ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS AND
SERVICES (11190/06)
Letter from the Chairman to Malcolm Wicks
MP, Minister for Energy, Department of Trade and Industry
Sub-Committee B considered this document, and
your Explanatory Memorandum, at its meeting on 9 October 2006.
We share your view that the Commission should
"relect further on market developments" before removing
markets from the regulatory framework as the patchy record of
some National Regulatory Authorities across the EU might suggest
serious consequences for competition.
Although this is not a legislative proposal
in itself, we will maintain scrutiny on the documents as it contains
many issues of potentially great importance to the Telecommunication
sector. We would welcome the opportunity to hear from you in person,
as well as from Ofcom, at a convenient point before the end of
the year.
In the mean time, we trust that you will update
us further should there be consideration of these recommendations
scheduled for consideration in Council, and should legislative
proposals be forthcoming we look forward to receiving your Department's
impact assessment.
10 October 2006
Letter from Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP,
Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Department of
Trade and Industry to the Chairman
Thank you for your letter of 10 October, about
the EM 11190/06.
I am very grateful for your timely consideration
of the Explanatory Memorandum on the Commission's ideas for the
forthcoming review of the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic
Communications Networks and Services. Clearly, as your Report
recognises, this is likely to be a significant initiative for
future competition and innovation in this very important sector
of the economy. It is important that we do not squander the gains
in competition and consumer choice we have witnessed in Europe
since the Framework was adopted in 2002. I am grateful that you
share my view that the Commission needs to think very carefully
before removing retail markets from review by National Regulatory
Authorities.
You may be interested to know that the Commission's
consultation on this Communication attracted over 300 responses,
from a wide range of stakeholders.
I attach for your information our own response,
which we submitted jointly with Ofcom. The consultation only closed
on 27 October so the views of Member States and others, have not
yet been made public. Indeed the issues will not be debated formally
at the Telecommunication Council on which I am writing separately
as the legislative proposals are now not expected until late January
or February 2007.
In light of the revised timetable, I wonder
if it might make more sense for your Committee to further consider
these issues, perhaps as you suggest in an oral session after
the legislative proposals are published in the New Year. I look
forward to your views on this.
14 November 2006
Letter from the Chairman to Rt Hon Margaret
Hodge MP
Thank you for your letter of 14 November 2006,
which Sub-Committee B considered at its meeting on 27 November.
We were grateful to you for enclosing the Government's
joint submission to the Commission's consultation on the Communication
and reassured that you share our concerns over the Commission's
removal of markets from the EU regulatory framework.
We agree that the most appropriate time to take
evidence from you would be in early 2007, when you expect legislative
proposals, and look forward to hearing from you, as well as Ofcom,
at that point.
As you might be aware, Sub-Committee B has just
completed an inquiry into the Commission's proposed Audiovisual
Media Services Directive, and will publish our report in December.
As the Communication will not be discussed in
Council, we are content to lift scrutiny on the document.
29 November 2006
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