New approaches to the development of telecommunications infrastructures in Europe? The evolution of European Union policy for next generation networks

Simpson, S

Abstract

In May 2009, the European Commission released a draft consultation document on the application of state aid rules to broadband network deployment, leaving open the possibility of significant state aid intervention. However, this paper argues that this cannot occur due to the overarching nature and essential features of the EU’s by now well embedded telecommunications policy apparatus, as well as its legal remit in telecommunications. Specifically, EU telecommunications policy, normatively and practically, is devised through a neo-liberal policy lens. The paper attempts to show, using state aid to Next Generation Access networks as the example, that this dominant policy perspective not only de-limits the extent of state intervention for public policy reasons, but it also fundamentally shapes the character of such intervention which does occur.

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: ECREA Communication Law and Policy Section workshop ‘New Directions for Communication Policy Research
• Start Date: Nov 6, 2009
• End Date: Nov 7, 2009
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Dec 7, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Additional Information: Event Type : Workshop