EURIM Working Group on
Communications Policy & Regulatory Strategy
Introduction and Terms of Reference
Forthcoming Meetings
Recent Meetings
Group Outputs (Papers and Briefings)
Other Relevant Documents & Links
Members
Page – for meeting details, minutes, working drafts, and
additional group information
Previous
work programme for this group
Introduction and Terms of Reference
This
group builds on over a decade of success in setting the agenda
for debate, beginning with a "map" of issues and players
in 1994 which transformed thinking within the commission by
illustrating the range and diversity of choice that was emerging in
the UK. It then helped set the agenda for regulatory convergence
which culminated with the formation of Ofcom. The group played a
major role in assisting the innovations in pre-legislative scrutiny
which were credited with cutting the number of amendments to the
Communications Bill by at least 400. Key to that success is the way
it puts the experience and expertise of business users of
communications alongside that of service operators and equipment
suppliers.
Objectives
To promote and assist the establishment of:
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world-class, secure, resilient
Communications networks together with;
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universally available,
affordable, fixed and mobile broadband access networks connecting
businesses, citizens and consumers and;
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democratically
accountable and technology neutral, light-touch, regulatory
frameworks which;
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encourage competition, innovation and quality of
service;
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in line with user/customer/citizen priorities.
Strategy
Parliamentary and Political to:
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encourage the generation and implementation of
European, national and regional policies in the area of
converged communications;
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foster
the creation of a single, pan-European market in telecoms
networks and services in furtherance of the Lisbon agenda;
-
encourage
UK inputs to formation and scrutiny of European Policy,
including development and revision of relevant Directives and
Recommendations and in the Parliament and its Committees, in
co-operation with the European Internet Foundation and others,
with meetings in both London and Brussels;
-
encourage
and support political scrutiny of plans, including the issues
that need to be addressed in any review of the Communications
Act 2003, to ensure that the UK communications infrastructure is
fit for the demands that will be placed on it in 2012 and
thereafter.
Industrial and Professional to:
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identify and assess possible
means of encouraging investment in next generation networks,
including the removal of obstacles: e.g. local/regional
public-private infrastructure partnerships, business rates on
communications infrastructure investment and standby facilities,
100% capital allowances etc.;
-
collate views on the
establishment of a political and regulatory regime that fosters
the creation of carrier-neutral, open access broadband networks
in a world where distinctions between fixed and mobile, cable
and wireless are blurring and roaming across boarders is
increasingly commonplace.
Work
Programme for 2009
-
Organise contributions to Lord Carter's
Digital industrial strategy on
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Authoritative (i.e. working with Audit
Commission, NAO, OGC, plus Intellect, LGA, SOCITM etc.) guidance and case
studies/exemplars covering the funding and procurement of networks,
including vis a vis state aid, pooled funding across scheme and
public-private boundaries and business rates. That guidance should
include the need for resilience, security and quality of service/support to
be integral to planning/procurement and performance monitoring, not add-ons.
-
Frameworks for identifying, stimulating
and aggregating local demand: building on what was learned during the
exercise done by BSG some years ago, including from the success or otherwise
of previous aggregation initiatives. This could greatly reduce the
risk element of investment and thus the cost of capital. Aggregating
public sector spend might also be critical to ensuring that projects get off
the ground at all.
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Spectrum issues, in co-operation with
Intellect and others, with the aim of ensuring timely decisions that enable
the UK to be in the forefront of mixed technology solutions, making full use
of fixed and mobile terrestrial and satellite services.
The deadline for agreement of the deliverables for inclusion as a response
to Interim report is 10th March. The target for having the first
deliverables ready for publicity is May/June: i.e. for the Strategy launch.
-
One or more briefing events in June/July,
September/October and November/December as additions to the education programme
for the 2010 intake of MPs (currently prospective Parliamentary Candidates,
Political Advisors etc.) organised by the Knowledge Economy Group in
co-operations with the Bow Group, Young Fabians etc. These may cover
topics additional to those on which the contributions to the Carter strategy are
planned.
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Inputs to political studies on Next
Generation Networks and Cybersecurity (defined to include the use of the
Internet for terrorist recruitment and organisations as well as attacks on the
Network itself). This cross links to the work of the E-Crime Group and the
Information Governance Groups (especially the sub-group on Security by Design).
Those working on the Party policy studies and relevant Think Tank exercises are
being involved as observers.
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Inputs to EU Comms Reviews and policy.
This is split as short-order (before pre-EU election votes in the European
Parliament) and longer term.
Forthcoming Meetings
Recent
Meetings
Group
Outputs (Papers & Briefings)
Other Relevant Documents and Links
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