The Portuguese Minister for public works, transport and communications, Máio Lino, said on July 16th, before the European Parliament’s Industry Committee, that he wants to see a reform in the EU Regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (the “Telecom Package”).

Mr. Lino further said that ‘flexible use’ of the radio spectrum should be promoted in the new Telecom Package. At the moment, radio spectrum is not used in an efficient way because of bureaucratic and rigid structures says Mr. Lino.

The European Commission (EC) has been wanting to strengthen the power of the European Regulatory Group (ERG). This suggestion has not been received with enthusiasm. ERG, which is an independent body for reflection, debate and advice in the electronic communications regulatory field is constituted by heads of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs). It has not been in favour of enhancing its power to create a regulatory European Regulator in the field of Telecommunications.

Currently, the EC works together with the NRAs to regulate the telecom sector according to the subsidiarity principle. The ERG works as an interface between the EC and the NRAs. Since the ERG itself is not in favour of strengthening its position, the EC is now planning to instead strengthen its own role. This would mean that the NRAs would have to consider remedies suggested by the EC in the sector even more than now. Nevertheless, Mr. Lino suggests that there might be a third optional way for a regulation body.

On October 22nd to November 16th  the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) will be held in Geneva. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is planning to update the international treaty on radio spectrum. The Portuguese Minister mentions that this conference will create grounds for further work in the sector.

Further steps:

• ‘Regulation convergence, converging regulation’ conference on September 28th, 2007, in Lisbon
  
• Telecom package launch: Mid-October 2007. (Postponed for mid-November)
  
• Telecommunications Council November 29th, 2007.
  
• The Council is expected to adopt a decision concerning the selection and granting of licenses for 2 GHz frequency bands for the implementation of systems providing mobile satellite services.

For more information (read the article in Europolitics), please click here
To access the Communication on the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2007, please click here
To read more about the ‘Regulation convergence, converging regulation’ conference please click here