10 Transition from analogue to digital
broadcasting
| (26594)
9411/05
COM(05) 204
+ ADD 1
| Commission Communication on accelerating the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 24 May 2005
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 3 June 2005
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| Department | Culture, Media and Sport; Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 20 June 2005
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| Previous Committee Report | None, but see (24898) 12753/03: HC 63-xxxvi (2002-03), para 14 (5 November 2003)
|
| To be discussed in Council | Not known
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
10.1 In October 2003, the previous Committee cleared a Commission
Communication on analogue to digital broadcasting in October 2003
("from digital 'switchover' to analogue 'switch-off'").[34]
The Communication analysed and reported on the main issues arising
from the migration in Member States from analogue to digital broadcasting.
The Commission's conclusions were that the transition should
be market-led; that each country will need to move at its own
pace; and that regulatory involvement should be as minimal as
possible.
The document
10.2 The present Communication and accompanying staff working
paper provide an informative update on progress towards analogue
switch-off throughout the Community. The Commission identifies
the two key barriers to rapid switchover as the absence of timely
and appropriate political decisions on switchover and the economic
or market factors such as the timely installation of receivers,
poor consumer demand and the financial risk for operators, resulting
in a reluctance to invest.
10.3 The Commission also identifies a number of
factors that could aid effective switchover. These are co-ordination
of all of the relevant players (government, broadcasters, operators,
etc.); and having an effective strategy for informing customers
(about availability of programmes, platforms and equipment). In
the staff working paper the Commission has provided examples of
best practice in regard to consumer information (chapter B1);
explained the implications for spectrum planning (chapter B2);
and provided analysis of some financial aspects of switchover
(chapter B3).
10.4 The Commission identifies the advantages to
Member States of effective switchover as: the release of spectrum
capacity; new or improved broadcasting services; new services
combining features of mobile telephony and terrestrial broadcasting;
and the emergence of new electronic communications services (such
as wireless local area networks). Advantages can be achieved at
a Community level only when the switch-off has happened in all
Member States, as the spectrum for pan-European services (such
as traffic management, mobile communication and datacasting) will
only then become available.
10.5 The Commission concludes, therefore, that there
is a case for the "acceleration of national switchover processes
and for seeking to agree a date by which analogue broadcasting
would be switched off in all Member States". It divides the
Member States into two groups: those aiming for switchover to
be completed by 2010 and those aiming for the process to be completed
by the beginning of 2012. It also encourages all Member States
to publish by the end of 2005 individual action plans for switchover.
The Government's view
10.6 In their Explanatory Memorandum of 17 June 2005,
the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell)
and the Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Department
of Trade and Industry (Alun Michael) welcome the aspiration of
the Commission to introduce a common timetable for switch-off
throughout the Community. The Government aims to achieve digital
switchover region by region between 2008 and 2012. The Government
also intends to publish an action plan by the end of 2005 which
will be accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment. The Government
therefore supports the Commission's conclusions.
Conclusion
10.7 Like our predecessors, we are
in no doubt of the potential benefits from the migration to digital
broadcasting. We welcome the Commission's update on the situation
throughout the Community as regards analogue to digital switchover
and its aspiration to achieve a common timetable for switch-off.
We are grateful to the Ministers for their Explanatory Memorandum
with the confirmation that the UK intends to meet the timetable
set by the Commission. We also welcome the proposed publication
of a UK action plan by the end of 2005. We believe that this document
is politically important and draw it to the attention of the House.
We clear the document.
34 See headnote. Back
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