General authorizations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services (common framework)

OBJECTIVE: to complete the regulatory framework with a view to the complete liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 1998, by proposing a common framework for the granting of general authorisations and licences. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a directive is designed to supplement Directive 90/388/EEC and lays down the rules to be respected at national level when granting authorisations in the field of telecommunications services. The Member States will not be required to impose an authorisation system, but those who do so will have to comply with the following principles: - they may only limit the number of new operators to the extent required to ensure the efficient use of radio frequencies; - priority must be given to the general authorisations system over that for individual licences, as the latter are only required if the beneficiary wishes to access scarce resources (radio frequencies, numbers, public or private land); - procedures must be open, transparent and non-discriminatory, with priority given to the least restrictive system and the possibility of appeal; - the procedures for granting authorisation and the conditions involved must be harmonised; - cross-border services must be respected. �