euro news_news 26/02/2015 10:22 Page 3
“EU must see bigger picture on spectrum”
enior representatives from
broadcasting, network
infrastructure, trade unions and
professional organisations have called
on EU decision-makers to shape an
ambitious industrial strategy for
Europe’s creative and cultural
industries.
They suggest that Europe’s unique radio
and audiovisual model is a huge asset for the
continent's competitive position in the digital
world, cultural diversity and media pluralism,
and note that spectrum allocation is one of its
key foundations for content production and
distribution.
The call follows a meeting in the European
Parliament involving senior representatives of
the Association of European Radios (AER);
the Association of Professional Wireless
Production Technologies (APWPT); Broadcast
Networks Europe (BNE); the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU); the European
Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and UNI MEI,
which represents 170 national unions and
guilds affiliating more than 375 000 creators,
technicians and other workers in the media,
entertainment and arts worldwide. They
reminded EU policy-makers that the sector is
a leader in terms of GDP and jobs as well as
S
Lamy, in September 2014.
The consultation will run until April 2015
and will help the EC define a long-term
strategy for the UHF band.
On spectrum, acknowledging the wisdom
of the Lamy report, the Group calls for a
comprehensive political approach that
recognises the role of free-to-air radio, PMSE3
and DTT and respects
Europe’s ability to continue
to create world class content.
DTT and radio remain the
preferred means by which EU
citizens access works and in
so doing sustains and
finances Europe’s rich
cultural diversity and media
plurality.
In light of this, the group
calls on European policymakers to make every effort
in 2015 to:
1. Position creative and
cultural industries at the
heart of Europe’s Digital Single Market
strategy
2. Guide new and sustain existing
investments to increase certainty for
employers, employees and the public alike
as well as to maintain
innovation; because a strong
democracy requires quality,
plural and diverse content
3. Take decisions on critical
resources such as spectrum
allocation on the basis of a comprehensive
examination of the impact on cultural and
creative sector growth and jobs,
particularly in forming common positions
for EU and global negotiations at the WRC
and RSPP
Michael Boni, Member of the European
Parliament and host of the event - The Wider
“The Lamy report correctly shows
that we need both broadcasting and
broadband to coexist.”
Europe’s greatest competitive asset in the
global digital race.
The European Commission has launched
a public consultation on how to use the
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spectrum (the
700 MHz) band) most effectively in the
coming decades. The Commission is seeking
views on the options proposed by Pascal
European industry
bodies call for Open
Internet
A coalition of European
communications industry
trade bodies has stressed
the importance for the
sector of promoting real
choice and quality for all
customers, nurturing
innovation and fostering
network investment.
In a joint statement, they
suggest these “ambitious,
10 EUROMEDIA
yet indispensable” goals can
only be achieved in the
context of an approach
based on future-proof
principles, which should be
applied consistently across
the European Union. “Overly
prescriptive or intrusive
rules would risk degrading
today's Internet experience
and limiting its development
potential. Policymakers
should favour a forwardlooking approach,
recognising that the
Spectrum – said that new technologies were
the key to accommodating both wireless
broadband in the 700 Mhz band. “We
therefore need to take into account the bigger
picture, the wider spectrum when we look at
how to allocate frequencies for Europe,” he
stated.
Johannes Studinger, Head of UNI-MEI, the
media and entertainment
sector of UNI Global Union,
said that growth, diversity of
content and employment
depend on the sustainability
of the audiovisual ecosystem.
“DTT is a key pillar for the
sustainability of growth and
diversity. It provides a
platform and environment,
which contribute to
investment in local
productions by enterprise
and our members, translating
into quality content and
employment. Regulation of
radio frequencies can weaken or strengthen
the balance of the ecosystem,” he stated.
“We need bold and brave initiatives. We
need an industrial policy for the audiovisual
media sector to drive innovation, investment
in content and the uptake of digital services in
the EU,” said Ingrid Deltenre, Director
General of the European Broadcasting Union
(above). “This means acknowledging what is
happening in the real world. DTT is the
backbone of public service TV access and a
pillar of the European audiovisual model. The
Lamy report correctly shows that we need
both broadcasting and broadband to coexist to
meet different demands of the public. We
cannot see our need for UHF spectrum
significantly decreasing, even in the long term,
and this is all the more clear with the coming
of age of ultra-high definition viewing.”
evolution of the Internet is
an ongoing process,” they
recommend.
“The Open Internet is
critical to the development
of society as a whole. The
European electronic
communications industry is
at the forefront of its
development and invests
heavily in quality networks
and services, in the context
of highly competitive
markets,” they state.
Signatories to the
Statement are: Cable Europe,
ETNO (the European
Telecommunications
Network Operators'
Association, the GSMA and
Make The NetWork, an EU
initiative developed by
leading telecommunications
industry players, including
cable companies, fixed and
mobile operators and
equipment manufacturers to
contribute to the
development of the wider
European economy.