Telecoms Package Framework LIBE Opinion

Telecoms Package: Directive on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework 2002/21/EC) − Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Opinion − 2008-05-29

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, 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;

(b) ensuring that there is no distortion or restriction of competition in the electronic communications sector, in particular for the delivery of content;

(c) encouraging efficient 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;

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

(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.

(ga) ensuring cooperation between undertakings providing electronic communications networks and services and the relevant sectors, for the protection and promotion of lawful content in connection with those networks and services.

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

1. Member States shall ensure the effective management of radio frequencies for electronic communication services in their territory in accordance with Article 8. 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 and that the allocation and assignment of radiofrequency spectrum by national regulatory authorities ensures effective competition, taking into consideration their respective national radiofrequency plans and the prior decisions of international organisations dealing with radiofrequency spectrum management.

2. Member States shall promote the harmonisation of use of radio frequencies, where practicable, across the Community, consistent with the need to ensure effective and efficient use thereof and in accordance with Decision No 676/2002/EC (Radio Spectrum Decision), taking into consideration their respective national radiofrequency plans and the prior decisions of international organisations dealing with radiofrequency spectrum management.

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 radio network or wireless access technology may be used in the radio frequency bands open to electronic communications services.

Member States may, however, provide for proportionate and non-discriminatory restrictions to the types of radio network or wireless access technology used where this is necessary to:

(a) avoid harmful interference,

(b) protect public health against electromagnetic fields,

(ba) avoid distortions of competition,

(c) ensure maximisation of radio frequencies sharing where the use of frequencies is subject to a general authorisation, or

(d) comply with a restriction in accordance with paragraph 4 below, including restrictions to ensure the promotion of cultural and media policy objectives, such as cultural and linguistic diversity and media pluralism.

4. Unless otherwise provided in the second subparagraph or in the measures adopted pursuant to Article 9c, Member States shall ensure that all types of electronic communications services may be provided in the radio frequency bands open to electronic communications. The Member States may, however, provide for proportionate and non-discriminatory restrictions to the types of electronic communications services to be provided.

Restrictions that require a service to be provided in a specific band shall be justified in order to ensure the fulfilment of a general interest objective 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, as defined in national legislation in conformity with Community law, the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity and media pluralism.

A restriction which prohibits the provision of any other 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 referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4.

5a. The Member States shall have competence to define the scope, nature and duration of restrictions to promote cultural and media policy objectives, such as cultural and linguistic diversity and media pluralism, in accordance with their national law.

6. Paragraphs 3 and 4 shall apply to allocation and assignment of radio frequencies after 31 December 2009.

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 this Article, the Commission may, in agreement with the NRAs, recommend appropriate implementing measures to:

(a) harmonise the identification of 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;

(c) harmonise the specific measures to ensure fair competition where individual rights are transferred;

(d) create an exception to the principle of services or technology neutrality, as well as to harmonise the scope and nature of any exceptions to these principles. All exceptions shall be in accordance with Article 9(3) and (4).

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). On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may use the urgency procedure referred to in Article 22(4). In the implementation of the provisions of this paragraph, the Commission may be assisted by the Authority in accordance with Article 10 Regulation [.../EC].

(26) Given the effect of the exceptions on the development of the internal market for electronic communications services, the Commission may, in agreement with NRAs, be able to harmonise the scope and nature of any exceptions to the principles of technology and service neutrality other than those aimed at ensuring the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity and media pluralism, having regard to harmonised technical conditions for the availability and efficient use of radio frequencies under Decision No 676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy in the European Community (“Radio Spectrum Decision”).