MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) voted in favour of the report by Alin Mituța (Renew Europe, Romanian) on the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (48 votes in favour, one against, five abstentions) (see EUROPE 13251/13). The mandate for negotiations with the Council of the EU was also approved by the European Parliament’s ITRE Committee. The text and negotiating mandate will be put to the vote at the next European Parliament plenary session in October.
“In today’s world, access to high speed internet is a necessity, and even a right - the right to connectivity. The objective of this act is to ensure that, by 2030, all EU households should have access to fixed gigabit networks and all populated areas, including rural areas, have 5G coverage so no one is left behind”, commented Mr Mituța.
To this end, the compromise that was reached by MEPs on 12 September includes a set of provisions aimed at simplifying and speeding up the procedures for granting infrastructure permits by giving Member States just 15 days to check that a permit application is fully documented. They would then have 2 months in which to consider applications for authorisation.
The Commission’s initial proposal was 4 months. However, this two-month period may be extended by one month in “exceptional and duly justified” cases. Tacit authorisation would be granted in the absence of a response within this period. Some Member States may have exemptions where this provision is contrary to their national law.
Commercial buildings to open up areas with poor coverage
The text also confirms the European Parliament’s desire to focus on reducing the existing digital divide between urban and rural areas. Specific provisions are included so that access obligations to host network infrastructure are extended to commercial buildings in areas with poor coverage and where no public buildings are available to host such infrastructure.
“We are focusing on people living in rural and remote areas and rewarding the pioneering work of municipalities that have carried out preparatory work for the development of fibre optic networks. They must not stand idly by”, commented Angelika Winzig (EPP, Austrian).
The compromise also includes a series of measures to facilitate access to existing infrastructure, such as roofs, buildings and facades. In addition, existing infrastructure such as poles, antenna installations, towers and ducts are expected to be shared between operators to minimise civil engineering work. In the adopted report, MEPs also included pylon companies in the scope of application.
In its February legislative proposal (see EUROPE 13128/9), the European Commission placed the emphasis on infrastructure sharing, stating that this would be a lever for reducing the costs of rolling out broadband networks, given that the underlying physical infrastructure - such as ducts and masts - accounts for 70% of the costs of network rollout.
Finally, MEPs introduced as well a provision into the text aimed at abolishing charges for end-users for calls and text messages within the EU. They want these provisions to be adopted before the current rules, which cap intra-EU calls at 19 cents per minute, expire in May 2024.
Interinstitutional negotiations can begin as soon as the Council of the EU has also adopted its position.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/8ni (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)