The European Commission (EC) has issued a set of guidelines on the application of EU rules on state aid in relation to the public financing of broadband networks with the aim of accelerating and widening their deployment throughout Europe.
The document that is now published also sets out specific provisions on the deployment of next generation access networks, enabling the promotion of investment in this strategic sector with public support, without creating undue distortions to competition.
These new guidelines are issued as part of the EC plan to drive the recovery of the European economy and emerge from the current economic and financial crisis. Broadband plays an important part in this plan, in view of its capacity to accelerate the contribution of information and communication technologies to growth and innovation across all sectors of the economy and to social and territorial cohesion.
Further information:
- Community Guidelines for the application of State aid rules in relation to rapid deployment of broadband networks http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/legislation/guidelines_broadband_en.pdf
- State aid: Commission adopts Guidelines for broadband networks http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1332&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- State aid: Commission adopts Guidelines for broadband networks - frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/396&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
