Telecoms Package Framework CULT Opinion

Telecoms Package: Directive on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework 2002/21/EC) − Committee on Culture and Education Opinion − 2008-06-02

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 any lawful applications and/or services of their choice.

(ga) ensuring the cooperation of undertakings providing electronic communications networks and services with the sectors concerned for the purposes of the protection and the promotion of lawful content over electronic communications networks and services.

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

1. Given 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 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.

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 accordance 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 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,

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

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

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 band available to electronic communication services as identified in their national frequency allocation tables and in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regulations. The Member States may, however, provide for proportionate and non-discriminatory measures for the types of electronic communications services to be provided.

Measures that require an electronic communications service to be provided in a specific band shall be justified in order to ensure the fulfilment of a general interest objective 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, as defined in national legislation in conformity with Community law, the promotion of education and 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 or to avoid harmful interference.

5. Member States shall regularly review the necessity of the general interest objectives referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4.

5a. It shall lie within the competence of the Member States to define the scope, nature and duration of measures intended for the promotion of 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 and without prejudice to Article 8a, for the achievement of the principles of this Article, the Commission may adopt appropriate technical implementing measures to:

(-a) harmonise the rules relating to the availability and efficient use of radio frequencies in accordance with Article 9;

(-aa) ensure the coordinated and timely provision of information concerning the allocation, availability and use of radio frequencies;

(a) identify the bands for which usage rights may be directly transferred or leased between undertakings, without prejudice to Article 9b(1), excluding radio frequencies intended by Member States to be used for broadcasting services;

(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;

These implementing measures shall be without prejudice to measures taken at Community or national level, in compliance with Community law, to pursue general interest objectives, in particular general interest objectives relating to content regulation and audio-visual policy.

Those 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). In the implementation of the provisions of points (a) to (c) of this paragraph, the Commission may be assisted by the RSPC.

(26) Given the effect of the exceptions on the development of the internal market for electronic communications services, the Commission should 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”) (OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 1.).