The evolution of next generation network environments in Europe - the significance of the EU as a policy actor

Simpson, S

Abstract

This paper undertakes an exploration of the current, and likely future, significance of the European Union as an actor in the emerging communication policy area of Next Generation Networks. In so doing, it explores the key approaches taken by the EU related to state aid that might be given to NGNs in respect of their construction, on the one hand, and the content that might be delivered through them, on the other. The paper also explores the idea of extended forms of ‘regulated’ competition that might be employed as NGN-related policies and the EU’s likely position on them. Focus is here placed on the main aspects of the EU’s recently articulated regulated NGN access policy, and, by contrast, the idea of the desirability of having to justify, and even to compete for available resources to deliver, public value media services in highly competitive NGN environments. The paper finds overall that the EU has already developed a significant presence in the NGN policy arena, notwithstanding the fact that it faces in the future the challenge of presenting itself as an actor with a coherent, coordinated remit and package in a diverse and complex area of communication policy

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: International Communication Association
• Start Date: May 26, 2011
• End Date: May 30, 2011
• Deposit Date: Oct 17, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 17, 2011
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference