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Committees:
The Communications Committee has been established under the new regulatory framework for electronic communications which entered into force on 24 April 2002, with a view to replace the ONP Committee and the Licensing Committee which are instituted under the 1998 regulatory package for telecommunications. The committee assists the Commission in carrying out its executive powers under the new regulatory framework and the Regulation on the .eu Top Level Domain. The committee exercises its function through advisory and regulatory procedures in accordance with the Council Comitology Decision. The committee furthermore provides a platform for an exchange of information on market developments and regulatory activities.
The Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC) has been established under the Radio Spectrum Decision 676/2002/EC as part of the new regulatory framework for electronic communications which entered into force on 24 April 2002. The RSC assists the Commission in the development and adoption of technical implementing measures aimed at ensuring harmonised conditions for the availability and efficient use of radio spectrum, as well as the availability of information related to the use of radio spectrum. The committee exercises its function through advisory and regulatory procedures in accordance with the Council Comitology Decision.
The ONP Committee was originally established in 1990 under the ONP Framework Directive 90/387/EC, but deals with all issues arising from the other ONP Directives (e.g. on leased lines, voice telephony and interconnection). The ONP Committee meetings are attended by representatives of the Member States and the EEA countries as well as the candidate countries, including the independent national regulatory authorities. The Committee exercises both advisory and regulatory functions. In practice, the Committee plays a key role in encouraging co-operation between Member States at a working level. It enables Member States to seek guidance and clarification from the Commission on particular issues which arise in implementing the Directives. The Committee is closely involved in the preparation of important elements of market regulation such as the Commission Recommendations on Interconnection, the annual Leased Line Report and the implementation of the Regulation on Local Loop Unbundling
The Licensing Committee was established in 1997 under the Licensing Directive 97/13/EC, but is referred to also by the S-PCS Decision as well as the UMTS Decision. The Committee meetings are attended by representatives of the Member States and the EEA countries, including the independent national regulatory authorities. The Licensing Committee exercises both advisory and regulatory functions. The Committee is involved principally in the harmonisation of conditions for licensing and in the establishment of a one-stop shopping procedure as well as in discussing the need for harmonisation of spectrum. It is consulted (as an advisory committee) on the mandates which the Commission submits to CEPT/ECTRA and CEPT/ERC, and gives a formal opinion as a regulatory committee on final proposals for decisions on harmonised conditions to be applied in Member States.
The Digital Broadcasting Expert Group was established by the ONP Committee on 4th October 2000. Its aim is to share good practice regarding the transposition of the TV standards directive 95/47 and to advise on technical, market and regulatory issues related to digital broadcasting, including digital radio with a view to promoting best practice.