Paris, 23th August 2012
The Government has just announced the launch of an investigation into the future of television regulation in France.
As the Prime Minister stated in his recent press release, TV programmes are being delivered less and less via terrestrial broadcasting systems and more and more over wireline (ADSL, cable, optical fibre, etc.) and wireless networks, and to a growing array of devices (computers, tablets, smartphones, connected TVs, etc.). This in turn is gradually diminishing the scope of current television regulation which is tied chiefly to terrestrial broadcasting. More and more, then, TV programming is being delivered to the public in the same way as other online content (text, images, files, data, etc.), i.e. via electronic communications networks, and particularly via the internet, often using servers located outside our borders.
An overall investigation into television, telecoms and internet regulation is therefore useful – while not losing sight of the differences in the purpose, magnitude and methods of regulation governing networks, televised programming and the regime that applies to all the other content being relayed over these networks.
As ARCEP had wished, the Government’s process will begin with an exploration of changes in regulatory objectives, then focus on how this will affect the way in which France’s regulatory authorities are organised – within the limits allowed by European Law.
ARCEP also welcomes the fact that the conclusions that will be delivered to the Prime Minister in late November will be established based on analyses and proposals drafted by the regulatory authorities concerned by these developments. ARCEP will lend its full experience and expertise to the task, to help in the successful completion of this endeavour.
