Brussels, 17/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 April, the European Parliament cast in stone the new EU rules to make it easier to invest in high-speed broadband by cutting costs (see EUROPE 11026).
Companies deploying high speed broadband lines will be enabled to share project costs with other utility companies, such as gas, electricity and sewerage, but not non-drinking water and transport. They will be given the right to speedy access through a one-stop-shop to information about existing infrastructure, such as maps, scale, current usage, ownership and contact details, and similar information will be available on infrastructure planned for the future or currently being installed.
Access to this information may only be refused if safety or crucial public or private interests are at threat. High-speed broadband must be built into all new public buildings and all new blocks of flats, including subsidised housing. The same rules will apply to buildings subject to important renovation work. On a voluntary basis, labels may be used to identify the buildings with high-speed broadband built into them. (MB)