Digitization of media content, the increase in time-shifted or on-demand...
Digitization of media content, the increase in time-shifted or on-demand viewing and the growing array of viewing devices raise questions about the relevance of current broadcasting and electronic communications rules in the Internet era, French communications regulator Autorité de régulation…
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des communications électroniques et des postes (ARCEP) said Friday. It and TV regulator CSA were asked by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to determine if new rules are needed in the sectors. ARCEP recommended that the government and Parliament first look at what changes have taken place in TV and e-communications, then determine whether the regulatory goals in the affected industries need revamping, and then define what reforms are needed to meet those objectives. The effort towards new TV rules could go in three conceivable directions, it said: (1) Maintain strict regulation of content, while taking into account the “upheavals brought by the internet.” In this case, the responsibilities and tasks assigned to the broadcasting and e-communications regulators would remain different, but it would be wise to create a decision-making body to address issues common to the two. (2) Promote updated television content rules while strengthening their economic dimension. One solution could be to narrow each authority’s area of specialization. ARCEP would then be responsible for the technical-economic regulation of both sectors, with CSA dealing with TV content. (3) Adopt primarily economic regulation of TV industry players. Here, the duties assigned to both agencies would become relatively similar and it would make sense for them to merge. The newly formed entity should have the power to regulate competition law and also be given all or part of the radio spectrum management duties now assigned to national frequency agency ANFR. Whatever direction the government and Parliament take, they must promote freedom of communication on the networks and net neutrality, ARCEP said.