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EU plans to update universal telecom law
03 March 2010
The European Commission has started a public consultation on updating the EU’s law on whether broadband should be included in universal access rules
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The European Commission is planning to update a law governing the provision of basic telephone and internet services to Europe’s remote regions. The commission believes the rules are outdated and should be extended to cover broadband access.
The European Union’s current telecoms universal services law, written in 2002, ensures all EU citizens have access to fixed-line telephone and basic internet, wherever their location.
The Commision, the EU’s executive arm led by José Manuel Barroso, is planning a workshop on March 30 in Brussels so consumers, industry stakeholders, policy experts and other interested parties can exchange their views.
The commission is seeking to determine whether broadband internet services should be redefined as a universal service, or whether broadband access will spread faster if it is driven by free competition. It is also looking to decide if any extension of the rules should be financed by government spending or by the telecom companies themselves.
The consultation runs through to May 7 2010. GTB