Telecoms Package COD 2007 0247 ITRE Report

Telecoms Package: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, 2002/19/EC on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and services, and 2002/20/EC on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (COD/2007/0247) − Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Report − 2008-07-07

Article 9
Article 9 − Obligation of transparency

1. National regulatory authorities may, in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, impose obligations for transparency in relation to interconnection and/or access, requiring operators to make public specified information, such as accounting information, technical specifications, network characteristics, restrictions on access to services and applications, traffic management policies, terms and conditions for supply and use, and prices.

2. In particular where an operator has obligations of non-discrimination, national regulatory authorities may require that operator to publish a reference offer, which shall be sufficiently unbundled to ensure that undertakings are not required to pay for facilities which are not necessary for the service requested, giving a description of the relevant offerings broken down into components according to market needs, and the associated terms and conditions including prices. The national regulatory authority shall, inter alia, be able to impose changes to reference offers to give effect to obligations imposed under this Directive.

3. National regulatory authorities may specify the precise information to be made available, the level of detail required and the manner of publication.

4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, where an operator has been found to have SMP in a relevant market under Article 14 of the Framework Directive relating to local access at a fixed location, national regulatory authorities shall ensure the publication of a reference offer containing at least the elements set out in Annex II.

5. The Commission may adopt the necessary amendments to Annex II in order to adapt it to technological and market developments. The measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 14(3). On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may use the urgency procedure referred to in Article 14(4). In implementing the provisions of this paragraph, the Commission may be assisted by the Authority.

Article 12
Article 12 − Obligations of access to, and use of, specific network facilities

1. A national regulatory authority may, in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, impose obligations on operators to meet reasonable requests for access to, and use of, specific network elements and associated facilities, inter alia in situations where the national regulatory authority considers that denial of access or unreasonable terms and conditions having a similar effect would hinder the emergence of a sustainable competitive market at the retail level, or would not be in the end-user's interest.

Operators shall be required inter alia:

(a) to give third parties access to specified network elements and/or facilities, including unbundled access to the local loop;

(b) to negotiate in good faith with undertakings requesting access;

(c) not to withdraw access to facilities already granted;

(d) to provide specified services on a wholesale basis for resale by third parties;

(e) to grant open access to technical interfaces, protocols or other key technologies that are indispensable for the interoperability of services or virtual network services;

(f) to provide co-location or other forms of facility sharing, including the sharing of ducts, buildings or entry to buildings, antennae towers and other supporting constructions, masts, manholes, cabinets and other network elements which are not active;

(fa) to provide third parties with a reference offer for the granting of access to ducts;

(g) to provide specified services needed to ensure interoperability of end-to-end services to users, including facilities for intelligent network services or roaming on mobile networks;

(h) to provide access to operational support systems or similar software systems necessary to ensure fair competition in the provision of services;

(i) to interconnect networks or network facilities;

(j) to provide access to associated services such as identity, location and presence capability.

National regulatory authorities may attach to those obligations conditions covering fairness, reasonableness and timeliness.

2. When national regulatory authorities are considering whether to impose the obligations referred in paragraph 1, and in particular when assessing whether such obligations would be proportionate to the objectives set out in Article 8 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive), they shall take account in particular of the following factors:

(a) the technical and economic viability of using or installing competing facilities, in the light of the rate of market development, taking into account the nature and type of interconnection and access involved, including the viability of other upstream access products such as access to ducts;

(b) the feasibility of providing the access proposed, in relation to the capacity available;

(c) the initial investment by the facility owner, bearing in mind any public investment made and the risks involved in making the investment, including an appropriate risk-sharing among those undertakings enjoying access to these new facilities;

(d) the need to safeguard competition in the long term, in particular infrastructure-based competition

(e) where appropriate, any relevant intellectual property rights;

(f) the provision of pan-European services.

3. When imposing obligations on an operator to provide access in accordance with the provisions of this Article, national regulatory authorities may lay down technical or operational conditions to be met by the provider and/or beneficiaries of such access where necessary to ensure normal operation of the network. Obligations to follow specific technical standards or specifications shall be in compliance with the standards and specifications laid down in accordance with Article 17 of Directive 2002/21/EC (Framework Directive).

Article 8
Article 8 − Policy objectives and regulatory principles

1. Member States shall ensure that in carrying out the regulatory tasks specified in this Directive and the Specific Directives, the national regulatory authorities take all reasonable measures which are aimed at achieving the objectives set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4. Such measures shall be proportionate to those objectives.

Unless otherwise provided in Article 9 regarding radio frequencies or unless otherwise required in order to fulfil the objectives laid down in paragraphs 2 to 4, Member States shall take the utmost account of the desirability of making regulations technologically neutral and shall ensure that, in carrying out the regulatory tasks specified in this Directive and the Specific Directives, in particular those designed to ensure effective competition, national regulatory authorities do likewise.

National regulatory authorities may contribute within their competencies to ensuring the implementation of policies aimed at the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity, as well as media pluralism.

2. The national regulatory authorities shall promote competition in the provision of electronic communications networks, electronic communications services and associated facilities and services by inter alia:

(a) ensuring that users, including disabled users, elderly users, and users with special social needs derive maximum benefit in terms of choice, price, and quality, and that providers are compensated for any additional net cost that they can prove to have incurred as a result of the imposition of such public service obligations;

(b) ensuring that there is no distortion or restriction of competition in the electronic communications sector, in particular for the delivery of and access to content and services across all networks;

(c) encouraging and facilitating efficient market-driven investment in infrastructure, and promoting innovation; and

(d) encouraging efficient use and ensuring the effective management of radio frequencies and numbering resources.

3. The national regulatory authorities shall contribute to the development of the internal market by inter alia:

(a) removing remaining obstacles to the provision of electronic communications networks, associated facilities and services and electronic communications services at European level;

(b) encouraging the establishment and development of trans-European networks and the interoperability of pan-European services, and end-to-end connectivity;

(d) working with the Commission and the Authority so as to ensure the development of consistent regulatory practice and the consistent application of this Directive and the Specific Directives.

4. The national regulatory authorities shall promote the interests of the citizens of the European Union by inter alia:

(a) ensuring all citizens have access to a universal service specified in Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive);

(b) ensuring a high level of protection for consumers in their dealings with suppliers, in particular by ensuring the availability of simple and inexpensive dispute resolution procedures carried out by a body that is independent of the parties involved;

(c) contributing to ensuring a high level of protection of personal data and privacy;

(d) promoting the provision of clear information, in particular requiring transparency of tariffs and conditions for using publicly available electronic communications services;

(e) addressing the needs of specific social groups, in particular disabled users, elderly users and users with special social needs;

(f) ensuring that the integrity and security of public communications networks are maintained; and

(g) applying the principle that end-users should be able to access and distribute any lawful content and use any lawful applications and/or services of their choice and for this purpose contributing to the promotion of lawful content in accordance with Article 33 of Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive).

4a. The national regulatory authorities shall, in pursuit of the policy objectives referred to in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, apply objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate regulatory principles by, inter alia:

(a) promoting regulatory predictability through the continuity of remedies over several market reviews as appropriate;

(b) ensuring that, in similar circumstances, there is no discrimination in the treatment of undertakings providing electronic communications networks and services;

(c) safeguarding competition to the benefit of consumers and promoting infrastructure-based competition wherever possible;

(d) promoting market driven investment and innovation in new and enhanced infrastructures including by encouraging investment sharing and by ensuring appropriate risk sharing among the investor and those undertakings enjoying access to the new facilities;

(d) taking due account of the variety of conditions relating to competition and consumers that exist in the different geographic areas within a Member State;

(e) imposing ex ante regulatory obligations only where there is no effective and sustainable competition and relaxing or lifting them as soon as there is.

Article 9
Article 9 − Management of radio frequencies for electronic communications services

1. Taking due account of the fact that radio frequencies are a public good that has an important social, cultural and economic value, Member States shall ensure the effective management of radio frequencies for electronic communication services in their territory in accordance with Articles 8 and 8a. They shall ensure that the allocation and assignment of such radio frequencies by national regulatory authorities are based on objective, transparent, non discriminatory and proportionate criteria. In so doing, they shall act in accordance with international agreements and may take public policy considerations into account.

2. Member States shall promote the harmonisation of use of radio frequencies across the Community, consistent with the need to ensure effective and efficient use thereof and in pursuit of benefits for the consumer such as economies of scale and interoperability of services. In so doing, they shall act in accordance with Articles 8a and 9c of this Directive, and with Decision No 676/2002/EC (Radio Spectrum Decision).

3. Unless otherwise provided in the second subparagraph or in the measures adopted pursuant to Article 9c, Member States shall, ensure that all types of technologies used for electronic communications services may be used in the radio frequency bands available for electronic communications services in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations.

Member States may, however, provide for proportionate and non-discriminatory restrictions to the types of technologies used for electronic communication services where this is necessary to:

(a) avoid the possibility of harmful interference,

(b) protect public health against electromagnetic fields,

(ba) ensure technical quality of service,

(c) ensure maximisation of radio frequency sharing,

(ca) safeguard the efficient use of radio frequencies,

(d) fulfil a general interest objective in accordance with paragraph 4 below.

4. Unless otherwise provided in the second subparagraph, Member States shall ensure that all types of electronic communications services may be provided in the radio frequency bands available for electronic communications services in accordance with their national frequency allocation plans and with the ITU Radio Regulations. The Member States may, however, provide for proportionate and non discriminatory restrictions to the types of electronic communications services to be provided.

Measures that require an electronic communications service to be provided in a specific band available for electronic communications services shall be justified in order to ensure the fulfilment of a general interest objective as defined in national legislation in conformity with Community law, such as safety of life, the promotion of social, regional or territorial cohesion, the avoidance of inefficient use of radio frequencies, or the promotion of cultural and media policy objectives such as cultural and linguistic diversity and media pluralism.

A measure which prohibits the provision of any other electronic communications service in a specific band may only be provided for where justified by the need to protect safety of life services.

5. Member States shall regularly review the necessity of the restrictions and measures referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 and shall make the results of these reviews public.

6. Paragraphs 3 and 4 shall apply to the allocation and assignment of radio frequencies after [date of transposition].

Article 9c
Article 9c − Radio Frequency Management Harmonisation Measures

In order to contribute to the development of the internal market, for the achievement of the principles of Articles 8a, 9, 9a and 9b, the Commission may adopt appropriate technical implement measures to:

(-a) apply the radio spectrum action programme established pursuant to Article 8a(7);

(a) identify the bands for which usage rights may be transferred or leased between undertakings;

(b) harmonise the conditions attached to such rights and the conditions, procedures, limits, restrictions, withdrawals and transitional rules applicable to such transfers or leases;

(d) identify the bands for which the principle of service neutrality shall apply;

These measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 22(3).