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In September, the Federal Ministry of the Economy published a draft Telekommunikationsüberwachungsverordnung (Telecommunications Monitoring DecreeTKÜV). The document sets out the principle that operators of telecommunications systems used by the general public should, on request, make full copies of conversations or data carried via those systems available to the State authorities. This obligation also applies to direct Internet access systems, including those using TV cable networks and so-called "powerline technology" (telecommunications services via electricity cable). As part of this requirement,...

In talks held at the end of August between representatives of the Federation and the Länder, basic principles for a restructuring of German media regulations were discussed. As the digitisation of content and transmission networks in the various forms of media continues, the need to re-assign responsibilities at national and regional levels is being discussed. The main areas of concern are the protection of minors, the legal framework for and monitoring of new media services, competition and media concentration regulations, and data protection. According to the model which has been proposed and...

The Kommission zur Ermittlung der Konzentration im Medienbereich (Commission on Concentration in the Media - KEK) published its fourth annual report on 22 August 2001. The KEK is an independent body which "shall judge whether plurality of opinion is assured in connection with the nationwide transmission of television programmes" (Article 36.1.1 of the RundfunkstaatsvertragInter-State Agreement on Broadcasting - RfStV). One of the KEK's main tasks is therefore to observe and assess media concentrations using a so-called viewer ratings model (Articles 26 ff. RfStV). Among the most important activities...

Through an Act of 16 August 2001, the Federation transposed into German law Commission Directive 2000/52/EC amending Directive 80/723/EEC on the transparency of financial relations between Member States and public undertakings. The Act's provisions are applicable to undertakings that are granted special or exclusive rights, as described in Article 86 of the EC Treaty, or entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest and, for that purpose, granted State aid that was not fixed following an open, transparent and non-discriminatory procedure (Article 1.1). If the undertakings...

Public and private broadcasters in Germany have agreed to adopt the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standard. This so-called "open" standard should ensure that every form of digitised media service is supported by all broadcasting platforms and terminal equipment. It should therefore be possible to incorporate extra applications such as electronic programme guides (EPG) and conditional access systems (CAS) in the same piece of terminal equipment without having to rely on the proprietary systems of a broadcaster or service provider. The consensus is being linked to the recent sale of a number of...