On 24 May 2005 the European Commission issued the "Communication on the Review of the Scope of Universal Service in accordance with Article 15 of Directive 2002/22/CE" (Universal Service Directive) and its associated Working Document.
The purpose of this Communication is to evaluate the possible need to change the scope of universal service, considering recent technological, social and economic developments, as well as to launch a broad debate on the provision of universal service, in light of the global analysis of the 99 Revision package, which will take place in 2006.
In general terms, the Commission concludes that the electronic communications market has had a positive evolution and that currently consumers have access to a wide range of services, namely mobile and broadband, and that there is no need to modify the present legislation regarding universal service obligations.
However, the Commission recognizes that, considering the challenges placed by technological evolution since 2002, especially at the level of electronic communications which are increasingly based on the Internet and new technologies, such as voice over IP (VoIP), it is necessary to rethink the universal service and users’ rights. Therefore, the possible adoption of future changes to the universal service’s legal framework is under consideration, aiming at equalizing the ‘statute' of broadband Internet access and mobile communications to that of traditional fixed access telephony. Additionally, this Communication issues other questions in connection with the financing of the universal service.
The Commission intends to publish a second Communication that will include the comments received in the scope of this public consultation.
Comments to the two documents now published can be sent to the Commission through the electronic mail infso-b1@cec.eu.int until 15 of June, stating the subject "Universal Service scope review".
Consult:
- Directive 2002/22/EC https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=93331
- Communication COM (2005) 203 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=275468
Further information:
- Safeguarding e-communications services for all in the internet era: Commission opens policy debate http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/594&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en
- On the Review of the Scope of Universal Service in accordance with Article 15 of Directive 2002/22/EC http://europa.eu.int/information_society/policy/ecomm/doc/info_centre/communic_reports/universal_service/com_2005_203_en.pdf
- Your Voice in Europe - consultations http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Electronic communications - regulatory framework (2002) https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=130696
- Telephone Service at a Fixed Location and Universal Service https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=16441
