Brussels, 08/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 May, the European Commission published new guidelines to help governments invest in broadband. The guidelines were published in a handbook intended for any public authority investing in broadband or having to assess projects co-financed by the structural funds and European investments. The handbook explains how to design a good project from the start and whom to contact at the regional and European Union level in order to obtain funding and advice. It also describes the minimum conditions to be respected in order to obtain funding and advice, as well as the minimum conditions to be respected for state aid to be approved. Lastly, the handbook provides advice on choosing appropriate technology for the deployment of broadband, as well as a business model. In December 2012, the Commission reviewed its guidelines on state aid for broadband so as to adapt them to the evolution of the markets and to harmonise them with the objectives of the digital agenda for Europe and the Commission initiative on the modernisation of state aid. (IL)