After 10 months of intensive discussions, the European Parliament has voted through their amendments to the Commission’s Telecom Package Review. It remains to be voted by the European Council of Ministers on 27 November 2008.
Common framework
The Directives of the Telecom package relate to a common regulatory framework, to access to and interconnection of and to the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services. In particular, they give the framework for regulation of the use of spectrum. An other Directive under review is the Universal Service/e-Privacy Directive.
The Directives were agreed in 2002 and in 2007 the Commission proposed a series of amendments to enforce a flexible use of the spectrum based mainly on a market-based approach ( technology and service neutrality, spectrum trading and spectrum pricing). The Commission had also proposed the creation of a European Market Authority Regulation.
Flexible use of spectrum
The Parliament has agreed to a more flexible use of the spectrum but has put restrictions on the market-based approach as proposed by the Commission. Instead of a new European Market Authority, the Parliament has agreed to a Body of European Regulators of Telecommunications. The Parliament has also voted on the Toia’s Digital Dividend report.
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