Brussels, 14/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 11 September, the European Commission opened two public consultations, a major strand of its digital single market strategy that was presented on 6 May (see EUROPE 11309).
The first is on the expectations of stakeholders with regard to broadband, with the second focusing on the review of the current telecoms framework. Both consultations will run until 7 December. The comments received will inform the proposals that the Commission will draft and then, in the course of 2016, present on broadband and the telecoms framework.
“Access to high-speed and high-quality internet has become essential to every European: people, companies, organisations or public bodies. … We are also gathering views on the current telecoms rules and how they should evolve to support the digital single market”, said Commission Vice-President with responsibility for the Digital Single Market. “We need rules that underpin sustainable, market-based, high-performance fixed and wireless broadband infrastructures for 2020 and beyond. Every part of our economy and society has a vital stake in these issues. We therefore seek a broad and inclusive public debate, based on the best evidence of future needs”, added Digital Economy and Society Commissioner Günther Oettinger.
The aim of the digital single market strategy is to create the right conditions for the spread, access and free movement of digital products, networks and services in the European Union, the Commission states. It says that an important step was taken on the telecoms framework with the recent agreements between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on, firstly, strong net neutrality rules protecting the right of every European citizen to access internet content without discrimination and, secondly, on ending roaming charges by June 2017 (see EUROPE 11360).
More must be done and the consultation on the review of the telecoms framework will permit the Commission to examine the extent to which the EU's telecoms rulebook needs to be modernised to address technological and market challenges.
The Commission is consulting stakeholders on all aspects of the telecoms framework: the rules on access to networks, management of the radio spectrum, communication services, universal service and telecoms governance.
As for broadband, the Commission is asking about the new products, apps and services that will ensure the connectivity of the future and, in particular, what will they require in terms of security, speed, quality, data downloads and uploads and ubiquitous connectivity. The responses received will help the Commission define technical requirements for future digital infrastructure. (Isabelle Lamberty)