Competition: Commission formally requests Italy to comply with EU rules on electronic communications

The European Commission has sent a formal request to Italy to bring its broadcasting legislation in line with the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. The request takes the form of a reasoned opinion, the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. The Commission considers that the Italian legislation regulating the switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial TV places unjustified restrictions on the provision of broadcasting transmission services and attributes unjustified advantages to existing analogue operators. The current situation in analogue TV, where only few operators are able to compete on the market for broadcasting transmission services, risks being reproduced in digital terrestrial TV, thus maintaining the reduced choice for Italian consumers. The Commission sent a letter of formal notice in July 2006 (see IP/06/1019). If Italy does not take the necessary measures to comply with the reasoned opinion within two months of receipt, the Commission may decide to refer Italy to the European Court of Justice.....

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