Content, e-inclusion and public services top the wish-list of ite...
Content, e-inclusion and public services top the wish-list of items e-communications players want the European Commission (EC) to address when it updates its e- agenda, the EC said Wed. The Commission unveiled its final report on a public consultation…
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on an information society strategy beyond 2005. The consultation drew 70 responses from individuals, public entities, nonprofits, federations and industry -- including 4 from the U.S., the EC said. The priority clusters are in line with the revised goals of the eEurope Action Plan set out in the recent midterm review, but “the invitation is here to go one step further,” the EC said. The clusters indicate 3 directions in which most of those interested want the EC to go. First, the Commission said, there’s a call for a better technology approach, including greater broadband deployment, new generations of networks, 3G and spectrum policy. Some respondents also want the EC to focus on infrastructure development to create a better environment for new services and content. The 2nd demand covers aspects of daily life, such as mobility, information, e- consumer issues and e-participation. It appears to call for better protection of users of information and communications technologies. The consultation also highlighted the need for better coordination among policy, regulation and research, the EC said. Commentators urged the European Union (EU) to: (1) Adopt a framework for content. In general, the EU should use a copyright system instead of patents, but not one that restricts user rights, respondents said. They also said continued development of intellectual property rights and digital rights management are key to content creation. (2) Ensure all communities are targeted for e-inclusion. (3) Foster science and technology learning. (4) Oversee the promotion of platform competition and investment in technologies and services. (5) Promote the use of open standards and free software. (6) Finance pilot projects to advance the action plan. Respondents also want the High Level Group for DRM maintained, and secure systems for mobile payments developed. (7) Revise laws affecting business organizations and taxes so companies can better exploit ICT. The consultation drew criticism from groups that complained the EC’s failure to make next generation networks a priority will cause Europe to lag behind Japan and the U.S. (CD Jan 19 p5).