A close vote is likely when the European Parliament (EP) industry...

have taken the lead in reviewing the proposal. Last month, by 3 votes, the latter adopted the official report by Austrian MEP Paul Rubig. Remaining “crucial issues” don’t hinge on whether price caps should be set at wholesale and/or retail, but whether consumers should opt in or opt out on new prices, the spokeswoman said. Under the opt-out scheme, the new “Euro tariff” automatically would apply to all consumers from day one. Under the opt-in model, they would have to request the rate from their mobile operators. Around 30 amendments are in play, covering wholesale charges, the Euro tariff, retail charges, and opt-in/opt-out. The vote is set for Thurs. morning. Operators, meanwhile, pressed the EP to weigh the “serious harm” to the industry from roaming fee caps. Many amendments on the table would intensify that damage, the GSM Assn. (GSMA) said. Proposals passed by the IMCO require operators to put some customers on regulated prices, severely distorting competition, the group said. Now ITRE will be considering amendments on setting retail price ceilings as low as 15 Euro cents for receiving calls, more than 75% below current rates, GSMA said. Caps that low would keep operators from competing with each other and force them to set rates below their costs, it said. The GSMA is “particularly concerned” that some ITRE proposals buck recommendations in a report the EP itself commissioned. The Copenhagen Economics study showed that the original EC proposals would have kept industry from recouping its costs and harmed competition, recommending significantly higher caps, GSMA said. “Industry is alarmed that the Parliament has seemingly disregarded independent expert advice in favor of political pressure,” it said. A plenary vote is expected May 1.