TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION AND CABLE TV INFRASTRUCTURES IN THE EUROPEAN-UNION - CURRENT POLICIES AND FUTURE-ISSUES

The present regulatory framework established at European Community lev el does not yet address the issues of telecommunication services provi ded over cable TV networks or broadcast services provided over regular telecommunication networks. The convergence of communications technol ogies, and in particular the integration of cable TV and telecommunica tions infrastructures, is, however, at the heart of the future informa tion society. This article concludes that the establishment of an appr opriate European regulatory framework, which takes account of this phe nomenon, is urgently required. The main issues to be addressed by such a framework include cross-ownership and competition, interconnection of networks, regulation of service level and equal access to third-cou ntry markets.