Public Workshop
organised in the context of the public consultation
on universal service principles in e-communications

Agenda

09h00 – 09h30

Registration and coffee

09h30 – 09h45

Opening remarks by the Chairman, Peter Rodford , Head of Unit, Policy Development, DG Information Society and Media

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Background to the review of universal service principles

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Objectives of the public consultation / workshop

09h45 –10h15

First session: Setting the scene

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Current concept and principles of universal service

Petri Koistinen , Policy Development, DG Information Society and Media

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Universal service implementation in the Member States

Miriam Mendioroz , Implementation of the Regulatory Framework, DG Information Society and Media

Bogdan Dospinescu , End-User Working Group of BEREC, Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications

10h15 – 10h45

Second session: Universal service and broadband policies

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Provisions in the 2002 regulatory framework and Commission's recent assessment of scope of universal service (Communication of September 2008)

Petri Koistinen , Policy Development, DG Information Society and Media

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Broadband strategy in the context of Europe 2020

Frank Mather, Lisbon strategy and i2010, DG Information Society and Media(*)

10h45 – 11h00

Break

11h00 – 12h30

Third session: Broadband availability

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EU instruments for supporting broadband roll-out

State aid rules on broadband deployment - Annette Kliemann , States Aids, DG Competition

Cohesion policy: support to broadband investment - John Walsh [4177 KB], Thematic coordination, innovation, DG Regional Policy

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National plans for supporting broadband roll-out

Frédérique Delaugerre , Responsable du Bureau Règlementation nationale et communautaire, Service des Technologies, de l’Information et des Communications, Ministère de l’Economie, de l’Industrie et de l’Emploi, France

Nigel Hickson, Head of Global ICT policy, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, United Kingdom(*)

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Broadband in 'new' Member States

Michał Iwaszko , Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Infrastructure, Poland

Cristian Stanciu , ANCOM, The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications, Romania

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Industry viewpoint

The viewpoint of network operators - Michael Bartholomew, Director, ETNO, European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association(*)

The viewpoint of new entrants - Victoria Hanley-Emilsson , Public Affairs, ECTA, European Competitive Telecommunication Association

The viewpoint of mobile operators – Martin Whitehead , Director, GSMA Europe

The viewpoint of satellite operators – Stefano Agnelli [1300 KB], Coordinator of Space Policy, ESOA, European Satellite Operators Association

12h30 – 14h00

Lunch

14h00 – 15h00

Fourth session: Broadband affordability and accessibility

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Broadband trends and take-up in the EU; the new rules of the 2009 Telecom Package concerning users' rights, e-accessibility

Petri Koistinen , Policy Development, DG Information Society

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Why some households are not taking up broadband?

Eurobarometer household surveys - Christian Micas , Policy Development, DG Information Society and Media

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Consumer viewpoint

Levi Nietvelt, Economic Officer, BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation(*)

Chiara Giovannini , Programme Manager, ANEC, the European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation

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Disability viewpoint

Nadège Riche , Policy Officer, European Disability Forum

15h00 – 15h15

Break

15h15 – 16h00

Fifth session: National flexibility and coordination at EU level

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2002 provisions on flexibility and recital in the 2009 Telecom Package

Petri Koistinen , Policy Development, DG Information Society and Media

16h00 – 16h50

Sixth session: Financing

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Current provisions on financing and situation in the Member States

Petri Koistinen , Policy Development, DG Information Society and Media

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Preliminary findings of an ongoing study commissioned by DG Information Society and Media

Tine Debusschere, Director, Van Dijk Management Consultants

Note that this study is ongoing; its publication is subject to an impact assessment report by the Commission in the context of legislative proposals, if any.

16h50

Concluding remarks by the Chairman

(*) No slides