Telecommunications : competitive environment (amend. Directives 90/387/EEC, 92/44/EEC)

The rapporteur, Mr HERMAN (EPP, B), listed a number of points that he considered essential: - the need to have specific legislation for the universal service; - the distinction between operator interconnection and customers interconnection to the same networks; - the definition of the service’s position in the marketplace; - the fact that legislation specific to broadcasting activities was irreplaceable; - the authentification of the transmitted information as one of the main criteria for data protection. The rapporteur pointed out that the success of market deregulation in the telecommunications sector depended on having a truly independent regulatory authority. He also thought that it would be useful to combine the powers of the ONP Committee with those of the new EU Telecommunications Committee for controlling the issue of general permits and individual licences in the telecommunications sector. Commissioner BANGEMANN wanted to provide reassurance as to the consequences of opening up the telecommunications market and to this effect cited the encouraging examples of Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom; finally, he pointed out that when operators applied for a licence, to take Ireland as an example, they would have to undertake to provide the service to the whole territory, and not just in Dublin.