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EU agrees on telecom rules revamp
06 November 2009
The European Union’s 27 member nations are to get a unified set of telecoms regulations, following a new agreement pushed through by commissioner Viviane Reding
Comment: At one stage Viviane Reding was pushing for a super-regulator to oversee all of the 27 nations’ individual telecoms regulators. That won’t happen, but there will be consistency in rules across the EU
European Union politicians have reached an agreement to restructure telecom regulations. The reformed legislation will help create more unified telecoms rules across Europe. The laws, unveiled by EU media and telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding are likely to be implemented by early 2010.
They will give more power to punish anti-competitive behaviour at telecom companies across the 27 member nations of the EU and will also help increase consumer rights and privacy protections. Investment in faster fibre optic broadband services is also likely to get a boost.
Under the new rules, those suspected of using the internet for illegal activity, such as downloading copyrighted material, cannot have their Internet access cut off without a prior hearing.
Authorities will no longer be able to cut off internet services to users without giving evidence of illegal downloading or other activity.
Initially, most EU national governments backed a system that allows the police or a regulatory body to stop internet service right away, with a right of appeal by the individual. GTB
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