Broadband News
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Should broadband be a universal service?
09 Mar 2010 | 19.58 Europe/London
The European Commission could be about to force governments’ hand on universal broadband service.
On 2nd March the EC opened a consultation on the future of universal service in a digital era. The idea is to bring up to date the basic rules for provision of access to public telephone networks and dial-up internet, which date from 2002.
The new EU presidency has already said it wants to make broadband provision compulsory. Specifically, it wants to extend broadband access to the entire EU by 2013 and provide the whole region with access to speeds of at least 30Mbps by 2020. The consultation will generate the information on the best way to proceed; the end result could be a universal service obligation for broadband.
Note that this would be an obligation, not just a commitment. The first is a legal requirement, the other just a statement of intent.
Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said "This consultation will help us to check if we need to update the rules to ensure that all EU citizens have access to essential communication services, including fast internet. As markets and technology are changing fast, we have to make sure that nobody is excluded from the digital society".
The Commission is seeking views on four key areas:
The consultation is open until 7 May.
Meanwhile, in a poll of sponsored by the BBC four in five adults (79%) said they regarded internet access as a fundamental right. GlobeSpan surveyed over 27,000 adults across 26 countries either face-to-face or on the telephone.
On 2nd March the EC opened a consultation on the future of universal service in a digital era. The idea is to bring up to date the basic rules for provision of access to public telephone networks and dial-up internet, which date from 2002.
The new EU presidency has already said it wants to make broadband provision compulsory. Specifically, it wants to extend broadband access to the entire EU by 2013 and provide the whole region with access to speeds of at least 30Mbps by 2020. The consultation will generate the information on the best way to proceed; the end result could be a universal service obligation for broadband.
Note that this would be an obligation, not just a commitment. The first is a legal requirement, the other just a statement of intent.
Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said "This consultation will help us to check if we need to update the rules to ensure that all EU citizens have access to essential communication services, including fast internet. As markets and technology are changing fast, we have to make sure that nobody is excluded from the digital society".
The Commission is seeking views on four key areas:
- Basic concept of universal service: The current concept of universal service was designed for traditional voice-based telecoms services, but is this approach still valid in today's dynamic digital environment? Which policies should we use to ensure that consumers in remote and rural areas or those on a low income can access and use basic telecoms services?
- Broadband: Wide broadband coverage is crucial to foster growth and jobs in Europe. But 23% of people in rural areas do not have access to fixed broadband networks. Should universal service principles help to reach the EU's goal of 'broadband for all', or would competition on the open telecoms market or other policy options be more effective?
- National flexibility and a coordinated EU approach: The state of development of telecoms markets, availability of broadband, take-up by consumers, and government responses to the so-called 'digital divide' (i.e. te gap between those sections of the population that have access to internet and other digital technologies and those that do not) can vary considerably from country to country. What is the right balance between a coordinated EU-wide response and the need for national flexibility?
- Financing: How should universal service be financed in the future? Should there be a financial contribution from the telecoms sector to ensure universal broadband coverage, or should the public purse intervene since other sectors of the economy and society as a whole also feel the benefits?
The consultation is open until 7 May.
Meanwhile, in a poll of sponsored by the BBC four in five adults (79%) said they regarded internet access as a fundamental right. GlobeSpan surveyed over 27,000 adults across 26 countries either face-to-face or on the telephone.