The European Commission (EC) has launched a public consultation, which closes on 7 May, on future universal service (US) in the digital era, raising the question of whether the current framework should be updated and especially whether it should be expanded to encompass broadband access.
The Commission is seeking to compile the opinion of consumers, industry stakeholders, and policy experts regarding the following key areas:
- Basic concept of universal service - is the current concept of universal service still valid in today's dynamic digital environment?;
- Broadband - should universal service principles help to reach the EU's goal of 'broadband for all', or would competition on the open telecoms market or other policy options be more effective?;
- National flexibility and a coordinated EU approach - what is the right balance between a coordinated EU-wide response and the need for national flexibility?;
- Financing - how should universal service be financed in the future?.
The Commission will also organise a public workshop on 30 March 2010 in Brussels so that consumers, industry stakeholders, policy experts and other interested parties can exchange their views on the issues raised by the consultation.
Current EU rules (under the EU’s Universal Service Directive of 2002 – Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002) require Member States to ensure that citizens must be able to connect to the public phone network at a fixed location and access public phone services for voice and data communications with functional access to the Internet. The Directive also requires Member States to ensure that consumers have access to directory enquiry services and directories, public payphones and special measures if they are disabled.
Further information:
- Consultation on universal service principles in e-communications http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/library/public_consult/universal_service_2010/index_en.htm
- Telecoms: consultation on future universal service in digital era http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/218&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
