Lithuanian Communications Regulatory Authority Opinion on the Broadband
Regulatory Principles
The development of broadband is a complex task for both regulators and
governments. The growth of broadband depends on many factors like increase of
supply and demand of electronic services, ensuring that people have enough skills to
use information society services including broadband and Internet.
The successful development of low cost broadband needs political support at the
highest level (tax refund policy, state funds additionally to the private investments for
developing broadband infrastructure in non competitive areas, stimulation of eservices demand by creating public access Internet points and providing training,
transparent and fair regulation system of electronic markets, etc.).
Taking into account that the broadband access is provided using different
technological platforms, the essential regulatory principle, fostering the growth of
broadband, is the principle of technological neutrality. The most important key to
boost low cost broadband access is infrastructure competition (especially in remote
and rural areas). In this case the national regulatory authorities play the main role.
Principle of minimal necessary regulation should be considered, market entry
barriers should be removed as much as possible to promote effective competition,
which would lead to lower broadband and Internet connectivity prices.
Fostering competition in wholesale broadband market (by setting up the unified
methodology on cost accounting for relevant access services and products, imposing
an obligation to the incumbent operator to provide bitstream access to third parties on
non discriminatory basis, etc.).
In our opinion, both governments and national regulatory authorities must work
together stimulating the roll out of the broadband networks.