Brussels, 03/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Member States broadly welcomed the European Commission's plan to set up the EU's first radio spectrum policy unveiled on 20 September 2010, but they are sceptical about the suggested timelines and want to keep control over coverage.
Unveiled with two other documents (a recommendation on new generation access networks and a report on high-speed internet), the Commission set out its plan to set up a five-year action programme to promote effective radio spectrum management and ensure that enough of the spectrum is available by 2013 (or 2014 in exceptional circumstances) for high-speed wifi and providing innovative services throughout Europe. Meeting on Friday 3 December for the telecoms section of the Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council, EU telecoms ministers discussed the programme unveiled by the Commission in order to discern the most sensitive areas on which the Hungarian Presidency will need to focus to draw up political guidelines. The ministers say that the new ideas must not threaten the radio spectrum measures set out in the telecoms legislation to be transposed into member states' legal systems by May 2011, which arose from a delicate compromise. EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes reassured them that this was about making a great and credible effort for high speed connections for all, aware that the ministers had the courage to address sensitive issues. The Commission will not tread on member states' toes over the radio spectrum, she said, reminding them of the urgent need for a coordinated policy and for something positive to be added to European skills so that Europe does not remain at the bottom. It is difficult at this stage to see how far the delegations agree with the various aspects of the Commission's programme, but trends are starting to emerge.
Like the Commission, the delegations believe that the radio spectrum makes a key contribution to the digital society, high-speed wifi, economic recovery, growth, high-quality job creation and long-term competitiveness in the European Union. Echoing their comments on the high-speed internet targets set out in the EUROPE 2020 Strategy and the Digital Agenda (conclusions were published in this connection at the same Council meeting, which this newsletter will be returning to), the delegations said that the high-speed wifi connection measures were the most important aspect of the draft programme and needed to be implemented the fastest. These measures foresee allocating a sufficiently broad area of the radio spectrum to wifi and high-speed connections and to provide operators with frequencies that have been technically harmonised at EU level for high-speed wifi use. The ministers also agreed in principle on the use of frequencies made available by moving from analogue to digital broadcasting (also known as the “digital dividend”) in the 800 MHz band, which gives good reception even in remote or rural areas. Several delegations expressed doubt, however, about the timeline suggested for achieving this. Freeing up the 800MHz band is problematic because it is currently used for defence and security applications in some member states and there will be problems with coordinating the frequencies with some non-EU countries. The member states do not want any coverage obligations, believing that authorisations criteria should be decided by the member states alone. On the programme's scope, many delegations want the document to set out in greater detail which areas of the Single Market would be covered (electronic communications, R&D, transport, energy, space policy, protecting the environment, civil protection and disaster management). Several delegations expressed doubt about the Commission's plan to ensure the availability of harmonised frequencies for applications like observation of the planet and security.
The Commission urged the Council to make speedy progress in this area, with Kroes asking the ministers “not to be timi”' about passing difficult decisions but to demonstrate the political will to implement a genuine EU radio spectrum policy. She concluded by saying she was persuaded that 2013 was a perfectly realistic date for making high-speed wifi frequencies available, and the Commission would back and help any member states struggling to meet the deadline by allowing the option of extending it until 2015 on an exceptional basis. (I.L. trans fl)