Written Answers. - Internet Access.
Richard Bruton
Question:
222
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if she has carried out a study of the costs of Internet access here compared to other competitor countries; the cost for flat rate access regardless of usage; the costs based on a charge per minute; and her views on whether these charges are undermining competitiveness here.
[2406/02]
Michael Ring
Question:
226
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
her plans to ensure an improvement on the costs and access problems for Internet users here.
[2626/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 226 together.
The regulation of costs for Internet access is an operational matter for the Office of the Director to Telecommunications Regulation. I have no function in these matters.
An analysis of dial-up Internet access prices is contained in the EU Commission's recently published Seventh Report on the Implementation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Package in Member States, COM 2001 706 final, 26 November 2001. The Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation has taken several steps to support dial-up Internet access and in particular it has opened two new non-geographic codes for use in accessing Internet service providers, ISPs.
Government policy is to facilitate the rollout of state of the art infrastructures and to provide the legislative and regulatory environment which will serve to make a major contribution to sustained macro-economic growth and the realisation of competitively priced, high quality services.
Low cost, high speed Internet access is a key element of my Department's communications policy. Under the National Development Plan 2000 – 2006, 200 million of public funds have been earmarked to leverage investment in advanced communications infrastructure and services. The focus of this investment will be to support investment in communications and electronic commerce infrastructure, systems and services in less developed areas.
Government proposals in relation to regulatory reform of the communications sector are designed to ensure that the regulatory conditions in Ireland are effective in stimulating a competitive market for communications services, including Internet services. In this regard the draft Communications (Regulation) Bill will enhance the regulatory framework so as to further facilitate the development of the sector while ensuring that appropriate elements of the public interest are taken into account.
The Bill is currently being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. It is my intention to have the Bill published in the next few weeks and, time permitting, to have it enacted before the Easter recess.
