03 March, 2021

Public Consultation on the Evaluation and Review of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive

Introduction

The Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (2014/61/EU) aims to facilitate and incentivise the roll-out of high-speed electronic communications networks by lowering the costs of deployment with a set of harmonised measures. The measures focus on access to existing physical infrastructure, coordination of civil works, simplification of administrative procedures and requirements for in- building physical infrastructure for new buildings and major renovations. It also includes provisions to ensure transparency of relevant information through Single Information Points and dispute resolution mechanisms. 

The review of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive is part of the actions announced in the Communication on ‘Shaping Europe’s Digital Future’ (COM (2020)67 final), which stressed that, for digital infrastructure and networks alone, the EU has an investment gap of EUR 65 billion per year. Moreover, adequate investments at EU, national and regional levels are necessary to achieve the EU 2025 connectivity objectives and a Gigabit Society (COM(2016) 587 final) in Europe.

The evidence gathered so far by the Commission, including the report on the implementation of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (COM(2018) 492) and the continuous monitoring of its implementation in the Member States, gives rise to the need for the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive to be evaluated and possibly revised. At the same time, the revised instrument should adapt to
recent and current technological, market and regulatory developments and help
foster a more efficient and fast deployment of more sustainable very high capacity networks, including fibre and 5G, ensuring alignment with the European Electronic Communications Code and contributing to greening the Information and Communication Technology sector as part of the ‘European Green Deal’ (COM(2019) 640).

The Commission is carrying out an evaluation of the current measures under the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive and an impact assessment of a possible revised instrument, in a back-to-back process. In this context, this public consultation has two main objectives:

1. collect stakeholders’ views and inputs on the implementation of the
Directive to support the analysis of the backward-looking evaluation and,
2. collect stakeholders’ views and inputs to support forward-looking policy options.

Written feedback provided in other document formats can be uploaded through the button made available at the end of the questionnaire.

Read the full response at the link below.