The European Parliament has well and truly resumed work on digital dossiers after the summer break. On Monday 5 September, three files were on the agendas of the parliamentary committees: reorganisation of radio frequencies, wholesale roaming prices and cross-border portability.
It is on the reorganisation of the frequency spectrum that the work of the Parliament is most advanced (see EUROPE 11542). At its meeting, the industry, research and energy (ITRE) committee discussed the amendments to the draft report before it is put to the vote, scheduled for 13 October. In her presentation, rapporteur Patrizia Toia (S&D, Italy) indicated that her report would back the Commission’s idea of allocating the “sweet spot” frequencies (694-7980 MHz) to mobile telephony services. However, like the Council, she would like the timescale extended to 2022, and not 2020. This change, she said, would push back the deadline for the use and marketing of these rights. A further alteration to the Commission proposal, which should be on the table by mid-October, regards the obligation placed on member states to ensure speeds of at least 30 Mb/s if they authorise the use of this frequency band. “A number of colleagues would like this reference to be removed. … It’s true that it is perhaps ambitious to ask operators to guarantee such a speed”, Toia said. Among other changes, mention should be made of the review clause: the rapporteur is expected to propose a date of 2023 (the same year as the next global radio-communications conference) rather than 2025.
On the same day, the ITRE committee also discussed the review of the wholesale roaming market. In mid-June, the Commission proposed setting caps on wholesale roaming prices, which telecoms operators charge one another when clients use the internet when abroad, in preparation for ending roaming charges on individuals by summer 2017 (see EUROPE 11573). Rapporteur Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (S&D, Finland) said that consumers, data use and competition would be the three criteria guiding her report. This report will be presented on 12 October and is expected to be put to the vote on 29 November.
In another room, discussion was held on cross-border portability (see EUROPE 11448), the principle whereby subscribers to online content should be able to have access to that content not only in their country of residence but also when they are temporarily in another EU member state. It is the legal affairs (JURI) committee that has responsibility for this issue, working with the culture (CULT) and ITRE committees. ITRE rapporteur Marco Zullo (EFDD, Italy) said that he had received 257 amendments to his report and that voting is likely to take place on 29 September. In his presentation, he defended the principle of territoriality and a proportionate and non-invasive approach on data protection. Parliament services suggest that the plenary session vote on this matter is likely to take place at the start of 2017. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)