EU Commission proposes reform of the telecoms regulation framework

The European Commission has published its proposals for reforming the regulatory framework applying to the electronic communications sector in all Member States. These build on the existing framework, first implemented in 2003, and include measures designed to increase harmonisation of regulation across the Member States and to reflect developments in the sector, particularly in the area of securing competition in the provision of broadband services. The Commission proposes to include in the framework a reduced set of relevant markets that could be subject to ex ante regulation, and a new remedy related to functional separation of vertically integrated operators. In addition, the Commission proposes to further harmonise regulation, by increasing its powers to oversee remedies put forward by national regulators, in close co-operation with a new European Telecoms Market Authority.
 
Frontier (London, Brussels, and Cologne) has advised a number of regulators and operators on the implementation of the current framework, including the definition of markets, assessments of competition in relevant markets and the design of appropriate remedies.