On 16 November the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the subject ''Accelerating the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting'' which calls on the intervention of public powers to coordinate broadcasters in order to assure a smooth transition process.
On this resolution the Parliament calls on the European Commission and Member-States to be attentive on some issues regarding the digital switchover process, such as: the assurance of equitable access to the spectrum and the agreement on a common negotiating position of support to a scenario based on the deadline of 2015 for the end of analogical TV broadcasting outside the community, as a way of assuring the implementation of unrestricted digital broadcasting, as much as possible, in 2012; (having in view the negotiations for the International Telecommunications Union’s 2006 Regional Radiocommunication Conference); the existence of perfect interoperability and the guarantee of the principle of technological neutrality; the clear distinction between the regulation of transmission of electronic signals and infrastructure and the regulation of content; the protection of pluralism.
The Commission is called to establish a European Digital Working Party under the scope of the Communications Committee, with the mission of coordinating, at the community level, the Member States’ regulations, goals, strategies and timetables.
Member States which have not done so yet are invited to present their transition plans until the end of 2005.
This resolution considered the communication of the European Commission of May this year on this subject, in which 2012 is proposed as the deadline for closing analogue emissions in all Member States, as well as the transition plans already presented by some Member States.
Further information:
- Resolution of the European Parliament on ''Accelerating the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting'' http://www.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade3?SAME_LEVEL=1&LEVEL=1&NAV=S&DETAIL=&PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2005-0431+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Transition from analogue to digital broadcasting - Communication from the European Commission https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=276376
- Digital television https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=2963
