The European Commission yesterday published its proposed directive applying the principles of the 1990 framework Open Network Provision directive for speech telephony services and networks, Reuter reports from Brussels. The directive, which is neutral as far as deregulation is concerned, lays downs rules for access to the network including general access for operators and conditions for users. It also sets quality goals such as provision of an adequate number of public telephone boxes and itemised billing and other harmonisation aims such as phone cards that would work in anywhere in the Community. The proposal calls on the EC’s standards organisations to investigate the feasibility of having common phone sockets and plugs and promoting the technical facilities EC-wide for freephone numbers. The directive also says there should be common quality standards throughout the Community for the time taken to install and repair phones and suggests an obligation on providers to pay compensation where these standards are not met – something already offered in the UK. It also sets rules to avoid discrimination in deciding who gets access to telephone networks, creating common criteria on access for all service providers, including cellular ones.
