Consultation will run until 3 September, with final Broadband Guidelines due to be adopted by December.
The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, started Friday the process of consultation on what rules should govern the provision of state aid to broadband networks, it said in a statement.
The process will conclude Sept. 3 and the Commission will adopt the final Broadband Guidelines by December based on the comments that it receives in the consultation phase.
“The European Commission is inviting comments on the application of EU state aid rules to the public funding of broadband networks. The key issue for discussion is how to adapt the current guidelines to the objectives of the EU Digital Agenda,” the statement said.
The commissioner in charge of competition policy, Joaquin Almunia, said:”We need a dynamic framework for the application of EU state aid rules in this strategic sector that fosters investments. This is all the more important in the present economic circumstances as new investments and more competition can contribute to growth and employment.”