GREEN PAPER ON THE CONVERGENCE OF THE  TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA AND INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY SECTORS, AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR  REGULATION

Towards an Information Society Approach

Market entry and licensing  There are differences within the telecommunications, media and IT sectors with regard  to whether or not market entry is unrestricted, limited or subject to monopoly or special rights. The IT sector is  generally free of licensing procedures.

IV.2 Tackling the barriers - The regulatory issues

Licensing

Many activities and areas in the computing, and IT areas are not subject to licensing requirements. That is likely to continue to be the case in  the future and the Commission sees no reason why there should be any change in this practice, providing IPR issues are effectively  addressed.

At the same time, licensing is likely to remain a key regulatory tool through which public authorities can exercise control over their national  markets, particularly in relation to the provision of telecommunications and broadcasting networks and services.   Any assessment of the justification for, and effectiveness of, licensing procedures must in the first instance be made in the context of the  specific sector to which these rules are applied. Nevertheless, the range of potential barriers identified in Chapter III

linked to licensing  suggests that this issue could need to be examined more closely in the light of technology and market trends.  Some commentators argue that a key aim must be to make it easier to get into the market and to move towards lighter obligations applied in  a consistent manner across the converged environment. They are therefore encouraged by examples in the computing, Internet and on-line   publishing industries, where a degree of self-regulation, for example, in relation to harmful or illegal content on the Internet, has  supplemented the application of general laws, such as competition or consumer protection rules applying across whole range of economic activity. Even so, self-regulation is not without risks for the Internal Market given the greater possibility for divergent approaches in developing self-regulation, unless co-ordinated to some degree at a Community level.

At the same time, even where licensing systems are not needed and self-regulatory solutions are proposed, consumers may still require  guarantees that their interests are adequately protected and that the respective responsibilities of service providers and operators are  identified with regard to the consumer. Consumers should be fully involved with the development and operation of any self-regulatory  approaches.

The global dimension of the Internet and other communications and broadcast services will also impact on approaches to the enforcement  of licensing, and call into question the relevance of national licensing of activities carried out either within a Member State or delivered by  regional platforms, for example, by satellite.

Encouraging innovation and efficient operation through licensing. Awarding authorities could consider moving away from licensing  approaches which prevent innovation or limit efficient operation. One example, in the telecommunications area, would be tying the delivery of  services to a particular technological platform - for instance, by requiring separate licensing (beyond frequency assignment procedures) for  a fixed network operator wishing to use wireless-based systems in the local loop. A new approach to the licensing of broadcast services  may be necessary. At present broadcasters are, generally speaking, licensed or authorised on a channel-by-channel basis by the relevant  authorities within each Member State. These systems, which are a product of tradition and the historical development of television  broadcasting services may require reviewing in a new multichannel digital environment. Possibilities such as the licensing of broadcasters  for a set of services (such as a satellite package or a terrestrial multiplex), rather than for individual channels should be evaluated. The 1996   UK Broadcasting Act, which provides for multiplex services licences for digital terrestrial television, is an example of what is perhaps the  beginning of a trend that should be encouraged.

Common principles for the award of licenses As indicated in Chapter III, divergent licensing conditions may deter market entry and act as a  barrier to an internal market. Where such barriers are identified, they would have to be justified by a public general interest objective and be  proportional to that objective.  To avoid such divergence, there may be scope for applying a common set of principles across the Community. These could include:

the awarding authorities should be independent from actors in the sector,   procedures should be transparent and non-discriminatory, set against defined timetables, leading to decisions which should  be open to appeal and  Any fees associated with a licence be in proportion to the level of effort involved in administering the licensing process, and  not constitute a discriminatory levy on expected profits.

Notwithstanding the previous principle, fees may, in the case of licensing of radio-frequency be set at a level which  encourages the efficient use of the resources allocated.

V.1 Principles for future regulatory policy in the sectors affected by convergence  

Irrespective of whether or not full convergence occurs, the range of technological and market trends, the potential barriers and the regulatory  issues identified in this Green Paper, all point to a changing environment against which the policy objectives of these sectors must be  judged. Future decisions must therefore not only be derived from regulatory approaches closely tailored to the sectors involved. They should   also be able to draw on a common understanding of principles which could underpin future action.

In this section, the Commission tentatively puts forward five such principles for comment.

Regulation should be limited to what is strictly necessary to achieve clearly identified objectives.

Given the speed, dynamism and power of innovation of the sectors impacted by convergence, public authorities must avoid  approaches which lead to over-regulation, or which simply seek to extend existing rules in the telecommunications and  media sectors to areas and activities which are largely unregulated today.

Any rules put in place should be tailored to meet clearly identified objectives in a proportionate manner,

Future regulatory approaches should respond to the needs of users

A key priority of any regulatory framework should be to seek to meet the needs of users in terms of offering them more choice,  improving levels of service and lower prices, whilst fully guaranteeing consumer rights and the general public interest. Such  an approach is fully consistent with wider policy goals which recognise the important role of many of the sectors in bringing  the Information Society into citizens’ everyday lives.

Regulatory decisions should be guided by a need for a clear and predictable framework.

Regulators should seek to ensure a clear and predictable framework within which business can invest. Where issues can be  left to market players, this should be made clear. Where new activities creates uncertainty as to how and if they should be   regulated, this should be clarified.

This does not mean that the framework may not evolve, but it should do so against predetermined criteria, maintaining as far  as possible the flexibility to respond to changes in a fast-moving market. Ensuring full participation in a converged environment.   Building on existing concepts of universal service in telecommunications and the public service mission in broadcasting,  public authorities should seek to ensure that everyone is able to participate in the Information Society. Convergence in this   context is likely to offer new means of participation.

Independent and effective regulators will be central to a converging environment.

Whilst the general trend is towards lighter regulation, the increased competition brought on by convergence underlines the  need for effective and independent regulators. Regulatory independence is particularly important where the state retains a   share-holding in any market player.

СРАВНИТЕЛНО-ПРАВЕН МАТЕРИАЛ

Австрия

Закон за телекомуникациите

Telecommunication authorities

§ 105. The telecommunication authorities are the Federal Minister of Science and Transport (highest telecommunication authority) and the Telecommunications Offices and the Approvals Office, which are subordinate to the highest telecommunication authority.

Responsibilities

§ 106. (1) The area of influence of the most senior telecommunication authority and the Approvals Offices comprises

the entire federal territory.

(2) The Telecommunications Offices are located:

1. in Graz for the Steiermark and Kдrnten provinces,

2. in Innsbruck for the Tirol and Vorarlberg provinces,

3. in Linz for the Upper Austria and Salzburg provinces and

4. in Vienna for the Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland provinces.

(3) Unless otherwise indicated, the relevant local Telecommunications Office is responsible for the official duties arising from this Federal Law.

If a particular measure affects the area of influence of two or more Telecommunications Offices, an agreement shall  be reached on the further procedure.

(4) The Approvals Office is responsible for

1. deciding on applications for type approval for radio systems,

2. deciding on applications for approval or type approval for terminal equipment and

3. revoking approvals and type approvals.

(5) The Federal Minister of Science and Transport (highest telecommunication authority) is responsible for

1. issuing basic instructions regarding the activities of the regulatory authority,

2. issuing and processing the regulations necessary for performing international contracts, with regard in particular to the use of

the frequency spectrum,

3. deciding on appeals against official notifications of the Telecommunications Offices and the Approvals Office, unless an independent administration senate assumes responsibility.

Telekom Control GmbH

Establishment

§ 108.(1) A company with limited liability and share capital of ATS 50 million will be established to ensure that regulatory requirements in the field of telecommunications are met. The company will have its headquarters in Vienna. The company will be non-profit-making.

(2) The company will manage a company by the name of " Telekom-Control Цsterreichische Gesellschaft fьr Telekommunikationsregulierung mit beschrдnkter Haftung" (Telekom-Control GmbH). Its shares are 100 % reserved by the Federal Government.

Administration of the share rights for the Federal Government is the responsibility of the Federal Minister of Science and Transport.

(3) The Federal Minister of Science and Transport is authorised, with the agreement of the Federal Minister of Finance, to sanction increases in the share capital.

(4) The Federal Minister of Science and Transport shall ensure that the supervisory board of Telekom-Control GmbH includes a representative of the Federal Minister of Finance.

(5) Unless otherwise indicated, the law governing companies with limited liability (RGBl. No. 58/1906) shall apply.

Functions

§ 109. Telekom-Control GmbH shall perform all the functions assigned to the regulatory authority in the Telecommunications Law

(Telekommunikationsgesetz) and in the decrees issued on the basis of this Law, unless the Telekom Control Commission (§ 111) bears responsibility for such functions. Telekom-Control GmbH shall take all the organisational measures to enable it to perform its functions and to enable the Telekom Control Commission to meet its obligations.

Telekom Control Commission

§ 110.(1) A Telekom Control Commission shall be set up to perform the functions specified in § 111.

(2) The Telekom Control Commission resides at Telekom-Control GmbH. Management of the Telekom Control Commission is the responsibility of Telekom-Control GmbH. In performing their activities for the Telekom Control Commission, the staff of

Telekom-Control GmbH shall be bound by the instructions of the Chair or other member designated in the rules of procedure.

Functions

§ 111. The Telekom Control Commission is assigned the following functions:

1. Issuing, withdrawing and revoking concessions and sanctioning the transfer and amendment of concessions in accordance with §§ 15, 16 and 23,

2. Approving business conditions and remunerations and exercising the right to object in accordance with § 18,

3. Defining the financial compensation to be paid from the universal service fund in accordance with § 29,

4. Defining the amount to be paid to the universal service fund in accordance with § 30,

5. Deciding which supplier is to be classed as having a dominant position on the market in accordance with § 33,

6. Defining the conditions for interconnection in the event of a dispute in accordance with §§ 37 and 38 and

7. Deciding on failure to comply with the ban on cross-subsidising in accordance with § 44.

Соmposition of the Telekom Control Commission

§ 112.(1) The Telekom Control Commission shall consist of 3 members appointed by the Federal

Government. One member shall belong to the judiciary. In appointing this member, the Federal Government shall take into consideration a tripartite proposal from the President of theSupreme Court. The appointment of the other two members shall be based on proposals by the Federal Minister of Science and Transport. It is important in this respect that one member should have relevant technical knowledge and that the other two should have relevant legal and economic expertise. Members shall serve on the Telekom Control Commission for a period of 5 years. Members may be re-appointed.

(2) The Federal Minister of Science and Transport shall appoint a substitute for each member. The substitute shall take the place of a member if the member is prevented from fulfilling his obligations.

(3) The following may not be members of the Telekom Control Commission:

1. members of the Federal Government or a regional government, or state secretaries;

2. persons who are in a close legal or actual relationship with anyone who makes use of the Telekom Control Commission;

3. persons who cannot be elected to the National Council.

(4) If a member of the Telekom Control Commission has failed to comply with invitations to three successive sessions without good cause or if a reason for excluding a member in accordance with Section 4 subsequently comes to light, the Telekom Control Commission shall conduct a hearing and adjudicate accordingly. If the Commission finds against the member, the member shall lose his membership.

(5) Sections 1, 3 and 4 shall apply analogously to substitute members.

(6) If a member dies, resigns voluntarily or leaves prematurely in accordance with Section 4, so the relevant substitute shall become a member of the Telekom Control Commission, and a new substitute shall be appointed on the basis of Sections 1 and 2 for the period of time the original member had left to serve.

(7) Members of the Telekom Control Commission may claim appropriate travel and cash expenses and a session fee to be decreed by the Federal Minister of Science and Transport in consultation with the Federal Minister of Finance in view of the significance and scope of the functions performed by the Telekom Control Commission.

Chair and rules of procedure

§ 113. (1) The judiciary member shall chair the Telekom Control Commission.

(2) The Telekom Control Commission shall define its rules of procedure; one of its members shall be entrusted with managing its day-to-day business.

(3) The Telekom Control Commission must be unanimous in its agreements. Abstention is not permitted.

Freedom from instruction

§ 114. In accordance with Article 20 Section 2 B-VG, members of the Telekom Control Commission are not bound by any instructions in the performance of their duties.

Procedural regulations, appeal

§ 115.(1) Unless otherwise specified in this Federal Law, the Telekom Control Commission shall apply the regulations of AVG 1991.

(2) The Telekom Control Commission is the highest court of appeal. Its decisions are not subject to revocation or amendment by administrative action.

Concessionary services

§ 14. (1) A concession is required for the provision of a mobile voice telephony service and other public mobile communications services by means of mobile communications networks that the provider operates himself, subject to § 20.

(2) A concession is also required for the provision of the following telecommunications services:

1. Public voice telephony service by means of a fixed telecommunications network that the provider operates himself and 

2. Public offer of leased lines by means of fixed telecommunications networks that the provider operates himself.

 Швейцария

.Закон за телекомуникациите

Комисия по комуникациите

Chapter 2: Telecommunications services

Section 1. Common provisions

Art. 4 Licence and notification requirements

1 Anyone providing a telecommunications service involving extensive independent use of telecommunications installations used for transmission must have a licence.

2 Anyone providing a telecommunications service in any other way must notify the Federal Office for Communications (the Office) accordingly.

3 The Federal Council may provide for exceptions, in particular for telecommunications services of limited economic and technical scope.

Art. 5 Licensing authority

1 The licensing authority shall be the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission; Arts. 56 and 57).

2 The Commission may delegate its responsibility for certain tasks to the Office.

Федералният Съвет назначава Федерална Комисия по Комуникациите, състояща се от 5 до 7 члена, както и  Председател и Заместник-председател на Комисията. Членовете й трябва да бъдат независими специалисти.

Комисията не е длъжна да изпълнява инструкции от Федералния Съвет при вземане на своите решения. Тя е независима от административните органи и има самостоятелен секретариат.   Комисията приема правила за своята организация и дейност, които следва да бъдат одобрени от Федералния Съвет.

Chapter 10: Communications Commission

Art. 56 Communications Commission

1 The Federal Council shall appoint a Federal Communications Commission consisting of five to seven members and shall  designate the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The members must be independent specialists.

2 The Commission shall not be required to follow instructions from the Federal Council or the Department when taking its  decisions. It shall be independent of the administrative authorities. It shall have its own secretariat.

3 The Commission shall adopt rules relating to its organisation and management, which must be approved by the Federal Council.

4 The Commission shall be funded by administrative charges. The Federal Council shall fix the detailed rules for  implementation.

Art. 57 Duties of the Commission

1 The Commission shall perform the duties and take the decisions for which it is responsible under the terms of this Law and its implementing provisions. It shall inform the public of its activities and produce a report each year for the Federal Council.

2 For the purpose of implementing telecommunications legislation, the Commission may seek the assistance of the Office and give it instructions.

Chapter 11: Supervision and legal remedies

Art. 58 Supervision

1 The Office shall ensure that licence-holders comply with international telecommunications law, this Law, its implementing provisions, and the licence conditions. It may assign certain supervisory tasks to organisations incorporated under private law and co-operate with such organisations.

2 If the Office finds an infringement of the laws in force, it may require the Commission to:

a. call on the licence-holder to remedy the infringement or take measures to prevent any repetition of it; the licence-holder must inform the authorities of the measures it has taken;

b. require the licence-holder to surrender to the Confederation any revenue generated during the infringement;

c. impose charges on the licence;

d. restrict, suspend, revoke or withdraw the licence.

3 The Commission shall withdraw the licence at the request of the Office, if essential conditions for granting it cease to be fulfilled.

4 If the responsibility for granting a licence has been delegated to the Office, the Office may itself order the measures listed in paragraphs 2 and 3 to be taken.

Art. 59 Obligation to disclose information

1 The licence-holder shall be required to provide the licensing authority with the necessary information to implement this Law.

2 Providers of telecommunications services subject to licence and notification requirements within the meaning of Article

4 shall be required to provide the Office regularly with the necessary information to produce official telecommunications statistics.

3 The Federal Council shall fix the detailed rules for implementation.

Art. 60 Failure to comply with the licence conditions or with a decision

1 Any provider of telecommunications services that seeks to gain by failing to comply with the licence conditions or a decision having force of law, shall be required to pay an amount up to three times the amount it has gained by its failure to comply. If the gain cannot be calculated or estimated, the enterprise may be required to pay up to 10 percent of the amount of its last annual turnover in Switzerland.

2 Cases of failure to comply shall be investigated by the Office and judged by the Commission.

Art. 61 Legal remedies

1 Decisions taken by the Commission shall be open to administrative appeal before the Federal Court.

2 Decisions taken by the Office shall be open to appeal before the Appeals Board.

3 The procedure shall be governed by the Law on Administrative Procedure [7] and by the Law on Judicial Organisation

[8], save as otherwise provided in this Law.

Норвегия

Закон за телекомуникациите

Орган по телекомуникациите по смисъла на закона е: Кралят, Министерството, Норвежкият борд за решаване на жалби и за консултации и Норвежкият телекомуникационен орган. Кралят разпределя функциите между регулиращите органи.

Органът по телекомуникациите може да издава правила за маркетинга, необходими за изпълнението на този закон; за техническите стандарти; за обхвата на вътрешните мрежи и за изграждането, оперирането и използването на тези мрежи; за трансмисионните мрежи за радио и телевизионно излъчване.

Органът по телекомуникациите следи за спазването на изискванията съгласно този закон и за изпълнението на договорите между телекомуникационните организации и потребителите.

Той може да издава правила за контрол и инспекция на телекомуникационните организации.

Органът по телекомуникациите може да реши да се създадат системи за вътрешен контрол, за да се гарантира приложението на разпоредбите на този закон.

Органът по телекомуникациите може да закрие телекомуникационна мрежа, телекомуникационен сервиз, апаратура или дейността на радио, когато никаква лицензия или одобрение, изисквани от този закон, не са били издавани, или когато дейността сериозно застрашава здравето и сигурността.

Германия

Закон за телекомуникациите, раздел "Регулиращ орган "

Създава се висш федерален орган, в рамките на дейността на Федералното министерство на икономиката като  регулиращ орган по пощите и телекомуникациите, за да изпълнява задачите, постановени с този закон или с  други актове. Седалището му е в Бон.  Регулаторният орган се ръководи от Председател, който представлява органа съдебно и извънсъдебно и  издава правила за работата на органа, които следва да бъдат потвърдени от Федералния министър на   икономиката.  Председателят и двама заместник-председатели се назначават от Федералното правителство по предложение на   Консултативния съвет.

Федералният министър на икономиката издава общи директиви, относно издаването на решенията по този закон,  които се публикуват в Официалния вестник на федерацията. Учредява се Консултативен съвет към регулиращия орган. Съветът се състои от 9 членове от Бундестага и 9 от   Бундесрата. Всички членове на Консултативния съвет и техните заместници се назначават от Федералното  правителство по предложение на Бундестага или Бундесрата, в зависимост от случая.  Членовете, предложени от Бундестага, се назначават за срока на мандата на Бундестага и те могат да бъдат  преназначавани.   Членовете, предложени от Бундесрата, се назначават за срок от 4 години и могат да бъдат преназначавани.  Консултативният Съвет приема свои процедурни правила, които изискват съгласието на Федералния министър на   икономиката.  Консултативният съвет избира Председател и заместник-председател от своя състав, съгласно процедурните  правила. За избран се счита кандидатът, получил мнозинство от гласовете на членовете. Ако никой не получи  мнозинство, провежда се повторно гласуване, при което се избира кандидата, получил най-много гласове.  Консултативноят съвет образува кворум, когато присъстват повече от половината от представителите на  Бундестага и Бундесрата. Решенията се вземат с обикновено мнозинство. Съветът заседава поне веднъж на всеки три месеца. Той се свиква на заседания по инициатива на контролния орган или на минимум трима членове. Председателят на съвета може да го свика по всяко време. По принцип,  заседанията са закрити. Председателят ня контролния орган и лицата, определени от него, могат да присъстват   на заседанията.  Консултативният съвет има следните функции: Предлага на Федералното правителство за назначаване председателя и заместник.председателите на регулиращия орган; Има право да изисква да бъдат взетимерки, необходими за осъществяването на целите на регулиране и за гарантирането на универсалните услуги; Има право да получава информация от регулаторния орган; Консултира регулиращия орган при изработването на плана за неговата дейност; Дава мнението си при изготвянето на плана за употребата на честоти; Регулиращият орган може да учредява експертни комисии, които да подготвят неговите решения или да дадат   своите мнения по въпроси на регулирането на телекомуникациите. Той следи за спазването на разпоредбите на този закон, както и на административни заповеди, издадени в   съответствие с него.  Органът може да забрани на доставчици на телекомуникационни услуги, подлежащи на лицензиране, които нямат изискваната лицензия или нямат валидна лицанзия, да извършват съответната дейност. С оглед изпълнението на своите функции, регулиращият орган има право: да изисква информация за икономическото състояние на компании и сдружения от компании, занимаващи се с   телекомуникации, и по-специално информация за техните разходи;  да проверява бизнес досиетата на компаниите, занимаващи се с телекомуникационни услуги; горепосочените контролни действия се извършват от органа по негова писмена заповед, в която се посочва   предмета и целта на изискваната информация. В тези случаи, компаниите са длъжни да предоставят исканата информация.

Швеция

Закон: Закон за далекосъобщенията

Наименование на органа: Публичен орган (контролиращ орган supervisory authority)

Конституиране: Конституира се от правителството

Section 4 a

Within a public telecommunications network, the following services may only be provided following notification to the authority appointed by the Government (the supervisory authority)

1. telephony services to a fixed termination point,

2. mobile telecommunications services,

3. other telecommunications services requiring allocation of capacity from the numbering plan for telephony under Section 21, and

4. network capacity.

Правомощия:

Section 6

Matters concerning licences are dealt with by the supervisory authority.

Section 7

The supervisory authority shall upon application, issue an advance decision if a licence according to Section 5 is required for any specific telecommunications activity. The advance decision applies to the time and on the preconditions in other respects as specified in the decision.

Правителството или упълномощения от него Орган може да издава актове относно отговорността на на далекосъобщителните  оператори при заплащане на дължимите такси.  Правителството или упълномощения от него Орган издава необходимите актове необходими за признаването на далекос.  оператори според Международната Конвенция за телекомуникациите   Контролиращият орган упражнява контрол за спазването на този закон и подзаконовите актове, издадени по приложението на  закона.  Може да изисква необходимата му информация и документи  Получава достъп до места, където се упражнява дейност, регулирана от този закон   При възникване на спор по прилагането на този закон или условията на лицензиите Органът трябва да разследва обстоятелствата по спора и да посредничи на страните. органът може да изразява становище ако страните поискат това.   Контролиращият орган може да налага санкции и да издава забрани с оглед спазването на този Закон, актовете по  приложението му и условиата на лицензиите.

Русия

Закон: Федерален закон за съобщенията

Наименование на органа: Министерство на далекосъобщенията

Правомощия:

Издава лицензии за действие в областта на далекосъобщенията, отдава честоти

Органите на изпълнителната власт издват сертификати за телекомуникационните устройства. На сертифициране могат да подлежат услуги за общо ползване. Разработва предложения за националната политика в областта на далекосъобщенията и за цялостното регулиране на сектора  Координация на фунционирането и развитието на електронните комуникации   Организация и обезпечение на държавния надзор и контрол върху дейностите в областта на далекосъобщенията  Разработва предложения за националната политика в областта на разпределението и използването на радиочестотния  спектър

Контрол: Неправомерните действия на Министерството по въпросите на лицензирането могат да се обжалват в съда или в арбитражен съд.

Финландия

Закон: Закон за радиото (Radio Act)

Наименование на органа: Център за администриране на далекосъобщенията (Telecommunication

Правомощия:

1. Издава лицензии

2. Контролира съвместимостта на радио оборудването

3. контролира спазването на този закон и актовете, издадени по неговото прилагане

4. Назначава инспектори (глава 16)

Центърът има право да забранява използването на радио оборудване ако то не отговаря на изискванията на закона.

Може да отнема изцяло или частично лицензия, ако не се спазват сроковете и условията, при които е издадена или се

нарушават международните актове по които Финландия е страна.  По изключителни причини лицензът може да бъде отнет за определен период.

Актове:  Заповеди (order) по отношение на всички, които нарушават виновно или по небрежност закона. Центърът може да налага глоби

Контрол: Актовете на Центърът се обжалват по административен ред пред министъра на транспорта и далекосъобщенията. Неговият акт се обжалва пред върховния административен съд.  

Франция

Закон: TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996

Закон за далекосъобщенията от 1996г.

Наименование на органа: Регулационен орган по далекосъобщенията

Конституиране: 5 члена, назначени на основата на юридически, технически или икономически опит за срок от 6 години.

Председателят и двама други членове се определят с decree . Останалите двама се назначават от Председателите на Националното събрание и Сената. Една трета от членовете, назначени с decree , се подновяват на всеки две години. Мандатът на членовете на  Регулационния орган не може да бъде прекъсван. Не могат да се преизбират. Хора над 65г. не могат да бъдат избирани за членове на Органа.

Органът формира фонд включващ плащанията за предоставени услуги и такси, платими по реда на Закона за финасите или  разпореждане на Държавния съвет.

Правомощия:  Председателят на Органа има право да се разпорежда с фондовете на Органа, изпраща доклад до Сметната палата.

Регулационният орган участва в изработването на регулирането на телекомуникационния сектор и го прилага.  По молба на министъра на телекомуникациите Органът участва в изработването на националната позиция в международни  договори по въпросите на телекомуникациите.  Регулационният орган установява правната рамка в следните области:

правата и задълженията възникнали при оперирането на различните видове мрежи и услуги (телекомуникационни)

разпоредби прложими към техническите и финансови условия по управление междусвързаността (interconnection)

технически правила приложими към мрежово и терминално оборудване при осигуряване на междусвързаност, преносимостта

на терминалните устройства и ефикасната употреба на радио честоти и телефонни номера

условията за установяване и фунциониране на мрежите (по чл. L33-2) и условията за управление на мрежите (по чл. L 33-3)

"Chapter IV

"The regulatory framework for telecommunications

"Art. L. 36.

"There shall be established a telecommunications regulatory authority as of 1 January 1997.

"Art. L. 36-1.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall consist of five members appointed according to their legal, technical and  territorial economic expertise for a term of six years. The chairman and two other members shall be appointed by decree. The two  other members shall be appointed by the chairman of the Assemblйe Nationale and by the chairman of the Sйnat. "One third of the members of the authority appointed by decree shall be renewed every two years.  "The members of the authority shall not be revocable.  "The telecommunications regulatory authority may only deliberate if at least three of its members are present.  "If a member is not able to complete his term of office, the member appointed to replace him shall hold office for the remainder of  the term of the person he is replacing.  "The chairman of the first telecommunications regulatory authority shall be appointed for a term of six years. The term of office of  the two other members appointed by decree shall be determined by the drawing of lots. One of the members shall be appointed for   a term of 4 years and the other for a term of 2 years. The term of office of the two members appointed by the chairmen of the  parliamentary assemblies shall be set by the drawing of lots, at four years for one and six years for the other.   "Members of the authority shall not be eligible for reappointment. However, this rule shall not apply to members who have held  office for a term not exceeding two years, as a result of the measure provided for in the above two paragraphs.   "Persons over sixty-five years old may not be appointed members of the authority.

"Art. L. 36-2.

"The office of member of the telecommunications authority shall be incompatible with any other professional activity, any national  elected office and any direct or indirect interest in a company in the telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology  sectors. The members of the telecommunications regulatory authority may not be members of the public service commission for  posts and telecommunications.

"The members of the authority shall not disclose any information brought to their attention during the exercise of their functions.

"The chairman and the other members of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall receive respectively a salary equal to  that pertaining to the two highest senior administration grades for civil servants.

"Art. L. 36-3.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall be provided with staff placed under the authority of its chairman.  "The telecommunications regulatory authority may employ civil servants currently in post, under the same conditions as the   telecommunications ministry. The telecommunications regulatory authority may recruit contractual staff.  "The staff employed by the telecommunications regulatory authority shall not disclose any facts, acts and information brought to   their knowledge during the performance of their functions.

"Art. L. 36-4.

"The resources of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall include payment for services provided, and the taxes and fees  payable under the conditions set out by the Finance Act or by State Council decree. "During the drafting of the annual Finance Act, the regulatory authority shall submit to the telecommunications minister its  proposals for the funds needed to carry out its functions, over and above the resources referred to in the first paragraph.  "These funds shall be included in the general State budget. The provisions of the law of 10 August 1922 on the control of  expenditure shall not be applicable to the management thereof.   "The chairman of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall have the power to authorise expenditure. He shall submit the  accounts of the telecommunications regulatory authority to the Revenue Court for auditing.

"Art. L. 36-5.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall participate in the drafting of enactments and regulations governing the telecommunications sector and shall enforce the application thereof.  "At the request of the telecommunications minister, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall participate in the preparation  of the French position in international negotiations on telecommunications issues. At the request of the minister, it shall participate  in representing France in the relevant international and European Union organisations.

"Art. L. 36-6.

"In accordance with the principles of this code and its enforcement orders, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall set  out the regulations governing the following: "

1) - the rights conferred and obligations arising out of the operation of the various categories of networks and services, in  accordance with articles L. 33-1 and L. 34-1;  "

2) - the provisions applicable to the technical and financial conditions governing interconnection, in compliance with article L.  34-8;

"3) - the technical rules applicable, where appropriate, to networks and terminal equipment to ensure interoperability, the portability

of terminals and the efficient use of radio frequencies and telephone numbers;

"4) - the conditions for establishing and operating the networks referred to in article L. 33-2 and the conditions governing the  operation of the networks mentioned in article L. 33-3. Decisions taken in accordance with this article shall be published in the  French Official Journal, after approval by an order of the telecommunications minister.

"Art. L. 36-7.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall:

"1) - examine, on behalf of the telecommunications minister, the licence applications made pursuant to articles L. 3-1, L. 34-1 and  L.34-3; issue the other licences and register the declarations required by chapter II; when licences are granted following a call for  applications, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall publish the reasoned outcome of the selection procedure;

"2) - issue or have issued the certificates of conformity provided for in article L. 34-9;

"3) - enforce the fulfillment of obligations incumbent on operators resulting from the legislative and regulatory provisions applicable  thereto and the licences which have been issued, and penalise any breach thereof under the conditions provided for in articles L.  36-10 and L. 36-11;

"4) - propose to the telecommunications minister, according to the principles and methods set out in article L. 35-3, the sum  payable as the contribution to the funding of universal service obligations and supervise the corresponding financing mechanisms.

"5) - deliver a public opinion on universal service tariffs, multi-annual tariff objectives and tariffs for services for which there are  no competitors on the market, prior to their approval, where appropriate, by the telecommunications minister and the minister for  the economy.

"6) - allocate to operators and users, in an objective, transparent and non-discriminatory manner, the frequency and numbering  resources needed for their activity, ensure that they are used efficiently, establish a numbering plan and control the management  thereof.

"7) - following the opinion of the competition authority, published in the Fair Trading Journal draw up an annual list of the operators  and markets concerned by the provisions of article L.34-8 II, which are considered to have a significant market power in a  particular market governed by these provisions in the telecommunications sector. An operator with a share of more than 25% of a  particular telecommunications market shall be presumed to enjoy significant market power. The telecommunications regulatory  authority shall also take into account the operator’s turnover relative to the size of the market, its control of the means of access to  end-users, its access to financial resources and its experience in providing products and services in the market.

"Art. L. 36-8.

"I - In the event of an interconnection refusal, a failure of commercial negotiation or a dispute over the conclusion or execution of  an interconnection or telecommunications network access agreement, an aggrieved party may call on the telecommunications  regulatory authority to resolve the dispute.

"After having invited the parties to make their observations, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall issue a  determination, within a period set by State Council decree. The decision shall be fully reasoned and shall specify the fair technical  and financial conditions governing interconnection or special access.  

"In the event of a breach of the rules governing the telecommunications sector the telecommunications regulatory authority may  take protective measures in particular to guarantee the continuity of network operations.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall publish its decisions, subject to regulatory provisions on confidentiality. It shall  notify the parties concerned.

"II - The telecommunications regulatory authority may be called on to settle disputes concerning:

"1) the conditions laid down in the last paragraph of article L. 34-4, governing the conformity with arrangements which prohibit or  restrict the provision of the telecommunications services over the networks referred to in the first paragraph of the said article;

"2) the conditions and possibilities of operators sharing existing facilities installed on the public domain, as provided for in article L.  47 and the facilities installed on private property as provided for in article L. 48; 

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall resolve disputes according to the conditions and procedures provided for in I. 

"III - The decision taken by the telecommunications regulatory authority may be subject to an appeal or judicial review in  application of I and II, within one month of notification thereof. 

"Appeal shall not be suspensive. However, execution of the decision may be deferred, if it is likely to lead to obviously excessive  consequences or if new circumstances of exceptional gravity have arisen since notification thereof. 

"Protective measures taken by the telecommunications regulatory authority may be subject to an appeal or judicial review within  10 days of notification thereof. This appeal shall be judged within one month.

"IV - An appeal lodged against the decisions or protective measures taken by the telecommunications regulatory authority, in  application of this article, shall fall within the jurisdiction of the appeal court of Paris. 

"An appeal lodged against an order of the appeal court shall be made within one month following the notification thereof.

"Art. L. 36-9.

"A natural or artificial person, professional organisation or the telecommunications minister may call on the telecommunications  regulatory authority to undertake conciliatory measures in order to settle a dispute between operators not concerned by article L.  36-8. Conciliation shall be favoured to all other solution.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall inform the competition authority that the conciliation procedure has been  initiated. If the same matter is referred to the competition authority, the latter may decide to suspend judgment.

"If conciliation fails, the chairman of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall refer the matter to thecompetition authority,  if the matter falls within its jurisdiction.

"Art. L. 36-10.

"The chairman of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall refer any abuse of a dominant position or any anti-competitive  practice in the telecommunications sector, which may be brought to his notice, to the competition authority. He may also seek   advice from the competition authority on all other matters within its jurisdiction. The competition authority shall bring to the notice  of the telecommunications regulatory authority any matters referred to it which lie within its jurisdiction and shall seek the telecommunications regulatory authority’s advice on practices which have been referred to it in the telecommunications sector.

"The chairman of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall inform the public prosecutor of any matters which may  constitute a criminal offence.

"Art. L. 36-11.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority may impose penalties, at the request of the telecommunications minister, a  professional organisation or a natural or artificial person, or as a matter of course if a default is observed on the part of network  operators or telecommunications service providers in relation to legislative and regulatory provisions pertaining to their activity, or  to decisions taken to guarantee the implementation thereof. The power to impose penalties shall be administered subject to the  following conditions:

"1) - when a network operator or a service provider violates a legislative or regulatory provision pertaining to its activity, or in  respect of which it exercises its activity, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall summon it to remedy the matter within a  stipulated period of time. It may make such a summons public.

"2) - when a network operator or a service provider does not comply with a decision taken in application of article L. 36-8 or the  summons provided for in point 1) within the period of time stipulated, the telecommunications regulatory authority may impose one of the following penalties:

"a) depending on the gravity of the default, either total or partial suspension of the licence for one month maximum, reduction in the duration of the licence up to one year, or withdrawal of the licence;

"For licences subject to the provisions of III of article L. 33-1 the licence may be withdrawn without prior summons, in the event  of a substantial change in the composition of the share capital.

"b) or, if the default does not constitute a criminal offence, a fine may be levied in proportion to the gravity of the default and to the advantages which it affords. The fine shall not exceed 3% of the net turnover of the preceding financial year, increased to 5% in  the case of a repeated default of the same obligation. In the absence of sufficient activity to determine this threshold, the penalty  may not exceed one million French francs, increased to two million French francs in the case of a repeated breach of the same  obligation.

"The penalties shall be imposed after the operator has received notification of the grounds for complaint, has been given the  possibility of consulting the case file and has presented written and verbal comments.

"Fines shall be recovered as State debts, independently from taxes and public property.

"3) - Matters dating back more than three years may not be referred to the telecommunications regulatory authority if no action  has been taken in view of an inquiry, verification or penalty.

"4) - Decisions shall be fully reasoned, notified to the interested party and published in the French Official Journal. They may be the subject of an appeal to the State Council or of an application for stay of execution. Where fines are concerned, applications for  deferment of execution shall be suspensive.

"Art. L. 36-12.

"The chairman of the telecommunications regulatory authority shall have the jurisdiction to institute legal proceedings pertaining to  the accomplishment of his functions.

"Art. L. 36-13.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall gather the information and carry out the inquiries necessary for the  accomplishment of its missions, within the limits and under the conditions set out in article L. 32-4.

"Art. L. 36-14.

"The telecommunications regulatory authority shall draw up and publish an annual report on the performance of its functions and  on the application of the legislative and regulatory provisions for telecommunications before 30 June. This report shall be submitted  to the Government and to Parliament. It shall also be submitted to the public service commission for posts and telecommunications.  In the report, the telecommunications regulatory authority may suggest legislative or regulatory amendments which appear to be  called for due to evolutions in the telecommunications sector and the development of competition.

"The authority, and where appropriate the public service commission for posts and telecommunications may be heard by the  parlementary standing committees for the telecommunications sector. The latter may consult the authority on any issue relating to   the regulation of telecommunications. 

"The authority may commission expert evaluations, conduct studies, collect data and carry out any action required to obtain  information on the telecommunications sector. To this end the operators which hold a licence granted in accordance with articles   L. 33-1, L. 34-1 or L. 34-3 shall provide statistical information on the use, area of coverage and means of access of their service."

Италия

Legge 31 luglio 1997 n. 249

Istituzione dell'Autoritа per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni e norme sui sistemi delle telecomunicazioni e radiotelevisivo

Art. 1.

Autoritа per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni 

1. E' istituita l'Autoritа per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni, di seguito denominata "Autoritа", la quale opera in piena  autonomia e con indipendenza di giudizio e di valutazione.

2. Ferme restando le attribuzioni di cui al decreto-legge 1є dicembre 1993, n. 487, convertito, con modificazioni, dalla legge  29 gennaio 1994, n. 71, il Ministero delle poste e delle telecomunicazioni assume la denominazione di "Ministero delle   comunicazioni".

3. Sono organi dell'Autoritа il presidente, la commissione per le infrastrutture e le reti, la commissione per i servizi e i prodotti  e il consiglio. Ciascuna commissione и organo collegiale costituito dal presidente dell'Autoritа e da quattro commissari. Il   consiglio и costituito dal presidente e da tutti i commissari. Il Senato della Repubblica e la Camera dei deputati eleggono  quattro commissari ciascuno, i quali vengono nominati con decreto del Presidente della Repubblica. Ciascun senatore e   ciascun deputato esprime il voto indicando due nominativi, uno per la commissione per le infrastrutture e le reti, l'altro per la  commissione per i servizi e i prodotti. In caso di morte, di dimissioni o di impedimento di un commissario, la

Camera

competente procede all'elezione di un nuovo commissario che resta in carica fino alla scadenza ordinaria del mandato dei  componenti l'Autoritа. Al commissario che subentri quando mancano meno di tre anni alla predetta scadenza ordinaria non  si applica il divieto di conferma di cui all'articolo 2, comma 8, della legge 14 novembre 1995, n. 481. Il presidente dell'Autoritа  и nominato con decreto del Presidente della Repubblica su proposta del Presidente del Consiglio dei ministri d'intesa con il   Ministro delle comunicazioni. La designazione del nominativo del presidente dell'Autoritа и previamente sottoposta al parere  delle competenti Commissioni parlamentari ai sensi dell'articolo 2 della legge 14 novembre 1995, n. 481. 

Multiple regulatory bodies. The process of obtaining regulatory clearance in all Member States and potentially  from different regulatory bodies for a particular package of services may create substantial overheads for those wanting to operate on a pan-European basis. The provision of services may be held back where market players are subject to a number of regulatory regimes or must deal with multiple regulatory bodies, for example, where a  network is required to be licensed both as telecommunications infrastructure and as a broadcasting network  (because it is used to offer both services).