On Thursday 16 May, the CCIA, an association representing digital companies such as Google, Apple and Facebook, together with the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 15 other associations, co-signed a letter challenging the scenarios set out in the Commission’s recent White Paper on the future of telecommunications in the EU (see EUROPE 13355/8) .
Among other things, the signatories are opposed to the idea of a contribution to the operation of networks, which could pave the way for platforms being obliged to pay for the use of infrastructure.
They believe that this would be counter-productive and damaging to European competitiveness, and point out that after several meetings, industry experts have already voiced their opposition to such a measure.
The signatories call on the Member States to adopt a “pro-competitive and consumer-centric” approach and to reject any initiative that would lead to “premature and unjustified changes to the EU regulatory framework”.
The telecommunications White Paper is due to be discussed at the Telecommunications Council on 21 May, but several Member States are opposed to any reform of the sector.
See the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/c8y (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)