WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1134/96 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Telecommunications
Date: 1996-05-13
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: approximation of laws, communications policy, communications systems, harmonisation of standards, public service, telecommunications, transmission network













EUR-Lex - 91996E1134 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E1134

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1134/96 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Telecommunications  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0053 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1134/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (13 May 1996)Subject: TelecommunicationsCareful consideration needs to given to a number of extremely important points relating to the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on interconnection in telecommunications with regard to ensuring universal service and interoperability through application of the principles of open network provision (ONP) (COM(95) 379 ((OJ C 313, 24.11.1995, p. 7. ))):- it is essential to ensure that the divergence of national regulations from a common framework established at European level is kept to a minimum;- it contains ambiguities, particularly with regard to the definition of 'public telecommunications network' and 'public telecommunications service';- the mixing of provisions concerning interconnection and interoperability, on the one hand, with the provisions for universal services, on the other hand, risks creating problems in future when operators come to interpret these provisions in practice;In view of the above comments, and given the proposal's considerable scope, will the Commission see that it is worded more clearly, with precise definitions, and structured more coherently and more logically?Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (13 June 1996)The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for his interest in the proposed directive on interconnection in the telecommunications sector.The Honourable Member's concerns regarding the need for consistency of the national regimes at Community level, the definition of the public character of networks and services, and the need for clear treatment of universal service have, to a large extent, been expressed in the opinion adopted by the Parliament on 14 February 1996 on the first reading of this proposal.On the first point, attention is drawn to the provisions calling for increased independence and effectiveness of national regulatory authorities contained in the proposed adaptation of the existing open network provisions ((COM(95) 543, OJ C 62, 1.3.1996. )).The second point has now been clarified in the common position of the Council, through the modification of the definitions of public telecommunications networks and services, where the emphasis is now on public availability rather than on public ownership.The recent Commission communication on universal service for telecommunications ((COM(96) 73. )) provides further clarification on the third point.The Commission is confident that the points identified in the question are being dealt with in the current telecommunications legislative proposals, in which the Parliament is fully involved.