The EC should not keep regulators from promoting competition if i...
The EC should not keep regulators from promoting competition if it deregulates telecom markets, the European Competitive Telecom Assn. (ECTA) said Fri. On Wed., the EC is expected to unveil recommendations on whether some of 18 markets subject to…
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possible pre-emptive competition rules under the e-communication regulatory framework should come off that list. Last week it the Commission seemed ready to remove 7, including several retail markets (CD June 23 p9). ECTA Regulatory Affairs Head Ilsa Godlovitch, emphasizing the general and preliminary nature of her comments, told us there’s strong evidence effective pro-competition regulation drives investment and broadband takeup, “as can be seen in countries such as the U.K. [first in Europe to liberalize] and France [impressive broadband growth following regulatory intervention].” Now isn’t the time to declaw regulators, but to ensure they have strong tools to force access where needed and to prevent the kinds of behavior that undermine competitors’ business plans and investments, she said.