give adequate consideration to the telecommunication requirements of the force.
9. (a) A force shall take all measures which can reasonably be expected of it to avoid or eliminate interference caused to German telecommunication services by the telecommunication or other electrical facilities of the force.
(b) The German authorities shall within the scope of German regulations take all measures which can reasonably be expected of them to avoid or eliminate interference caused to the telecommunication services of a force by German telecommunication or other electrical facilities.
10. At the request of a force, the Federal Minister of Posts and Telecommunications shall, within his sphere of responsibility, advocate the interests of the force in the interpretation and application of this Article.