REPORT on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe: a common approach to the use of the spectrum released by the digital switchover

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

OPINION of the Committee on Culture and Education (*) (24.6.2008)

OPINION of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (28.5.2008)

OPINION of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (5.6.2008)

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

10.7.2008 - (2008/2099(INI))

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Rapporteur : Patrizia Toia
Draftsman (*): Cornelis Visser, Committee on Culture and Education
(*) Associated committee - Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure

Procedure : 2008/2099(INI)

Document stages in plenary

Document selected :

A6-0305/2008

Texts tabled :

A6-0305/2008

Debates :

PV 02/09/2008 - 10
CRE 02/09/2008 - 10

Votes :

PV 24/09/2008 - 8.2
Explanations of votes

Texts adopted :

P6_TA(2008)0451

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
OPINION of the Committee on Culture and Education (*)
OPINION of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
OPINION of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe: a common approach to the use of spectrum released by the digital switchover

(2008/2099(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission Communication entitled "Reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe: A common approach to the use of the spectrum released by the digital switchover" (COM(2007)0700) (Commission Communication on a common approach to the use of spectrum),

– having regard to its resolution of 14 February 2007 entitled "Towards a European policy on the radio spectrum"[1],

– having regard to the Commission Communication entitled "EU spectrum priorities for the digital switchover in the context of the upcoming ITU Regional Radiocommunication Conference 2006 (RRC-06)" (COM(2005)0461),

– having regard to the opinion of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group of 14 February 2007 entitled "EU Spectrum Policy Implications of the Digital Dividend",– having regard to its resolution of 16 November 2005 on accelerating the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting[2],

– having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Culture and Education, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (A6‑0305/2008),

A. whereas the switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial television by the end of 2012 will as a result of the superior transmission efficiency of digital technology free up a significant amount of spectrum in the European Union, thus offering the possibility of reallocating spectrum and presenting new opportunities for market growth and for the expansion of quality consumer services and choice,

B. whereas the benefits of the use of radio spectrum will be maximised through coordinated action at EU level in order to ensure optimal use in terms of efficiency,

C. whereas radio spectrum is key to the provision of a wide range of services and to the development of technology-driven markets whose value is estimated at 2,2 % of EU's GPD, and is therefore a key factor for the growth, productivity and development of European industry in accordance with the Lisbon Strategy,

D. whereas radio spectrum is both a scarce natural resource and a public good, and its efficient use is critical in ensuring access to spectrum by the various interested parties that want to offer connected services,

E. whereas the Member States do not have a common timetable for the digital switchover; whereas in many Member States plans for the digital switchover are highly developed, while in a few others the switchover has already taken place,

F. whereas the Commission Communication on a common approach to the use of the spectrum is an integral part of the package on electronic communications adopted by the Commission in November 2007 concerning the reform of the regulatory framework for electronic communications,

G. whereas in the European Union the (re-)allocation of broadcast frequencies to digital broadcasters is currently under way in many Member States with the consequence of these frequencies being allocated and thereby locked away for many years,

H. whereas technological neutrality is key to the promotion of interoperability and essential to a more flexible and transparent digital switchover policy for the consideration of the public interest,

I. whereas the Council has called on the Member States, as far as possible, to complete the switchover to digital before 2012,

J. whereas all the Member States have published their proposals concerning the switchover to digital,

1. Recognises the importance of the i2010 initiative as part of the renewed Lisbon Strategy, and emphasises the importance of efficient access to and use of spectrum in achieving the Lisbon goals; stresses, in this context, the need for access to broadband services in order to overcome the digital divide;

2. Emphasises the need for digital switchover which, together with the development of new information and communication technologies and the digital dividend, will help to bridge the digital divide and contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon goals;

3. Notes the divergence in national regimes for spectrum allocation and exploitation and the existing national disparities; notes the fact that these differences may represent obstacles to the achievement of an effectively functioning internal market;

4. Stresses that the size of the digital dividend will vary from one country to another, owing to national circumstances and reflecting national media and audiovisual policies;

5. Recognises that the increased spectrum efficiency of digital terrestrial television should allow for around 100 MHz of digital dividend to be re-allocated to mobile broadband and other services (such as public safety services, radio-frequency identification and road safety applications) whilst ensuring that broadcasting services can continue to flourish;

6. Notes that most Member States today are lagging behind other developed countries regarding investment in new generation communication infrastructures, and stresses that achieving leadership in broadband and Internet development is crucial for the competitiveness and cohesion of the European Union in the international arena, especially as regards the development of interactive digital platforms and the provision of new services such as e-trade, e-health, e-learning and e-government services; underlines that greater investment should be made at national and EU level to encourage the take-up of innovative products and services; underlines that efforts to secure access to broadband services should not be focused on the digital dividend alone;

7. Is convinced that new multi-play packages, containing innovative technologies and services, may soon be offered due to increased technological convergence, and at the same time observes that the emergence of those offers crucially depends on the availability of valuable spectrum as well as of new interactive technologies enabling seamless interoperability, connectivity and coverage, such as mobile multimedia technologies and broadband wireless access technologies;

8. Notes that technological convergence is a reality, offering traditional services new means and opportunities; emphasises that access to the parts of the spectrum that have previously been reserved for broadcasting can enable the emergence of new services provided that the spectrum is managed as efficiently and effectively as possible in order to avoid interference with the delivery of high-quality digital broadcasting programmes;

9. Calls for close cooperation among Member States to achieve an efficient, open and competitive electronic communications internal market which will allow the deployment of new network technologies;

10. Stresses the strategic importance of an environment in the European Union where room for innovation, new technologies, new services and new entrants are guaranteed in order to enhance European competitiveness and cohesion; underlines that it is crucial to give end users freedom of choice as regards products and services in order to achieve the dynamic development of markets and technologies in the European Union;

11. Underlines that the digital dividend provides Europe with unique opportunities to develop new services such as mobile television and wireless Internet access and to remain a world leader in mobile multimedia technologies whilst bridging the digital divide, providing new opportunities for citizens, services, media and cultural diversity throughout the European Union;

12. Acknowledges that coordination at EU level would encourage development, boost the digital economy and allow all citizens affordable and equal access to the information society;

13. Urges the Member States to release their digital dividends as quickly as possible, allowing European citizens to benefit from the deployment of new, innovative and competitive services; underlines that for this purpose the active cooperation between Member States to overcome obstacles existing at national level for the efficient (re)allocation of the digital dividend is required;

14. Stresses that broadcasters are essential actors in the defence of pluralistic and democratic principles and strongly believes that that the opportunities offered by the digital dividend enable public and private broadcasters to provide a much larger number of programmes serving general interest objectives – set out in national legislation – such as the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity;

15. Believes that the digital dividend should provide an opportunity for broadcasters to develop and expand their services and at the same time to take into account other potential social, cultural and economic applications, such as new and open broadband technologies and access services designed to overcome the so-called digital divide, while not allowing interoperability barriers;

16. Underlines the potential benefits of a coordinated approach to the usage of spectrum in the European Union in terms of economies of scale, the development of interoperable wireless services, and avoiding fragmentation, which leads to a suboptimal use of this scarce resource; considers that, while closer coordination and greater flexibility are necessary for efficient exploitation of the spectrum, the Commission and the Member States need to strike an appropriate balance between flexibility and the degree of harmonisation, with a view to deriving maximum benefit from the digital dividend;

17. Observes that an efficient allocation of the digital dividend may be achieved without hampering any of the players that currently hold spectrum licenses in the ultra-high frequency band, and that the continuation and expansion of current broadcasting services can be effectively achieved, at the same time ensuring that new mobile multimedia and broadband wireless access technologies are allocated substantial spectrum resources in the ultra-high frequency band to bring new interactive services to European citizens;

18. Considers that, in cases of auctions for the purpose of allocating frequencies, the Member States should adopt a common approach as regards the conditions and modalities of the auctions and the allocation of the generated resources; calls on the Commission to present guidelines along those lines;

19. Stresses that the main guiding principle in the allocation of the digital dividend should be to serve the general interest by ensuring the best social, cultural and economic value in terms of an enhanced and geographically wider offer of services and digital content to citizens, and not only maximising public revenues while also protecting the rights of current users of audiovisual media services and reflect cultural and linguistic diversity;

20. Underlines that the digital dividend provides a unique opportunity for the European Union to develop its role as a world leader in mobile multimedia technologies and at the same time to bridge the digital divide with an increased flow of information, knowledge and services connecting all European citizens with each other and providing new opportunities for media, culture and diversity in all areas of the territory of the European Union;

21. Emphasises that a potential way in which the digital dividend can help to achieve the Lisbon goals is by increasing the availability of broadband access services to citizens and economic players throughout the European Union, addressing the digital divide by providing benefits for underprivileged, remote or rural areas and ensuring universal coverage in the Member States;

22. Deplores the uneven access of European citizens to digital services, particularly in broadcasting; notes that rural and peripheral regions are especially disadvantaged (in promptness, choice and quality) with regard to the rollout of digital services; urges Member States and regional authorities to do all in their power to ensure that the digital switchover is conducted quickly and fairly for all their citizens;

23. Stresses that the digital divide is not just a rural issue; highlights the difficulty in fitting some older high-rise buildings with the infrastructure for new networks; underlines the benefit that spectrum can play in overcoming the digital divide in both urban and rural areas;

24. Underlines the contribution that the digital dividend can make to the provision of enhanced interoperable social services, such as e-government, e-health, e-vocational training and e-education to citizens, in particular those living in less favoured or isolated areas, such as rural and less-developed areas and islands;

25. Urges the Member States to step up measures to enable disabled and elderly users and users with special social needs to make the most of the benefits provided by the digital dividend;

26. Confirms the societal value of public safety services and the need to include support for their operational requirements into the spectrum arrangements arising from the reorganisation of the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band resulting from the switch-off of analogue services;

27. Emphasises that the main priority of the policy on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe is to ensure that consumer rights are fully respected whilst enabling them to enjoy a very broad range of high-quality services, taking account of the need to make effective use of the spectrum released by the switchover to digital;

28. Stresses that the digital dividend provides new opportunities for the audiovisual and media policy objectives; is therefore convinced that decisions on digital dividend management should promote and protect general interest objectives linked to audiovisual and media policies such as freedom of expression, media pluralism and cultural and linguistic diversity, together with the rights of minors;

29. Encourages Member States to recognise the social, cultural and economic value of allowing unlicensed users access to the dividend, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises and the not-for-profit sector, and thus increase the efficiency of spectrum use by concentrating such unlicensed uses in the currently unused frequencies (white spaces);

30. Calls for a step-by-step approach in this field; is of the opinion that effects for smaller networks - especially local wireless networks - for which no license requirements currently apply must be taken into account and that universal access to broadband, especially in rural areas, should be promoted;

31. Calls on Member States to support enhanced cooperation measures between spectrum management authorities to consider areas where unlicensed white space spectrum allocation would allow new technologies and services to emerge so as to foster innovation;

32. Encourages Member States to consider, in the context of allocating white space, the needs for unlicensed open access to spectrum by non-commercial and educational service providers and local communities which are driven by a public service mission;

33. Stresses that one of the key elements when seeking to provide access to the digital dividend for unlicensed users is the need to take account of the needs of social groups threatened with exclusion, particularly disabled and elderly users and users with special social needs;

34. Recognises the benefit of new technologies, such as WiFi and Bluetooth, that have emerged in the unlicensed 2,4 GHz band; recognises that particular frequencies are best suited for particular services; believes that allocating a small amount of unlicensed spectrum in other lower frequencies could encourage yet more innovation in new services;

35. Emphasises, therefore, that frequencies should be assigned in a transparent manner, taking into account all the potential uses for the new spectrum and their benefits to society;

36. Encourages the Member States to assess in detail the social and economic value of any spectrum freed up in the upcoming years by the switchover from analogue to digital broadcast;

37. Recognises the importance of the ITU Geneva-06 Agreement (Regional Radio Communication Conference 2006) and of the national frequency allocation plans as well as of the decisions of the World Radio Communication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) to the reorganisation of the UHF band;

38. Calls on Member States to develop, following a common methodology, national digital dividend strategies by the end of 2009; urges the Commission to assist Member States in the development of their national digital dividend strategies and to promote best practice at EU level;

39. Underlines that the immediacy of switchover in some Member States and the differences in national switchover plans require a response at Community level that can not wait until the reform directives enter into force;

40. Acknowledges the right of Member States to determine the use of the digital dividend, but affirms also that a coordinated approach at Community level greatly enhances the value of the dividend and is the most efficient way to avoid harmful interference between Member States and between Member States and third countries;

41. Reiterates that in the interest of European citizens the digital dividend should be managed as efficiently and effectively as possible in order to avoid interference with the delivery of high quality digital TV programmes to an increasing number of citizens and to respect consumers' rights and interests and their investment in equipment;

42. Underlines that Member States may consider technology-neutral auctions for the purpose of allocating frequencies that are liberated because of the digital dividend and making those frequencies tradable; considers, however, that this procedure should be in full compliance with ITU radio regulations, national frequency planning and national policy objectives in order to avoid harmful interference between services provided; warns of spectrum fragmentation which leads to the sub-optimal use of scarce resources; calls on the Commission to ensure that a future coordinated spectrum plan will not create new barriers to future innovation;

43. Supports a common and balanced approach to the use of digital dividend, allowing both broadcasters to continue offering and expanding their services and electronic communications operators to use this resource to deploy new services addressing other important social and economic uses, but stresses that in any case the digital dividend should be allocated on a technology-neutral basis;

44. Stresses that spectrum policy needs to be dynamic and must enable broadcasters and communications operators to employ new technologies and develop new services, allowing them to continue to play a key role in achieving the objectives of cultural and media policy, while also providing new high-quality communications services;

45. Stresses the potential benefits in terms of economies of scale, innovation, interoperability and the provision of potential pan-European services of a more coherent and integrated spectrum planning at Community level; encourages Member States to work together and with the Commission to identify common spectrum sub-bands of the digital dividend for different application clusters that could be harmonised on a technology-neutral basis;

46. Believes that clustering within the UHF band should be based on a bottom-up approach according to the specifics of the national markets while ensuring that harmonisation at community level takes places wherever this creates a clear added value;

47. In order to achieve a more efficient use of spectrum and to facilitate the emergence of innovative and successful national, cross-border and pan-European services, supports a coordinated approach at Community level , based on different clusters of the UHF spectrum for uni-directional and bi-directional services, taking into account the potential for harmful interference arising from the co-existence of different types of networks in the same band, the outcomes of the ITU Geneva RRC 06 and WRC 07 and the existing authorisations;

48. Considers that the part of the harmonised spectrum at Community level dedicated to emergency services should be able to provide access to future broadband technologies for the retrieval and transmission of information needed for the protection of human life via more efficient response on the part of the emergency services;

49. Urges the Commission to undertake, in cooperation with the Member States, the appropriate technical, socio-economic and cost-benefit studies to determine the size and characteristics of the sub-bands that could be coordinated or harmonised at Community level; recalls that such studies should take into account that the dividend is not static, but that technological development is ongoing and implementation of new technologies should allow the usage of the UHF band for new types of innovative social, cultural and economic services beyond broadcasting and wireless broadband; calls on the Commission to ensure that Member States contribute to such studies in order to identify common bands to be harmonised at European level for clearly defined and interoperable pan-European services, as well as for the allocation of these bands;

50. Urges the Commission to seek cooperation with neighbouring countries of the Member States so that they adopt similar frequency maps or coordinate the allocation of their frequencies with the European Union in order to avoid disruptions to the operation of telecommunications applications;

51. Requests the Commission to conduct a study on conflicts between users of open source software and certification authorities concerning software defined radios;

52. Asks the Commission to propose steps for a reduction of legal liabilities in the context of wireless mesh network provision;

53. Calls on the Commission to submit, as soon as these studies have been completed and having consulted both the Radio Spectrum Policy Group and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations and taking due account of national specificities, a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council for better coordination measures at Community level of the use of the digital dividend, in accordance with internationally agreed frequency plans;

54. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

[1] OJ C 287 E, 29.11.2007, p. 364.
[2] OJ C 280 E, 18.11.2006, p. 115.

Fostering a democratic debate

The switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial television by the end of 2012 will free up an unprecedented amount of spectrum in Europe as a result of the superior transmission efficiency of digital technology. This spectrum is known as the “digital dividend”[1].

The Commission claims that the digital dividend opens up sufficient spectrum for broadcasters to significantly develop and expand their services while at the same time ensuring that other important social and economic uses, such as broadband applications to overcome the “digital divide”, have access to this valuable resource.

The Commission argues that benefits of the digital dividend can only be fully reaped if the focus is on seeking without taboos the most valuable applications for the spectrum. Calls are now growing for further discussions about how the digital dividend should be used and the need for a wide-ranging public debate on the subject is emerging.

Public policy objectives or market allocation

The allocation of the digital dividend can follow different policy rationales. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee of the UK Parliament has rejected terrestrial broadcasters’ calls to set aside digital dividend spectrum for HDTV and in its report on the New Media and the Creative Industries has endorsed the UK regulator's approach to auction the frequencies released by digital switchover on a technology and application neutral basis. In contrast the French Senate in a recent report rejects the notion of technological neutrality. "It is clear to this commission that the allocation of frequencies among various possible uses should be the result of a political decision following a democratic debate, and should not be abandoned to the blindness of market forces", the report says. "This commission has serious reservations about the technology neutral approach that the European Commission intends to adopt when it reviews its electronic communications regulations".

The different solutions proposed at national level, the immediacy of switchover in some countries and the differences in the national plans, require a response at Community level that can not wait until the reform Directives enter into force.

Member States have the right to determine the use of the digital dividend but a Community coordinated approach can ensure avoiding harmful interference among Member States and between Member States and third countries.

How to arbitrate among competing uses?

Broadcasters and telecom operators have commissioned studies on the economic and social value of different uses with very diverging results.

The Rapporteur strongly supports a common and balanced approach to the use of digital dividend allowing both broadcasters to continue offering and expanding their services and telecom operators to use this resource to deploy new services, but allocating the digital dividend on a technology neutral basis to other important social and economic uses.

What scope for an EU intervention?

The Commission proposes a coordinated action at EU level (a common approach is adopted to spectrum planning) in order to ensure optimal use of the dividend from a combined social and economic perspective. The Commission argues that the frequencies released by digital TV switchover should be arranged into "clusters" to be used by similar services to prevent interference. "Failure to act will mean that spectrum allocations will be determined by applications that are successful elsewhere in the world", the document argues. The Commission says one way services like broadcasting should go in the lower bands; medium to low power unidirectional services, like mobile TV, should go in a higher sub-band; while two way services like mobile and fixed broadband should go in the highest band. As a first step the Commission proposes technical studies to decide on the size and characteristics of these sub-bands. The Communication says the broadcasting sub-band should be under the control of Member States; the mobile multimedia band should be voluntarily harmonised, but the higher band should be subject to "EU harmonisation". "The Commission would use a binding Community law instrument to adopt a clustering decision".

For adopting this decision, the Commission should undertake in cooperation with the Member States the appropriate technical and socio-economic studies to determine the size and characteristics of the sub-bands that could be coordinated or harmonised at Community level.

The Rapporteur underlines that the Commission should submit, as soon as the required technical studies are completed and having consulted both the RSPG and CEPT and taking due account of national specificities, a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council for adopting the required binding measures to reserve and coordinate at EU level the identified common sub-bands of the digital dividend.

The way forward

The contribution of the ITU Geneva-06 Agreement (RRC-06) and of the World Radio communications Conference 2007 (WRC-07) was critical for the reorganisation of the UHF band and now it is time to initiate the decision process on the common approach to the use of the digital dividend, in the light of the digital dividend becoming already available in some Member States and with the EU transition towards digital television expected to be completed by 2012.

Therefore the Rapporteur calls on Member states to

– Develop following a common methodology, national digital dividend strategies by the end of 2009;

– Facilitate the introduction of new services by working together and with the Commission to identify common spectrum bands in the digital dividend that can be optimised by application clusters.

The Commission on its part should promote best practice at EU level and will prepare the required measures to reserve and coordinate the common bands at EU level.

[1] The digital dividend is described by the Commission as the spectrum over and above the frequencies required to support existing broadcasting services in a fully digital environment, including current public service obligations

for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe: a common approach to the use of the spectrum released by the digital switchover
(2008/2099(INI))

Draftsman (*): Cornelis Visser

(*) Procedure with associated committees - Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Supports the Commission's position that the digital dividend is of fundamental importance for the EU's economy, the achievement of the Lisbon process objectives and the i2010 strategy;

2. Stresses that the fundamental priority of transition to digital technology is full respect for the rights of consumers and measures to increase the diversity and quality of services offered; underlines in this connection the need for digital dividend management to ensure stable and high quality audiovisual reception free of interference, which should be linked with free-to-air and other additional services;

3. Stresses that the size of the digital dividend will vary from one country to another, owing to national circumstances and reflecting national media and audiovisual policies;

4. Is therefore convinced that it is difficult to harmonise the use of the digital dividend at European level; any such move should be progressive, voluntary and led by the Member States;

5. Stresses however that, in addition to economic considerations, radio frequencies are a public resource with a social, cultural and economic value; notes that the digital dividend, the scope of which is currently unknown, is, once the transition has been completed, also an important instrument in audiovisual and media policies, which should be used to effectively promote and help to protect freedom of expression and media pluralism and cultural and linguistic diversity, together with the rights of minors;

6. Takes the view that, in view of national diversities, an initiative at European level must respect the specific situation and the needs of all;

7. Draws attention to the benefits that the digital dividend can bring to society in terms of more, and more diverse, audiovisual media services, including services offering mobile reception and high definition quality;

8. Is therefore convinced that decisions on organising, allocating and assigning the digital dividend should not be driven solely by concerns about maximising profit, but should also protect the rights of current users of audiovisual media services and reflect cultural and linguistic diversity;

9. Emphasises therefore that frequencies should be assigned in a transparent manner, taking into account all the potential uses for the new spectrum and their benefits to society;

10. Stresses that broadcasters are essential actors in the defence of pluralistic and democratic principles and strongly believes that that the opportunities offered by the digital dividend enable public and private broadcasters to provide a much larger number of programmes serving general interest objectives – set out in national legislation – such as the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity;

11. Reiterates that in the interest of European citizens the digital dividend should be managed as efficiently and effectively as possible in order to avoid interference with the delivery of high quality digital TV programmes to an increasing number of citizens and to respect consumers' rights and interests and their investment in equipment;

12. Stresses that spectrum policy has to be dynamic and that it should enable broadcasters to use future new technology and develop new audiovisual media services which will enable them to continue to play an important role in helping to ensure cultural diversity and media pluralism, meeting the evolving expectations of the public.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe: a common approach to the use of spectrum released by the digital switchover
(2008/2099(INI))

Draftswoman: Heide Rühle

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Agrees to the need to ensure the optimal use of digital dividend from the social, educational, cultural and economic perspectives;

2. Emphasises the need for digital switchover, which together with the development of new information and communication technologies and the digital dividend will help to bridge the digital divide and contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon goals;

3. Underlines that spectrum is a key resource and important for the effective functioning of the internal market; agrees that the digital dividend is a unique opportunity to open up spectrum for broadcasters to develop and expand their services and to cover at the same time the fast growing demand for wireless communication services, especially in rural areas; underlines that greater investment should be made at national and European level to encourage the take up of innovative products and services; underlines that efforts to secure access to broadband services should not be focused on the digital dividend alone;

4. Notes the divergence in national regimes for spectrum allocation and exploitation and the existing national disparities; notes the fact that these differences may represent obstacles to the achievement of an effectively functioning single market;

5. Urges the Member States to come up with national action plans on the use and implementation of freed-up spectrum and the potential of the digital dividend that will be available after digital switchover;

6. Acknowledges that coordination at EU level would encourage development, boost the digital economy and allow all citizens affordable and equal access to the information society;

7. Underlines the importance of technical neutrality to promote innovation and interoperability; calls for a more flexible and transparent policy for the consideration of the public interest which includes homogeneous territorial coverage, pluralism of the media, cultural diversity and protection against interference;

8. Calls on Member States to support enhanced cooperation measures between spectrum management authorities to consider areas where common spectrum allocation would allow new technologies and services to emerge;

9. Calls for a step by step approach in this field; is of the opinion that effects for smaller networks - especially local wireless networks - for which no license requirements currently apply must be taken into account and that universal access to broadband, especially in rural areas, should be promoted;

10. Agrees to the need for coordination at EU level to ensure that the full potential of the digital dividend is unlocked, but also underlines the need to ensure flexibility to address national regulatory prerogatives, such as local social, cultural and market needs; agrees that where common spectrum policy at EU level is necessary, it should remain under the constant review of democratically legitimate institutions so that appropriate adjustments can be made;

11. Agrees to move towards a more coherent spectrum planning at EU level and to prepare the required measures to reserve and coordinate a sub-band for cross-border services.

12. Calls on the Commission to ensure that consumers' rights are protected and that the consumer is the main beneficiary of the digital dividend.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

on reaping the full benefits of the digital dividend in Europe: a common approach to the use of the spectrum released by the digital switchover
(2008/2099(INI))

Draftsman: Gunnar Hökmark

SUGGESTIONS

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Notes that most Member States today are lagging behind other developed countries regarding investment in new generation communication infrastructures, and stresses that achieving leadership in broadband and Internet development is crucial for the competitiveness and cohesion of the European Union in the international arena, especially as regards the development of interactive digital platforms and the provision of new services such as e-trade, e-health, e-learning and e-government services;

2. Underlines that the digital dividend provides Europe with unique opportunities to develop new services such as mobile television and wireless Internet access and to remain a world leader in mobile multimedia technologies whilst bridging the digital divide, providing new opportunities for citizens, services, media and cultural diversity throughout the European Union;

3. Notes that technological convergence is a reality, offering traditional services new means and opportunities; emphasises that access to the parts of the spectrum that have previously been reserved for broadcasting can enable the emergence of new services provided that the spectrum is managed as efficiently and effectively as possible in order to avoid interference with the delivery of high-quality digital broadcasting programmes;

4. Observes that an efficient allocation of the digital dividend may be achieved without hampering any of the players that currently hold spectrum licenses in the ultra-high frequency band, and that the continuation and expansion of current broadcasting services can be effectively achieved, at the same time ensuring that new mobile multimedia and broadband wireless access technologies are allocated substantial spectrum resources in the ultra-high frequency band to bring new interactive services to European citizens;

5. Is convinced that new multi-play packages, containing innovative technologies and services, may soon be offered due to increased technological convergence, and at the same time observes that the emergence of those offers crucially depends on the availability of valuable spectrum as well as of new interactive technologies enabling seamless interoperability, connectivity and coverage, such as mobile multimedia technologies and broadband wireless access technologies;

6. Underlines that the digital dividend provides a unique opportunity for the European Union to develop its role as a world leader in mobile multimedia technologies and at the same time to bridge the digital divide with an increased flow of information, knowledge and services connecting all European citizens with each other and providing new opportunities for media, culture and diversity in all areas of the territory of the European Union;

7. Supports efforts for a coordinated approach to the use of the spectrum in order to ensure the optimal use of the digital dividend, allowing broadcasters to continue and further develop their current services enabling other new users to benefit from the digital dividend in accordance with international agreements and national policy priorities;

8. Stresses the strategic importance of an environment in the European Union where room for innovation, new technologies, new services and new entrants are guaranteed in order to enhance European competitiveness and cohesion; underlines that it is crucial to give end users freedom of choice as regards products and services in order to achieve the dynamic development of markets and technologies in the European Union;

9. Stresses that the European Union must benefit from such a unique opportunity as soon as possible if it wants to achieve world leadership in new interactive digital platforms and realise the 'information society for all', as envisaged in the i2010 strategy, and that such a need may require active cooperation between Member States to overcome obstacles existing at national level in the efficient (re)allocation of the digital dividend;

10. Emphasises the benefits to Member States of releasing their digital dividends as quickly as possible in order to enable European citizens and consumers to take advantage of new, innovative and competitive services; notes, in particular, that some countries have already switched to digital broadcasting and/or identified their digital dividend;

11. Underlines that Member States may consider technology-neutral auctions for the purpose of allocating frequencies that are liberated because of the digital dividend and making those frequencies tradable; considers, however, that this procedure should be in full compliance with ITU radio regulations, national frequency planning and national policy objectives in order to avoid harmful interference between services provided; warns of spectrum fragmentation which leads to the sub-optimal use of scarce resources; calls on the Commission to ensure that a future coordinated spectrum plan will not create new barriers to future innovation;

12. Stresses that the digital dividend provides new opportunities for the national audiovisual and media policy objectives; is therefore convinced that decisions on digital dividend management should promote general interest objectives linked to audiovisual and media policies such as freedom of expression, media pluralism and cultural and linguistic diversity;

13. Calls for close cooperation among Member States to achieve an efficient, open and competitive internal market by identifying common spectrum bands for the development of new pan-European services and for securing sufficient scale for the deployment of new network technologies;

14. Considers that in cases of auctions for the purpose of allocating frequencies, the Member States should adopt a common approach as regards the conditions and modalities of the auctions and the allocation of the generated resources; calls on the Commission to present guidelines along those lines.

RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE

Date adopted

Result of final vote

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Members present for the final vote

Maria Badia i Cutchet, Katerina Batzeli, Ivo Belet, Giovanni Berlinguer, Nicodim Bulzesc, Marielle De Sarnez, Marie-Hélène Descamps, Jolanta Dičkutė, Milan Gaľa, Claire Gibault, Vasco Graça Moura, Christopher Heaton-Harris, Ruth Hieronymi, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Manolis Mavrommatis, Ljudmila Novak, Dumitru Oprea, Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański, Mihaela Popa, Christa Prets, Pál Schmitt, Hannu Takkula, Helga Trüpel, Thomas Wise

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Victor Boştinaru, Mary Honeyball, Elisabeth Morin, Ewa Tomaszewska, Cornelis Visser

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