[IP] EC regulation 'could stifle' net
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 20, 2005 11:41:26 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] EC regulation 'could stifle' net
Reply-To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Note: Looks like lawgivers in the EC are moving along the same
directions as those here in the U.S. with respect to the Net. DLH]
EC regulation 'could stifle' net
Tech lobby groups in the UK have warned that proposed changes to
European TV regulation could stifle net content.
The European Commission wants to update its TV Without Frontiers
directive to take account of new developments such as video-on-
demand, broadcasting via broadband and podcasting.
The Broadband Stakeholder Group and trade body Intellect have branded
the planned changes unworkable.
It could be an attempt to regulate the net by the backdoor, they said.
Premature and unworkable
The European Commission is planning to extend the regulation of
traditional broadcasting to cover all audio-visual content.
The BSG and Intellect are worried that the definitions the Commission
has come up with to distinguish traditional and new methods of
broadcast are already out of date.
They also believe the proposed changes could extend to areas such as
online newspapers which currently fall outside of the EC's regulatory
remit.
"Our members are seriously concerned that the European Commission's
proposals will inhibit growth of the content and new media market in
Europe," said Antony Walker, Director of the Knowledge Economy at
Intellect.
"New audio-visual content services, made possible through innovation
in digital technology and the internet, should be given time to
evolve and develop rather than being shackled by premature and
unnecessary regulation intervention by the EU," he added.
The two organisations believe the proposals are premature,
unjustified, inappropriate and unworkable.
In this view, they seem to have the support of the telecoms,
publishing and new media industries.
A straw poll, conducted by the BSG, found that the majority of senior
executives of affected industries, wanted the directive put on hold.
Over 80% felt that the legislation could open the door for wider net
regulation and 77% felt the proposals could inhibit the emerging new
media market.
TV delivered via broadband will be a reality within a decade,
according to a recent report from Lovelace Consulting and informitv.
TV is likely to become more web-like with millions of shows to
download as the worlds of digital TV and the net increasingly
converge, the report found.
Blanket regulation
While acknowledging that the TV Without Frontiers directive, drawn up
in 1989, needs updating for the modern age, both Intellect and the
BSG are calling for the European Commission to go back to the drawing
board with its plans.
The lobby groups are calling for a fuller consultation with all the
industries that will be affected.
"The broadcasting world is entering a period of rapid change and the
regulatory framework will need to be amended," Philip Graf, chairman
of the BSG, told delegates at the i2010 European Broadcast Conference.
"But this blanket regulatory approach is absolutely not the way to do
it," he said.
INTELLECT AND BSG SURVEY
80% agreed reform of broadcast regulation is necessary in the light
of new methods of content delivery
77% thought current proposals were 'inappropriate'
82% thought it set a precedent for wider regulation of the internet
82% agreed that current proposals did not take account of the pace of
change within technology, content and media markets
Story from BBC NEWS:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4264558.stm>
Published: 2005/09/20 13:59:32 GMT
Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com>
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