RTE react favourably to ComReg

ComReg, the Irish communications regulator has publishes its findings of a review of the wholesale broadcasting transmission market in Ireland.
The purpose of the review was to assess the level of effective competition in the provision of wholesale broadcasting transmission services throughout the country.
The report concludes that RTE Networks are dominant in the national transmission of analogue terrestrial TV and analogue terrestrial radio, and proposes to oblige RTE Networks to operate in a “transparent and non-discriminatory fashion” in these markets.
RTE reacted by stating that this obligation presents “no difficulty to RTÉ Networks, which is already operating in a non-discriminatory and transparent fashion.”
In Summer 2003 RTÉ published its Code of Fair Trading Practice and the section on Transmission Networks, which RTE maintain has been implemented, reads: “RTÉ is committed to being a high quality provider of transmission infrastructure and broadcasting services in Ireland. It will operate them in a transparent and accountable manner and offer access to all users, including those who may be in competition with RTÉ’s broadcast services.
“RTÉ will operate its services in a non-discriminatory way for public service and commercial clients alike and guarantees compliance with all statutory obligations. It will provide a level of excellence in services by offering service level agreements which will ensure a guaranteed level of service availability. Its business will be conducted in a transparent and accountable manner and it will provide financial reports, which clearly show the basis of allocation of costs to the various services it supports. Tariffs will be calculated and infrastructure costs will be allocated in a fair and transparent manner to all network users.”
RTÉ is to continue to monitor its procedures to attempt to ensure all creditors are satisfied in a “timely and efficient manner”, and will “encourage the development, promotion and facilitation of broadcasting and communications services.”
From 2004 on RTÉ Networks Ltd is to: “Maintain a schedule of tariffs for analogue and digital broadcast services, which will be reviewed annually and approved by the board of RTÉ Networks Ltd before September 30 each year.”
(GB)