Activities of Malcolm HARBOUR related to 2010/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Universal service and '112' emergency number (short presentation)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on universal service and the 112 emergency number PDF (215 KB) DOC (135 KB)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas evolving technology, especially affordable mobile telephony, is now providing basic telecom service access to the majority of citizens;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas it is not yet possible to assess the implementation of the revised USDbenefits expected from implementation of the users rights reforms of the revised Universal Services and Users Rights Directive given that the transposition deadline is 25 May 2011 and the three year period required before an evaluation hasof the correct and comprehensive implementation of all provisions in the Directive has only just begun;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Single Market can never be truly considered as complete and should always be reassesscontinually be adapted according to evolving societal needs and technological developments, social protection guarantees, economic development and growth should always be safeguardedhe adaptation of basic safety net social protections and technological progress and the emergence of innovative solutions, whereas furthermore measures to promote growth and jobs are key to ensureing that the Single market brings tangible benefits for citizens;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas, several recent disasters have shown that early warning and alert of citizens in case of imminent or developing major emergencies and disasters is necessary in view of reducing suffering and the loss of life;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the importance ofConsiders that the existing EU legislative provisions for Universal sService obligations (USOs) as a safety net for social inclusiveness where market forces alone have failed to provide basic services to citizens and businesses, as part of the Universal Services and Users Rights Directive, are no longer appropriate for current technology and citizens' demands; considers that a major reform is necessary;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Supports the Digital Agenda's ‘Broadband for all’ objectives and is convinced that universal access to broadband helps citizens and business to reap the full benefits of the Digital Single Market, in particular by improving social inclusion, creating new opportunities for socially and environmentally innovative businesses driving jobs, growth and more opportunities for cross border trade; to this end, supports the promotion of digital literacy;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that a combiningation of policies and technologies (such as wired, cable, fibre, mobile, and satellite networks) can foster the development of new on-line services and applications by businesses and public bodies such as e- governance, e-health, e-education, driving demand for faster Internet connections, making investments in open broadband networks more profitable and therefore encouraging public-private partnerships;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that imposing an obligation on broadband availability will not automatically result in higher take-up; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to reinforce measures to drive demand and stimulate take-up, rather than just ensuring a connection; considers furthermore that Universal service obligations couldmight eventually become an additional incentive to the development of broadband, but that properly designed national programmes should achieve universal broadband objectives;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that imposing a universal broadband obligation prematurely is likely to undermine what enterprises may carry out voluntarily; accordingly calls on the Commission to complete the ongoing impact assessment and provide legislators with sound data on the existing take-up, the expected demand and improvement of USOs through broadband, and finally, an analysis of the most effective financing package, for Member States, consumers and undertakings, for rolling out USOs;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission, in parallel and in collaboration with the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), to carefully monitor markets to ensure that those Member States which are already able to, or wish to, provide USOs across the range of broadband technologies and speeds, to bare able to do so without actually causing a distortions in the market, and therefore only do so in cases of clear market failure so as not to inhibit private investments in networks;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission and Member States, with the contribu in consultation ofwith the NRAs, to examine the options for an even application of USOsthe users rights provisions in the reformed Directive which would guarantepromote accessibility for vulnerable groups not only through introduction of special terminal equipment and tariffs, but also through the availability of adequate information, and real consumer choice of available services and after-sales services;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Considers nevertheless that the basic provision for funding universal service, ensuring it is handled in a non discriminatory and transparent manner, should remain in the EU legislation and should be extended to cover data as well as voice obligations;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that the European emergency 112 number can be a life saving number and increases the protection of EU citizens;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets however that the European emergency ‘112’ number is far from having reached its full potential; accordingly considers that basic steps need still to be taken with regard to its recognition by citizens, along with other issues relevant to technology and better coordination;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on Member States to make use of the best points of disseminating information on the 112 emergency number through which a great number of households can be easily informed, in particular doctor surgeries and pharmacies, schools, hospitals and clinics, airports and train stations, given that the 112 number is particularly useful to travellers, as well as the information portals of the national emergency services;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Notes however that Member States have existing and longstanding emergency numbers and emphasises that it is important not to compromise awareness or cause confusion over which number to dial;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CRegrets that Member States do not yet ensure the provision of timely, accurate and reliable location information to the 112 services, taking into account that caller-location information should be available within a few seconds to provide valuable information to dispatchers and first responders; accordingly calls on Member States to improve the accuracy and reliability of caller location information under the new EU telecoms rules and upgrade their technology with the ultimate goal of automatic and timely localisation;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Requests financing to be made available andMember States and the Commission to roll out measures improving access to finance and the support for research projects to be supported to ensure the development of the best possible technologies for identifying of caller location, including through VoIP, and thereforeaccordingly supports the development of next generation standards and regulations;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights the importance of better coordination between emergency bodies both at national and cross border/European Union level to achieve the highest level of effectiveness and, to this end, calls on the Commission to support and co-ordinate with Member State administrations to explore ways to improve interoperability between their systems;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to set reliability requirements at the earliest possible date and establish immediate reaction indicators as performance targets;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recommends the exchange of best practices particularly on usingbetween the NRAs, emergency services and Civil Society Organisations of the Member States, extending this exchange to organisations in EU candidate and neighbouring countries; recommends specifically the exchange of best practices between Member States as regards the handling of 112 calls, for example on operator training, the use of a single operator to handle a call and the use of interpretation services that could help peoplthose who do not speak the language of the country in which they are using the emergency services;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Emphasises the need to guarantee the accessibility of the 112 number to people with different types of disability and vulnerable groups and urges for the standardisation of 112 accessibilityin particular for accessibility to be standardised for 112 for these peoplegroups;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to carry out a study on the performances of the 112 number services to date and on the co- operation between the relevant bodies aimed at improving the service; calls furthermore on the Commission to consider the possibility of extending the 112 service from voice calls to SMS so that texting "112" triggers an emergency response;