Blog

Telecoms regulators rebuff the Commission’s spectrum proposals ahead of the European elections

Eurosceptic politicians are expected to make big gains at the European elections this week, but they are not the only ones criticising Brussels.
| PolicyTracker

BEREC, the body that represents European regulators, has just issued a stinging critique of the European Commission’s flagship “connected continent” proposals.

The body, which was created in 2010 as a way for national regulators to spread best practice among themselves, published its views on the state of the legislation following its first reading in the European Parliament. It described the spectrum aspects of the legislation as “a radical set of proposals and significant transfer of powers to the Commission”.

Measures to promote consistent and synchronised auctions would be a “new layer of bureaucracy” that “could slow down spectrum release, and would not necessarily lead to more efficient spectrum usage,” it added.

On the Parliament’s amendment to introduce retroactive minimum duration licences, it said: “Changing licence durations retroactively risks distorting competition and creates legal uncertainty, as well as introducing inefficiencies and sterilizing the use of scarce resources”.

This is not the first time BEREC has criticised the proposals. For example, despite meetings with the Commissioner responsible for them, Neelie Kroes, BEREC’s official reaction to the Commission’s initial plan warned that “an inaccurate diagnosis can lead to the wrong prescription”.

The legislation is currently under discussion at the inter-governmental European Council, which we gather is likely to strike down the package’s euro-centralising spectrum aspects.

It all amounts to quite a legacy for whoever takes over from Neelie Kroes as digital agenda commissioner after the elections. Will her successor share her “steelie” views on spectrum?

Blog

Tags:
Blog
Img Alt

Newsletter

Discover why hundreds of regulators and technology companies use our services

SUBSCRIBE
Comments
UK mobile operators warn of Vodafone/Three spectrum dominance
Update (March 22, 2024): The CMA has..." by Richard Haas
Mar 22, 2024
Telefónica criticises EU Orange/MásMóvil merger decision
The Spanish government approved the..." by Mirva Villa
Mar 13, 2024
Exclusive: Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau on WRC-23 
Noted and amended. Many thanks Nikolai." by Laura Sear
Mar 13, 2024
Exclusive: Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau on WRC-23 
Not everyone knows that NOW4WRC23..." by Nikolai Shienok
Mar 13, 2024
Regulators should prioritise social welfare, not infrastructure targets
Richard, thanks for amending the text...." by Nikolai Shienok
Feb 16, 2024