official empowered thereby shall authorize the use of radio frequencies and radio frequency bands by the Member States of NATO upon conduct of joint exercises and operations within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria in accordance with the allocation of radio frequencies and radio frequency bands for the needs of the Ministry of Defence in the National Radio Spectrum Allocation Plan. Section III Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications (Heading amended, SG No. 89/2009, effective 10.11.2009) Article 15. (Amended, SG No. 89/2009, effective 10.11.2009) The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications shall be a specialized executive authority who conducts the state policy in the sphere of electronic communications and in the sphere of Information Society. Article 16. The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications shall: 1. (amended, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) prepare and lay before the Council of Ministers for adoption electronic communications and Information Society policies, strategies, plans and programmes; 2. draft and issue or lay before the Council for Ministers for adoption statutory instruments of secondary legislation related to the implementation of the powers of the said Minister as provided for in this Act; 3. create conditions to ensure the freedom and confidentiality of communications; 4. represent the Republic of Bulgaria in the international organizations in electronic communications and Information Society; 5. (amended, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) assist the development and implementation of standards and standardization deliverables related to electronic communications and Information Society; 6. ensure the honouring of the commitments of the Republic of Bulgaria in the management of electronic communications and Information Society related to the membership of the Republic of Bulgaria in the European Union and in international organizations; 7. (new, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) participate in the preparation and coordination of the policy of the European Union in the field of scare resources in connection with the provision and efficient use necessary for the creation and functioning of the single market of the European Union in the electronic communications sector and ensuring interoperability of services; 8. (renumbered from Item 7, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) participate in the activity of the international standardization organizations and in the technical standardization committees in the Republic of Bulgaria relevant to electronic communications and Information Society; 9. (renumbered from Item 8, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) effect international registration of radio frequencies and radio frequency bands, as well as of radio equipment using such frequencies and bands; 10. (renumbered from Item 9, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) perform international coordination of radio frequencies and radio frequency bands for all radio services, as well as of the technical characteristics of the radio equipment using such frequencies and bands for the needs of national security; 11. (renumbered from Item 10, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) reach agreement and/or endorse investment programmes and projects in accordance with the priorities in Information Society and communications; 12. (renumbered from Item 11, SG No. 105/2011, effective 29.12.2011) perform inter-departmental coordination upon the drafting of drafts of statutory instruments of the Council of