POLICIES :: eCommunications :: Current topics
Current topics
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Building on the foundations laid by the revised telecommunications rules, the Commission is carrying forward its work in a number of key policy issues falling within its scope. In this section, you will be able to monitor developments that are taking place in those areas.
Net
neutrality questionnaires are being sent to telecoms operators.
In conjunction with the Commission and BEREC, National Regulatory Authorities
from the 27 Member States will send a questionnaire to network operators and
internet service providers asking for information on various aspects relating to
net neutrality including blocking or hindering of applications such as VoIP or
internet messaging services, and throttling or degrading of traffic. This
request is part of the Commission's efforts to develop a solid evidence base
around the current state of net neutrality.
The Commission is urging other stakeholders including over the top players,
content providers and consumer organisations to provide BEREC and the Commission
with their responses to the questions set out in the questionnaire. Responses
will be received up to 20 January 2012.
Background
The Commission adopted a Communication on 19 April 2011 and underlined the need
to ensure that citizens and businesses are easily able to access an open and
neutral internet. In its Communication, the Commission noted it would remain
vigilant on how the new EU telecoms rules on transparency, quality of service
and the ability to switch operator would be applied in the Member States. The
Commission said it would pay close attention to the existence of generalised
restrictions of lawful services and applications. In its Communication, the
Commission asked BEREC to undertake a rigorous fact-finding exercise on issues
crucial to ensuring an open and neutral internet, including barriers to changing
opertors, blocking or throttling internet traffic (eg voice over IP),
transparency and quality of service following which it would assess the need for
more stringent measures.
Questionnaire
Instructions
to respondents
The revised telecoms framework recognises the importance for EU citizens of preserving the openness of the Internet and provides a number of regulatory tools to help ensure this outcome. In April 2011, the Commission published a Communication on the open Internet and net neutrality in Europe, outlining the way forward in this area. The Commission will be looking at how the rules on transparency, switching and quality of service that form part of the revised regulatory framework are being implemented in the Member States.
The Commission will also be working together with BEREC (the body bringing together national telecoms regulators) to explore a number of issues that may have an impact on the openness of the Internet, including in particular barriers to switching, practices of blocking and throttling of internet traffic, transparency for end-users and quality of service.
The EU Roaming Regulation of 2007 tackled the persistent problem of high mobile roaming charges by introducing caps on mobile roaming charges for voice calls both at the wholesale (between operators) and the retail (consumer) level. The Regulation was then revised in 2009 to cover voice calls, SMS and data roaming via mobile phone or computer.
Solving the roaming problem is one of the key targets of the Digital Agenda for Europe for attaining the Digital Single Market. The Roaming Regulation will expire on 30 June 2012, unless extended by Parliament and Council on the basis of a proposal from the Commission. In the meantime the Commission has the task to review its functioning and report to the European Parliament and to the Council by 30 June 2011. Learn more about Roaming.
Universal service rules act as a means to guard against social exclusion by ensuring that every EU resident can access basic communications services. In 2010, the Commission organised a wide public consultation on the future of universal service principles.
In November 2011, the Commission adopted a Communication on universal service in e-communications reporting on the outcome of the public consultation and its third periodic review of the scope of universal service. In addition, the Communication identifies those areas where further guidance would be appropriate to ensure consistent implementation of the universal service rules, in particular in the broadband environment. Boosting regulatory predictability for the telecommunications sector will promote investment and competition in the Digital Single Market and work to the benefit of innovation, consumer choice and affordability. The Commission will pursue a dialog with Member States, European Parliament, BEREC and other stakeholders on these matters.
Privacy in electronic communications
Data breach notifications
User privacy is a cornerstone of the revised EU telecoms rules. Telecoms
operators and Internet Service Providers may be holding a variety of personal
data about their customers, such as their name, address and bank account
details. They also keep information about their phone calls, internet
connections and the places where they have used your mobile phone. In general,
providers are required by EU law to keep this data confidential and secure and
to report any breaches of security that may occur. The Commission is currently
preparing additional rules to make sure that data breaches are reported in a
consistent manner across the EU.
Online behavioural advertising, cookies and your communications device
Surfing the Internet often involves visited websites installing 'cookies' or
similar data on your computers, which can be used to monitor your online
behaviour for advertising or other purposes. The revised telecoms framework
contains provisions to safeguard the confidentiality of data on users’ computers
and smartphones and sets out rules for the use of ‘cookies’ and similar devices.
In particular, the rules require that information be provided and users’
‘consent’ obtained with regard to the use of ‘cookies’ or similar devices. In
order to facilitate the implementation of the EU rules in this area, the
Commission has encouraged the media and advertising industry to develop
technical tools and procedures to make sure that online behavioural advertising
is performed with transparency and that you are in control of what happens on
your device and with your data.
First Radio Spectrum Policy Programme
The revised regulatory framework invites the Commission to submit a multi-annual Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The general objective to be achieved by the RSPP is stated in Article 8a(3) of the Framework Directive: "The Commission, taking utmost account of the opinion of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), established by Commission Decision 2002/622/EC of 26 July 2002 establishing a Radio Spectrum Policy Group, may submit legislative proposals to the European Parliament and the Council for establishing multiannual radio spectrum policy programmes. Such programmes shall set out the policy orientations and objectives for the strategic planning and harmonisation of the use of radio spectrum in accordance with the provisions of this Directive and the Specific Directives."
On the basis of this provision of the Framework Directive, and following the Opinion of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group, the European Commission has already issued a proposal for the first radio Spectrum Policy Programme which is currently in the legislative process involving the European Parliament and Council.
Learn more about the RSPP
