Speaking, on 16 November 2006, to the regulatory conference organised by ECTA, the European Competitive Telecommunications Association, Reding repeated her proposal made earlier concerning a European-level regulatory authority for telecommunications, modelled on the European Central Bank.
Reding said: "For me, it is clear that the most effective and least bureaucratic way to achieve a real level playing field for telecom operators across the EU would be to replace the present game of 'ping pong' between national regulators and the European Commission with an independent European telecom authority that would work together with national regulators in a system similar to the European System of Central Banks."
She explained: "In such a system, national regulators would continue to act as direct contact points with operators and could directly analyse the market as they do today, but would have to operate as a system, and in line with the guidelines and decisions of their supranational level. " She added that such a European regulatory authority could also manage and license the radio spectrum throughout the EU, a task for which she would otherwise propose another new agency to be set up.
"When the markets of wireless equipment and services are developing at EU-wide level," Reding said, "such a new body could cut a lot of 'red tape' in spectrum management by replacing 25 administrative models with one agency with EU-wide responsibility."
During recent months, Reding has stepped up pressure on telecom operators to bring down consumer prices and on national authorities to support incumbent operators.
The Commission presented, on 13 June 2006, its proposal for a review of the EU's Regulatory Framework for Telecommunication. The package will be sent to the Parliament in the coming months.
