On Thursday 2 February
2017 representatives from the communications
regulator Ofcom, BT, Viber Media and Telefonica (O2) will give
evidence to the House of Lords EU Internal Market
Sub-Committee.
This double evidence session is a stand-alone
in-depth look at the Commission’s recent proposals to reform
telecommunications rules in the Single Market (under its
Connectivity Package).
The Committee will hear from:
At 10.15am:
-
Dr Stephen Unger, Board Member and Group
Director, Ofcom.
At 11.15am:
-
Adrian Whitchurch, Director of European
affairs, BT
-
Michael Shmilov, Chief Operating
Officer, Viber Media
-
Nicholas Blades, Director - Regulation, Competition
and Data Policy, Telefónica
(O2).
Questions which witnesses may face
include:
-
What is your view on whether the proposed changes
to Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications
(BEREC) strengthen the influence of the European Commission and
potentially weaken that of National Regulatory
Authorities?
-
How will Ofcom’s relationship with BEREC change
during the Brexit negotiation period and after the UK leaves
the European Union?
-
Will the draft European Electronic Communications
Code encourage investment in very high capacity (VHC) or
superfast broadband networks in the UK?
-
What are the benefits and drawbacks to the proposed
harmonisation of key aspects of spectrum management across the
EU for the industry and the end-consumer?
-
Do you think the increased requirements for
Over-the-Top (OTT) telecommunications service providers, such
as Viber, are proportionate?
These evidence sessions will take place at
10.15am on Thursday 2 February 2017 in Committee Room 4A of the
House of Lords.
