The European Commission recently published a recommendation on a common Union toolbox for reducing the cost of deploying very high capacity networks and ensuring timely and investment friendly access to 5G radio spectrum in order to foster connectivity in support of economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
This recommendation gives guidance to Member States in the process of designing proposals for their recovery and resilience plans in the form of a toolbox based on best practices. The aim is to incentivise the timely deployment of very high capacity networks, including fibre and next-generation wireless networks. Member States are advised, in close cooperation with the Commission, to develop a set of best practices for the application of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (BCRD).
The aim is to reduce the costs of network deployment and facilitate the roll-out of very high capacity infrastructures, including fibre and 5G. In its report on the implementation of the BCRD, the Commission had identified several problems in terms of its effectiveness, including the fact that some optional measures are not being used to their full potential by Member States.
Firstly, the Commission calls upon Member States to streamline permit granting procedures to:
In terms of costs of town planning permits, Member States should exchange and agree on best practices to ensure that fees charged for the granting of permits for civil works required to deploy very high capacity networks are objectively justified, transparent, non- discriminatory and proportionate to their intended purpose.
Secondly, Member States should develop appropriate best practices to improve transparency concerning physical infrastructure, so that operators can access more easily all relevant information on the infrastructure available in a certain area.
Thirdly, Member States should develop best practices for enabling operators to obtain access to physical infrastructure (including buildings and street furniture) controlled by public bodies. This is strengthened by article 57 of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) which stipulates that competent authorities shall not subject the deployment of small-area wireless access points to any individual town planning permit or other individual prior permits.
By 30 April 2021, each Member State should provide the Commission with a roadmap for national implementation of the toolbox.
With this recommendation, the European Commission is anticipating the review of the BCRD, which is scheduled for 2021. The telecoms sector has been calling for further measures to drive down costs of the roll-out of new networks. To this end, the Commission may further regulate the costs of town planning permits for rights of way, reinstatement and degeneration of road pavements.
For further information contact Feyo Sickinghe.
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