WRITTEN QUESTION P-1646/02

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: MHP digital television standard

On 12 December 2001, the European Parliament voted at second reading on the telecoms package, including Directive 2002/21/EC(1) of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services. It has not yet proved possible to impose a standard for digital TV in Europe, but in December 2001, at the time of the vote on the telecoms package, the European Parliament inserted Article 18 in the framework directive. This requires Member States to monitor open standards and interoperability one year after the entry force of the directive. On this basis, new proposals may be put forward. Commissioner Liikanen promised that he would publish the MHP standard in the List of Standards and promote it by adopting concrete measures in order to arrive at a uniform standard in Europe as soon as possible.

Has the Commission taken any steps vis-à-vis the Member States and the relevant markets with a view to securing the adoption of MHP as the standard?

If so, what measures has it taken to promote MHP as the standard?

If any such measures have been taken, have they had a measurable impact yet? If so, what?

(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2002)

Article 18.1 of Directive 2002/21/EC requires Member States to encourage openness in respect of the applications-programming interface (API) provision. Article 18.3 requires the Commission to report on how far interoperability and freedom of choice for users have been achieved one year after the date of application i.e in July 2004.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) adopted an initial version of Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) as a Technical Specification (TS 101 812) in July 2000, well prior to the adoption of the Framework Directive. At the December 2001 Plenary, the Commission undertook to include MHP in the list of standards to be encouraged by Member States. The list is in preparation and will be published in the autumn.

The Commission has launched a dialogue with industry players on interoperability in interactive television.

Three actions are already underway:

1. The Commission has requested the Digital Video Broadcasting Group to investigate technical interoperability in relation to interactive television.

2. Second, the Commission has launched a study on the policy aspects of interoperability which is to provide an analysis later this year. This will include consumer welfare issues.

3. Finally, the Commission is requesting the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (Cenelec) to undertake, in co-operation with ETSI, a preliminary study on digital television and interactive television standardisation with the view to support an implementation of Article 18 of the Framework Directive that is cost-effective for industry and consumers. This will survey the current technical situation as well as the standards situation, and produce recommendations for standardisation work.

These actions to promote a dialogue on interoperability including migration to MHP have started to engage market players' attention. It is too early, however, to predict their outcome.