Europe's way to the information society: an action plan
The Committee expressed its support for the Commission
Communication and made the following comments: - it endorsed the
liberalisation of telecommunications infrastructure and services for its
potential to improve the quality of life of citizens; - it pointed out that
the relevant powers of the Member States, particularly their powers to
regulate the media and broadcasting, should be preserved; - it would make
such liberalisation dependent on the prior and effective guarantee of
universal service in strict compliance with the principle of economic and
social cohesion; - it considered that a rigorous study should be made of the
impact of applications in the social, economic and cultural spheres so that
suitable measures could be adopted to ensure that the transition to the new
information society was socially acceptable. It considered that the principle
of ensuring universal provision of essential public information regardless of
the citizen’s ability to pay should be embraced by local and regional bodies
in preparing for and consolidating the information society. It offered itself
as a potential basis for the development of an information network connecting
the local and regional authorities of