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Crucial Week for reform of telecoms regulation
By Glen Calleja in Brussels
Sep 18, 2008 - 1:00:00 AM
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This is a crucial week for the future of the regulation of services relating to telecoms in Europe as MEPs are finalizing discussions on the new regulatory package revising legislation on electronic communications (such as mobile and fixed telephony, broadcasting, internet, etc.).
Though widely regarded as new legislation, there is a strong emphasis from proponents of the package within the European Parliament that this is mere reform of existing legislation and not anything radically new. “This is not new regulation,” said MEP Malcolm Harbour from the United Kingdom, “it is merely a reform that enhances and protects the rights of consumers.”
It is expected that if the package is accepted, after the first reading vote in plenary which is expected to take place on 24 September in Strasbourg, consumers should benefit from new applications (such as mobile TV or improved broadband internet access) and better interoperability of electronic services.
This legislative package, proposed by the European Commission last November, aims to improve competition and to eliminate observed barriers in the already liberalised market, while assuring consumer protection.
The reform of radio spectrum management, which will become more flexible, aims to facilitate access of operators and to promote innovation. The Commission's proposals expand the tools available to national regulatory authorities and create a European Market Authority.
Consumer rights are an important part of the package as legislators aim to enhance transparency on prices and contract terms, improve facilities for people with disabilities and enhance privacy protection. The proposals also aim to increase the security of the system in order to boost trust of businesses and consumers in e-communications.
The telecoms package reforms the current set of rules dating from 2002 and consists of:
i) a directive on the regulatory framework, access and authorisation of electronic communications networks and services.
ii) a directive on universal service, users' rights, processing of personal data and protection of privacy.
iii) a regulation establishing the European Electronic Communication Market Authority.
The proposals have already been scrutinised by several committees of the European Parliament and now is the turn of the full plenary to adopt its position. The responsible committees - Industry, Internal Market and Civil Liberties - have introduced many amendments, reinforcing users´ rights, with particular attention to vulnerable persons such as children and disabled people. They strengthen data protection and anti-spam measures.
Amendments also change the scope of the proposed Market Authority, which is transformed into a Body of European Regulators (BERT). EP committees also call for further harmonisation of criteria for assignment of radio frequencies, in particular taking into account that the switchover from analogue to digital TV which will release many frequencies currently reserved for broadcasting. The new rules do not change copyright law neither the concept of universal service.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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