An EC proposal to cap international mobile roaming charges is wen...
An EC proposal to cap international mobile roaming charges is wending its way through the European Parliament (EP) this week. The Economic & Monetary Affairs committee Wed. backed the Commission’s plan to regulate wholesale and retail tariffs, though they…
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differed on the method, its spokesman said. Other key points of the panel’s opinion include: (1) Rather than setting a total maximum retail charge at 130% of the maximum wholesale charge, cap the average retail charge at 150% of the maximum wholesale fee combined with a top price per minute of 50 eurocents for making a roaming call, 20 eurocents for receiving one. (2) Require operators to notify customers of the tariff by SMS or voice call within one hour of when the begin roaming outside their home country. (3) Make clear that the directive isn’t intended to be permanent and should be reviewed in 2 years. Lawmakers approved the opinion 21-15; opposition came mostly from the European People’s Party/European Democrats, the largest party, which wanted to limit the regulation to wholesale prices only, the spokesman said. The Internal Market & Consumer Protection, and Culture & Education committees are expected to vote today (Thurs.), followed April 12 by the Industry, Research & Energy Committee. Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding welcomed the “strong convergence of views” emerging between the EP and the Council. Two questions remain open, she said: Whether all consumers should automatically profit from the regulation -- but have the option to go with an operator offering even better rates -- or only those who expressly opt in; and where exactly the retail-level caps will be set.