Launch of draft BEREC Net Neutrality Guidelines public consultation in one hour

Launch of draft BEREC Net Neutrality Guidelines public consultation - BEREC: "On 6 June 2016, from 14.30 to 16.00, BEREC will launch the public consultation on draft BEREC Guidelines on the Implementation by National Regulators of European Net Neutrality Rules and hold a public debriefing for presenting the results from its 27th plenary meeting to take place on 2 and 3 June 2016 in Vienna. The launch of the public consultation is taking place at 14:30 (CET) and will be live-streamed on BEREC’s website.

 Questions can be addressed to the BEREC Chair 2016 Wilhelm Eschweiler, the incoming BEREC Chair 2017 Sébastien Soriano and the BEREC Vice-Chair Henk Don as well as the Co-Chairs of the Network Neutrality Expert Working Group, Frode Sørensen and Ben Wallis via Twitter by using #BERECpublic or by sending to press@berec.europa.eu.

 The event will be live-streamed on BEREC webpage www.berec.europa.eu" 'via Blog this'

Mexican Senators Seek to Delay Analog TV Switch-Off

Mexican Senators Seek to Delay Analog TV Switch-Off - WSJ: "The proposals, which require making a change to the constitution, come amid controversy after the recent switch-off in Monterrey, the country’s third most populous city, left close to half a million people unable to watch television.

Senator Javier Lozano of the opposition National Action Party, who is president of the Senate communications and transport committee, proposed extending the deadline to the end of 2016.

Senator Zoé Robledo of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party called for an extension to the end of June, but supported continuing with a gradual switch-over and said areas that have already made the change shouldn’t go back to analog.

The switch to digital broadcast signals will free up spectrum that the government plans to use for a wholesale wireless network, which it plans to seek bids for later this year." 'via Blog this'

‘Listing’ of major events: UEFA and FIFA’s failed challenge

‘Listing’ of major events: UEFA and FIFA’s failed challenge | Daniel Geey | The Final Score on Football Law: "The EU’s Television Without Frontiers Directive, as amended by the Audio Visual Media Services Directive, provides the legal basis for Member States to compile lists of designated events that are of major importance to citizens.

 It should be noted that there is no obligation on Member States to introduce listed events legislation and supply a list to the Commission.

From previous research it appears that only Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK have a list system in place.

The only constant in each of the submitted Member State lists are the World Cup and European Championships. Crucially, the UK list – for example – reserves every World Cup and EURO match collectively as broadcasts of major cultural importance to the UK. " 'via Blog this'

ATVOD cut some slack by Ofcom, campaigns on non-UK adult sites

ATVOD ACTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM HARDCORE PORN ON UK VOD SERVICES AND PROPOSES BLOCK ON PAYMENTS TO NON-UK PORN SERVICES: "welcomed Ofcom’s decision to confirm the TV on demand regulator’s designation until 2020, and to give ATVOD more operating freedom, including removal of the need to seek prior approval from Ofcom before publishing guidance.
 
Commenting on the decision, ATVOD Chair Ruth Evans said:

“ATVOD has developed and matured as a regulator and we warmly welcome Ofcom’s decision to reflect this not just by confirming that the Designation will run until at least 2020 but also by giving ATVOD greater autonomy and independence.”" 'via Blog this'

Death of a Convention: Competition between the Council of Europe and EC in broadcasting law

ingentaconnect Death of a Convention: Competition between the Council of Europe ...: "This article considers a dispute between the European Union and Council of Europe regarding their respective roles in the broadcasting field, so as to explain and assess its relevance for the development at the international level of media law and policy. The dispute is a long-running one and dates back to the adoption of the first EEC Directive and Council Convention on this subject in 1989. It is argued that the expansion of the scope of EU broadcasting law and the consolidation of the European Commission's role in external affairs left little room for the Council to continue to exercise influence over the regulation of the electronic media in the way it has done for some time. The exact nature of the dispute between the institutions, and the response of a vocal member state, is ascertained through consideration of published minutes and internal correspondence, set in the context of doctrinal and political developments. The article concludes with analysis of possible future actions for the Council."

'via Blog this'

The death of the Transfrontier Television Directive

"In a letter to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Neelie Kroes, vice-President of the European Commission, recently confirmed the position of the European Commission with regard to the draft second amended protocol to the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. The letter underlines that the European Union has exclusive competence for the issues covered by the draft revised Convention and that EU member States are not allowed to become party to the Convention on their own. The letter furthermore indicates that the EU does not intend to become a party to the Convention as this would constrain the speed and scope of any future policy response in the areas covered.
For its part, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe endorsed proposals by the Secretary General for priorities in 2011 which included, in particular, to discontinue work on trans-frontier television following the termination of the negotiations of the Convention. This was confirmed by the Committee of Ministers when adopting the Programme of Activities and budget for 2011." 'via Blog this'

Playboy fined £100,000 for failing to protect children

Ofcom | Playboy fined £100,000 for failing to protect children: "Ofcom has today fined Playboy £100,000 for failing to protect children from potentially harmful pornographic material.
Two websites owned by Playboy (Playboy TV and Demand Adult) allowed users to access hardcore videos and images without having acceptable controls in place to check that users were aged 18 or over.
Unlike other pornographic websites, these websites are regulated by Ofcom and its concurrent regulator, the Authority for Video On Demand (ATVOD). This is because they provide access to videos in a similar way to adult services broadcast on television – and fall within UK jurisdiction.
Ofcom concluded that Playboy’s failure to protect children from potentially accessing these sites was serious, repeated and reckless." 'via Blog this'