TELECOMMUNICATIONS : SPECTRUM REFORM: MEPS QUITE SCEPTICAL.

MEPs are asking questions about the role that they will play in the new spectrum policy. An expert study, presented to the European Parliament's Industry Committee on 24 January, was supposed to clear up the European Commission's proposal aiming to relax the management of the spectrum - now involving most member states - to the benefit of broadband and mobile services. However, the study, co-led by Erik Bohlin from Chalmers University (Sweden), is still far from answering MEPs' questions.

Principal among these questions, for example, is their role in designating the spectrum bands likely to be sold in the EU. This is a field in which the Commission wants to take harmonisation measures with the assistance of the future European Telecom Market Authority (ETMA).

COST OF NON-EUROPE'

Mentioning the cost of the non-Europe', the authors conclude, for the moment, on a "waste of the spectrum based on artificial restrictions". Like the Commission, they advocate the principles of "technological neutrality" (the possibility of using any technology within the spectrum band) and of "service neutrality" (the possibility to use the spectrum to offer any technology), as well as an approach by the market for certain bands and greater coordination in the way in which member states authorise the use of radiofrequencies. A small nuance, they see the ETMA (which would vote by simple majority) as a "kind of monster", and recommend, in its place, "a European facilitator for spectrum policy", which would help implement the reform with the national authorities with the aid of a database on users and uses.

"Excluding the European Parliament is not acceptable," warned Pilar del Castillo (EPP-ED, Spain), noting that the spectrum constitutes a "rare public good," having social and economic consequences. "What quantity of the spectrum is it possible to put on the market?" asked Catherine Trautmann (PES, France).

The answers of expert Andrea Renda remained...