The European Commission launched a public consultation, opened until September 16th, on the measures considered necessary to increase access to broadband Internet in under-served areas, such as rural ones.
This consultation, launched on July 14th, aims at collecting contributions from member States, regional/local authorities and all interested parties, on the measures considered necessary to lessen the existing gaps among the European Union’s urban and rural areas with respect to broadband Internet access.
The consultation document proposes two policy orientations on this matter:
- Reinforcing national broadband strategies (as part of the European Commission’s growth and employment strategy and the i2010 strategy); and
- Improving the collection and sharing of best practices regarding broadband trends and projects.
Comments should be sent by email to the following address: infso-i2010@cec.eu.int.
Press release from the European Commission
"High-speed Internet Access: Commission opens policy debate on closing the broadband gaphttp://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/928&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en"
Consultation document
“Broadband Access and public support in under-served areashttp://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/i2010/docs/implementation/ddf_report_final.pdf"
Further information:
- Digital Divide Forum http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/i2010/digital_divide/index_en.htm
