This book presents the most thoroughgoing model yet offered to ensure the
emergence of a genuinely competitive electronic communications industry in
Europe. In the course of its in-depth analysis the discussion focuses on such
factors as the following:
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EU telecommunications policy as revealed in liberalization and harmonization
legislative measures;
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the EU electronic communications framework;
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case law covering issues of refusal to supply and the essential facilities
doctrine;
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application of Article 82 EC to bottlenecks;
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specific types of an undertakings unilateral behaviour that may often occupy
NRAs and competition authorities in the context of their ex post competition
law investigations under Article 82 EC;
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strategic alliances and mergers in the move toward multimedia;
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access to premium content and the emergence of new media;
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the scope of content regulation in the online environment; and
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broadband (regulation of local loop unbundling and bitstream access).
The book also provides practical guidance on issues concerning the complicated
market definition and analysis mechanism promulgated by the European
Commission's Recommendation and Guidelines.
Introduction. Privatization Liberalization Regulation Competition. Structure
of this Book.
Part I. The Evolution of EU Telecommunications Policy and Law. 1.
The Transition from a Regime of a State-run Monopoly to a Liberalized Market.
Part II. The Application of EU Competition Policy and Law to the
Electronic Communications Sector. 2. Access Agreements Refusal to Supply
and the Essential Facilities Doctrine under EU Competition Law. 3.
Specific Issues of Competition Law. 4. Strategic Alliances and Mergers
in the Converging Telecommunications, Media and IT Sectors.
Part III. Adapting the Telecommunications Regime
to the Emerging Multimedia Environment The EU Electronic Communications
Framework. 5. The Challenges of Convergence to Regulatory Approaches
Nature and Scope of the Regulatory Regime. 6. The Competition
Directive. 7. The Framework and Access Directives Imposition of
Specific Remedies. 8. The EU Authorization Framework for Electronic
Communications Networks and Services. 9. Universal Service Provision
End User Rights. 10. Data Protection, Security and Confidentiality.
11. The Impact of the EU Electronic Communications Framework on the
Broadcasting Sector. 12. EU Radio Spectrum Policy in the Converging
Environment. 13. Market Definition and Analysis of the Relevant
Markets. Part IV. Specific Issues: EU Audiovisual Policy / Broadband. 14
. EU Audiovisual Policy Content Regulation. 15. Broadband.