Activites

• 1999/05/28 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1999/02/09 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0076/1999 summary

    The European Parliament voted to adopt the resolution on the Commission communication on the first monitoring report on universal service in telecommunications in the European Union. This report by Imelda Mary Read (PSE,UK) expresses the European parliament's hope that the many gaps in the information supplied by Member States will be made good in subsequent reports. It is surprised by a fall in the rate of household penetration by the telephone and feels that this requires an explanation. The Parliament feels that not enough is being done to provide special tariffs for low-income users nor to provide "special arrangements" for disabled users and therefore considers that a distinction should be made between occasional users and disadvantaged users as regards tariff arrangements to the advantage of the latter. It is concerned by the lack of clear specifications in national rules and regulations on arrangements for measuring affordability and calls for measures to reinforce consumers' rights and, by means of a comparison of Member State criteria for measuring affordability, achieve greater non-binding harmonisation of the relevant national legislation. It draws attention to the obligation of Member States to provide affordable prices throughout their territory, including rural and high-cost areas. The report stresses that the strong growth in cellular telephone penetration does not justify cutting back on public payphones. The Parliament considers that, as soon as competition permitted, it could be desirable to for the choice of operator responsible for the universal service to be determined by competitive tendering, having due regard to the quality of service provided. It places priority on the need to promote public internet access for all, to be considered when the ONP directives come up for review in 2000. Finally, it wishes to see an increased provision of schemes which provide automatic conversion to the supply of services most suited to users' consumption patterns.�

• 1999/01/27 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1998/10/28 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0386/1998
• 1998/04/29 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• #2071
• 1998/02/26 Council Meeting
  • 2071
• 1998/02/25 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(1998)0101 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to provide an overview of the situation on the eve of the full liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in most European Union countries. SUBSTANCE: this communication is the first monitoring report on universal service in the telecommunications sector and coincides with the launch of full telecommunications liberalisation across the European Union. The report confirms the gradual but continuing improvement in service levels, price and quality which marked the 1996 report. The number of households without telephone service has continued to decline and so too has the gap in telephone line penetration between Member States. Demand for second telephone lines and traffic on existing lines has grown as the Internet phenomenon has accelerated. The number of users of mobile communications is also growing strongly in the Union, in particular where there is real competition between operators (i.e. when at least 3 service providers have launched mobile telecommunications services). At the same time that use of Internet and mobile communications is growing strongly, national regulatory authorities are devoting more attention to the needs of lower income and disadvantaged consumers. However the lack of monitoring information indicates that some Member States are still not taking sufficient measures to identify the 'un-telephoned' and the reasons why they do not subscribe to services. With respect to tariffs and affordability, overall price levels appear to have fallen since 1990 and most consumers are better off in real terms. Generally this trend has been more beneficial for average rather than occasional users. In establishing a framework for full telecommunications liberalisation from 1998 onwards, the European Union has established measures both to safeguard universal service and at the same time to improve consumer rights. In practice, the majority of Member States have not seen the need at this stage to establish specific schemes for the sharing of any costs related to universal service obligations. In conclusion the Commission considers that the benefits of competition and choice should extend to all citizens, irrespective of income and location. The Commission therefore intends to continue its efforts to improve the monitoring of developments throughout the Union, including the implementation of the range of consumer protection measures included in the amended Voice Telephony Directive. In addition, the Commission will re-examine universal service in the European Union in the context of the review of European Union telecommunications legislation, to be undertaken by the end of 1999. The Commission will focus its monitoring activities on the areas which appear to be of the greatest concern, including households without telephone service, affordability and related consumer protection issues, the situation of low income and disabled users, the state of affairs at a regional level and, in the context of the growing use of Internet, the situation for schools, hospitals and libraries. �

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(1998)0101
• Debate in Council: 2071
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0386/1998
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0076/1999

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)