Netherlands

[NL] Revised Telecommunications Act

IRIS 2004-6:1/27

Marco Konert

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

On 20 April 2004, the Eerste Kamer (the Dutch Senate) adopted an Act to implement the EC Electronic Communications Framework (see IRIS 2002-3: 4) into Dutch law (Act of 22 April 2004). The adoption of this Act introduces a number of modifications to the existing Telecommunicatiewet (Telecommunications Act), which entered into force in December 1998.

Major changes include improved consumer protection (including anti-spam regulation) and a more flexible approach to the application of competition law. Furthermore, there is now a single regulatory framework that applies to all kinds of electronic communications networks. This means that the Telecommunicatiewet no longer contains specific rules for cable television networks. All provisions relating to must-carry obligations for cable television networks are now included in the Mediawet (Media Act modification of Articles 82i and 82k Mediawet).

The revised Telecommunications Act entered into force on 19 May 2004.

References

Wet van 22 april 2004 tot wijziging van de Telecommunicatiewet en enkele andere wetten in verband met de implementatie van een nieuw Europees geharmoniseerd regelgevingskader voor elektronische communicatienetwerken en -diensten en de nieuwe dienstenrichtlijn van de Commissie van de Europese Gemeenschappen
http://www.recht.nl/doc/stb2004-189.pdf

This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.