EU Digital Agenda: Radio spectrum progress

After some basic economic and market trends, broadband and regulatory developments as they appeared at the time of the Digital Agenda launch, we return to the Commission staff working document SEC(2010) 630 final/2, which accompanied the 15th progress report about telecoms (eCommunications) markets in Europe:

CORRIGENDUM
Annule et remplace le document SEC(2010) 630 final du 25.5.2010

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT accompanying the COMMUNICATION PROGRESS REPORT ON THE SINGLE EUROPEAN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS MARKET (15th REPORT); Brussels, 25.8.2010 SEC(2010) 630 final/2 PART 1 (422 pages)

The working document continued by discussing various aspects of the consumer interest: users' access to the Internet and network management, number portability, out-of-court dispute resolution, the European emergency number 112, ”must carry” obligations and ePrivacy (page 61-70).


Radio spectrum management

The section on spectrum management reminds us of the digital dividend (page 73-74):

In 2009, the Commission stepped up efforts aimed at coordinating the allocation of the digital dividend – high-quality radio spectrum freed as a result of switch-over from analogue to digital television broadcasting – for innovative wireless communication services across Europe.

In 2009 EU member states took steps towards the introduction of market-based approaches in their spectrum management practices, the study records.

This reminds us of the fresh, 28 October 2011 press release about another forward step concerning a proposal we have discussed before: First radio spectrum policy programme: Political agreement between Council and Parliament (Council document 16072/11).

You can find background information through the Commission's information society web pages dedicated to the radio spectrum theme, including the latest news on approaching completion.


eCommunications infringement procedures

Monitoring and preventive work did not eliminate the need for infringement procedures (page 77):

Enforcing effective implementation of the regulatory framework for electronic communications continued to be a priority in 2009. The Commission opened some 170 infringement proceedings under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) (formerly Article 226 of the EC Treaty) from the date of application of the regulatory framework until the end of 2009. In around 110 cases this was due to failures to correctly implement the regulatory framework. While all Member States have been concerned by enforcement action, a significant number of issues have been settled since.

You can find updated information about implementation and enforcement of existing eCommunications rules.



Ralf Grahn


P.S. Dear Readers, I am interested in national Digital Agendas (existing language versions), as well as information society plans and ICT actions in the member states of the European Union. If you know something, you can use the comment section or email me.