Telecommunications services, use of cable television networks

The Council adopted the following conclusions on the draft Commission Directive amending Commission Directive 90/388/EEC regarding the abolition of the restrictions on the use of cable television networks for the provision of telecommunications services. ‘The COUNCIL: - TAKES NOTE of the request put to it by the Commission, on 27 February 1995, concerning any comments the Council might have on the draft Commission Directive amending Directive 90/388/EEC regarding the abolition of the restrictions on the use of cable television networks for the provision of telecommunications services; - EMPHASISES that this draft is to be viewed in the light of the Telecommunications Council meeting on 17 November 1994, resulting in the Council Resolution of 22 December 1994 and statements made on that occasion; - NOTES that, when the draft was examined by the Council’s subordinate bodies, a series of complex questions, the main subjects of which are listed in the Annex, were put to the Commission by delegations; - NOTES that, after giving some initial answers, the Commission undertook to submit more precise written replies; - TAKES NOTE of the working document presented by the Commission; - TAKES NOTE of the public consultations held by the Commission following publication of its draft Directive in the Official Journal of the European Communities; - INVITES those Member States which so wish to forward their detailed comments as soon as possible to the Commission and to the other Member States, via the General Secretariat of the Council, particularly in the light of the Commission’s written replies; - EMPHASISES that these conclusions are without prejudice to Member States’ positions on the form and content of the draft Directive put forward by the Commission; - CALLS UPON the Commission to give the greatest consideration to these positions in following up the procedure initiated. Annex MAIN SUBJECTS OF THE QUESTIONS PUT TO THE COMMISSION - Scope; - distortion of competition, inter alia: = transparent and non-discriminatory access; = position of national operators; - discrimination; - operators concerned; - interconnections; - reciprocity; - timetable; - transitional periods; - interaction with public voice telephony; - accompanying measures; - authorisations; - accounting requirements.’