TV’s role in underpinning democracy faces threat from media concentration as well as pressure on public service broadcasters (PSBs) to compete with commercial stations, George Soros’ Open Society Institute (OSI) said Tues. The state of TV in 20 nations, including European Union (EU) members, transition countries, candidate states, and potential candidates such as Turkey was assessed by OSI’s European Union Monitoring & Advocacy Program. As many were reviewing the 1,662-page document, one regulator disputed its claim that commercialism imperils PSBs.
European lawmakers, claiming they're being left out of decisions, are pressing for more scrutiny of antiterrorism and anticrime measures. The European Parliament (EP) and the U.K. Parliament called an Oct. 17- 18 meeting to address “the lack of transparency and of democracy” in legislative initiatives in the area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ). Data protection laws vary so much that “on the one hand, European citizens enjoy very different standards of protection and on the other security services find it difficult to exchange data,” the EP said. European nations and institutions must balance security and civil liberties, taking into account technical developments, the Parliament said. The EP envisions a scheme using European Commission proposals on obligations imposed on private firms gathering data useful for security purposes -- and their technical and economic impacts on phone or Internet providers -- and the privacy standards to which national law enforcement agencies and judges are held when dealing with personal data. The data exchange discussion will include presentations by U.K. Home Secretary Charles Clarke, EC Vp Franco Frattini, and MEP Alexander Alvaro, who drafted the report of the EP civil liberties, justice & home affairs committee on the Council’s draft framework decision on data retention.
Competing modes for retention of communications traffic data in Europe will be discussed at next week’s Justice & Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting, the U.K. Home Office said Wed. Propelled by the U.K. Presidency -- which wants a mandate on storage of Internet and telecom transmission data in place before its term expires in Jan. -- officials are moving ahead on the Council of the European Union’s (EU) framework decision and the European Commission’s (EC) directive. But agreement on key provisions of the framework decision remains elusive, an Oct. 3 Council memo made clear.
A new European Commission (EC) proposal outlines how the EC would guard personal data against counter-terrorist zealotry. The draft framework decision, meant to complement a recent proposed EC directive on law enforcement retention of Internet and telecom traffic data, aims to up police and judicial cooperation among member states yet ensure privacy. The measure is needed, the EC said Tues., since a 1995 data protection directive doesn’t address processing of personal data when police and courts cooperate on criminal matters. The decision: (1) Gives rules on the legality of processing personal data. (2) Offers provisions on specific forms of processing, such as transmitting and making personal data available to other member states’ authorities. (3) Details the rights of those whose data come under scrutiny. (4) Provides for confidentiality and security of processing. (5) Describes judicial remedies, liability and sanctions for misuse of data. (6) Posits creation of a working party on protecting individuals with regard to processing personal data to prevent and investigate crimes. The decision also seeks to ensure that personal data are transferred only to 3rd nations that have adequate data protection. Justice and home affairs ministers will get the proposal at an Oct. 12-13 meeting in Luxembourg. The EC data retention proposal, which debuted last month (WID Sept 22 p6), is undergoing consideration in parallel to that accorded the framework decision being shepherded by the U.K. Presidency. In a Sept. 26 opinion, European Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx said of the EC proposal, “more [privacy] safeguards are needed.” Hustinx doesn’t see the need to retain traffic and location data for law enforcement purposes, he said. He urged revisions, among them ensuring individuals other than relevant authorities don’t have access to communications traffic data and that data are provided only in relation to specified serious criminal offenses. Hustinx also urged that retention periods proposed by the EC -- one year for telecom-related data and 6 months for Internet Protocol data -- be the maximum retention periods, and that data be erased at the end of those terms.
LIVERPOOL, England -- The European Commission (EC) stance seems to be softening slightly on oversight of on- demand audiovisual (A/V) services after industry slammed the proposal, a U.K. govt. official said here Thurs. In closing the European Union/U.K. A/V conference, Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding acknowledged in her speech that many support discerning between “linear” (scheduled) and “non-linear” programming, but “we will of course have to test this against the reality of a complex and fast-moving market and refine the legal definitions in the coming weeks.” That suggests flexibility not evident earlier, said Nigel Hickson, Dept. of Trade & Industry head of European e-commerce & telecoms regulatory framework.
A service billed as the world’s first pre-pay broadcast network launched Wed. The Internet holds huge potential for broadcasters but no one has figured how to make money at it, said Alex Taylor, CEO of U.K.-based GreenGrass, which began Beta testing its website -- www.greengrass.tv -- Sept. 21. The service combines a pre-pay system that lets consumers buy credits for viewing streamed or on-demand programs, a program guide and an affiliate marketing system enabling other websites to link to GreenGrass.
The European Commission (EC) approved a draft measure on communications traffic data retention it said differs significantly from a largely unpopular framework decision pushed by the Council and U.K. Presidency. But despite its differences from the Council text, it’s unlikely to win the hearts and minds of providers who continue to insist there’s no proof draconian measures are needed to fight terrorism, officials said.
LIVERPOOL, England -- Europe’s audiovisual (AV) sector Tues. continued to oppose a European Commission (EC) move to regulate aspects of on-demand AV services. Speakers at a 3-day European Union/U.K. conference here urged the Commission to back off plans to subject “non- linear” services to rules for scheduled programming and instead to let the industry regulate itself. But an EC official said the proposal had backing from many among the more than 200 responses to a Commission consultation on revamping the TV without Frontiers (TVWF) directive for the digital age. These responses “clearly confirm” the EC plan to regulate e-delivery of AV content under an approach distinguishing between linear and on-demand services, whether provided via traditional broadcasting or the Internet.
German industry is “very disappointed” with Sunday’s general election, said Axel Spies, a German telecom lawyer in Washington. With neither Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder nor main challenger Angela Merkel gaining a majority, German politics will be unsettled for some time, Spies said. That could slow reforms that Germany needs to face globalization challenges and an aging population, he said. Telecom law reform has been on hold, and if Sunday’s close vote triggers a new general election or no coalition forms, it might be early 2006 before a new telecom bill is drafted. Also in play is leadership of telecom regulator BNetzA, which hinges on who winds up in the big chair, Spies said. The German vote likely won’t affect European Union (EU) level telecom issues, since the agenda of the Telecom Council -- telecom ministers from the 25 member states -- is fairly light, said Sandro Bazzanella, dir.-EU affairs, European Competitive Telecom Assn. (ECTA). German telecom has long been seen as the least open in Europe, he said. Deutsche Telekom’s strength, lack of bitstream access, and high costs for local loop unbundling made global investment in German telecom one of the lowest in Europe. But, Bazzanella said, ECTA is starting to see changes there, including positive signals from BNetzA. The regulator has set prices for unbundling and indicated VoIP is included in the voice market and will be regulated, he said.
The U.K. govt. will help elderly and disabled people switch to DTV, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said Thurs. (CD Sept 13 p5). During 2008-2012, help with equipment, installation and follow-up support will be available for those 75 and older and those with “significant disabilities,” Jowell said. The plan, to be funded by the BBC license fee, includes help for households with one person 75 or older, or who is blind or meets other criteria. Assistance will include providing equipment needed to switch one TV set to digital and support for installing and using the gear. The govt. and the BBC will work out practical details. The rolling transition will take place by ITV region (ITV is the U.K.’s largest commercial TV network). It will be coordinated by Digital UK, formerly Switchco, an independent nonprofit created by broadcasters and commercial multiplex operators and involving the supply chain, the govt. said. Digital UK, which launches today (Fri.), will ensure the public has timely, accurate information, such as their transmitters will go digital and what they must do to receive the new signal. Jowell’s announcement pleased the consumer electronics industry. The U.K. has “shown the example to the rest of the European Union with regard to embracing the advantages of the digital revolution,” said Mark MacGann, dir. gen., European Information, Communications & Consumer Electronics Technology Industry Assns. European industry looks “forward to other member states announcing a clear timetable,” he said. Intellect, which represents the U.K. high tech sector, has urged the govt. to confirm a date for switchover. Intellect said it will continue to support Digital UK’s consumer communications campaign.