WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1744/96 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Liberalization of the telecommunications sector
Date: 1996-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: confidentiality, free competition, protection of communications, telecommunications, telephone charges, transmission network













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91996E1744

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1744/96 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Liberalization of the telecommunications sector  


Official Journal C 345 , 15/11/1996 P. 0102 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/96 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (3 July 1996)Subject: Liberalization of the telecommunications sectorTelecommunications are a sector of vital importance to the social and economic development of the EU countries, provided that they can be regulated in such a way as to protect new economic operators vis-à-vis existing public concession-holders and their dominant position.Could the Commission draw up a directive to regulate the complexity of the sector, with particular reference to:1. access to, and use of, the public telecommunications network;2. the setting up of an independent, autonomous authority to establish the use of radio frequencies and the technical standards and constraints imposed on service suppliers, and to settle any disputes between operators;3. the arrangements for the provision of telecommunications services;4. the resale of transmission capacity;5. the confidentiality of personal data and of telephone communications;6. tariff liberalization through the imposition of a maximum charge based on the average level of charges within the EU?Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (25 July 1996)The Commission shares the view expressed by the Honourable Member about the importance of the telecommunications sector. Indeed, this assessment motivated the development of the Community's telecommunications policy which was initiated by the Commission's 1987 green paper on the development of the common market in telecommunications services and equipment ((COM(87) 290 final. )). That policy led to an ambitious legislative programme opening up telecommunications services to competition and culminating in the liberalisation, on 1 January 1998, of public voice telephony and of networks by means of Commission Directive 96/19/EC ((OJ L 74, 22.3.1996. )).In parallel, harmonisation legislation was proposed which led to the development of open network provision on the basis of Council Directive 90/387/EEC ((OJ L 192, 24.7.1990. )). This legislation provides inter alia for access to networks by service providers and to the mandatory supply of leased lines in accordance with certain minimum standards.A specific directive providing for the protection of personal data and of privacy in telecommunications network ((OJ C 200, 22.7.1994. )) has also been submitted to the Council and Parliament.One of the requirements underlying the development of a competitive telecommunications services markets is the establishment of an independent authority in each Member State. This requirement has been introduced by Commission Directive 90/388/EEC (3) and is being refined in the Commission's proposal to adapt ONP legislation to the competitive environment ((OJ C 62, 1.3.1996. )) which is currently being discussed by Council and Parliament.