New rules aimed at slashing the civil engineering...

an obligation to grant all reasonable requests for access to its physical infrastructure for deployment of elements of fixed and wireless high-speed e-communications networks. (2) Every operator can negotiate agreements for coordinating civil engineering works with companies or organizations authorized to provide electronic communications networks. Operators must make available on request minimum information about ongoing or planned civil works related to its infrastructure. (3) Every e-communications network provider will be able to access electronically, via a single information point, information about the conditions and procedures applicable for grating permits for civil works, and to submit its applications via the same information point. Permits must be granted or denied within six months of request. (4) All newly constructed buildings, and those undergoing major renovation, must be equipped with high-speed-ready, in-building physical infrastructure joined to the network termination points. The proposal could save telecom companies 40-60 billion euros ($51-$77 billion), on the overall cost of rolling out fast broadband the EC said. The draft builds on best practices already in place in the U.K. and several other EU countries, but leaves organizational details to each government’s discretion, it said. Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said at a press briefing that she’s not blaming nations that haven’t streamlined the infrastructure-building process, she just wants them to do so quickly. Asked why she’s handling the action as a regulation, which, when approved by the European Parliament and Council, is uniformly imposed on all EU members, rather than a directive, which gives governments some flexibility in adapting to national circumstances, Kroes said the fragmented state of the situation across Europe requires quick action. The potential savings -- and the current waste of resources -- are so large that a quick resolution is needed, she said. The idea of cutting the expense of deploying fiber networks is “very welcome,” said European Competitive Telecommunications Association Chair Tom Ruhan. More than 70 percent of all fiber-to-the-home investments in Europe are made by alternative operators who share the highest investment costs proportionally, he said. Decreased costs will speed rollout of open networks to businesses and consumers, he said. Network operators also applauded the move. The regulation will cover the shared used of different types of passive infrastructures of all network and utility sectors as well as e-communications services, making it possible to take full advantage of all existing infrastructure suitable to support high-speed networks, said the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association. It urged EU members and lawmakers to approve the proposal quickly.