European Telecom Network Operators’ Assn. (ETNO) raised concerns ...
European Telecom Network Operators’ Assn. (ETNO) raised concerns over vote by European Parliament (EP) last week on main framework proposal that would refine telecom deregulation efforts established in European Union (EU). Part of proposal would retool definition of incumbent…
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operator, now characterized as carrier with 25% market share (CD Feb 28 p4). Changes in definition would focus on significant market power. ETNO criticized change as significant, saying most regulatory obligations would fall only on operators that met that dominance definition. “The EP has voted to replace the Commission’s proposal with an incoherent text lacking objective criteria,” ETNO Dir. Michael Bartholomew said. “It fails to provide the legal certainty which is a precondition for new investment in the sector.” ETNO, which represents 44 large European telecom carriers, said it was concerned that EP action could lead to “over-regulation” of sector. However, it praised portion of EP measure that would support ability of European Commission to block decisions by national regulatory authorities if they conflicted with EU law or general goals of EU telecom policy. Bartholomew said that was important safeguard because national telecom authorities would be given more discretion under pending regulatory proposals.