The EBU welcomes the Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposal, published today by the European Commission. The DNA aims to modernise telecommunications markets and shape the digital future of the EU.

 “The Digital Networks Act proposal from the European Commission retains essential safeguards for the media sector. This shows that the EU understands the crucial role that the media plays in European democracies. We regret that crucial access to radio has not been expanded to ensure terrestrial broadcast radio presence and access in all vehicles as radio is a lifeline in times of crisis,” said Vincent Sneed, Senior EU Policy Adviser, EBU. 

 Public service media play a unique role in informing, educating and entertaining citizens while countering the growing tide of misinformation with reliable, impartial, high-quality content. The EBU calls on EU institutions, Member States and regulators to ensure that the DNA honours its potential to enhance connectivity without undermining access to essential media services. 

 In the Digital Networks Act proposal, we note essential safeguards to several core principles. These include ensuring continued access to broadcast services across all platforms and devices so that public service media remain easily accessible for audiences. We further stress the importance of upholding must-carry obligations and net-neutrality principles to guarantee non-discriminatory access to online content and services, including general interest ones.

 The proposal further reduces the network access fee for online content delivery to a voluntary conciliation mechanism. EBU will keep a close eye on this point as a network access fee or a compulsory negotiation procedure for IP interconnection would disproportionately affect public service media and their audiences and could distort or limit access to public service content. The proposal finally addresses the need to preserve national competence over spectrum management of broadcasting services and to protect access to broadcast radio in vehicles. While we are reassured that the proposal preserves digital broadcast radio access in  radio receivers  of passenger cars, greater ambition is needed to ensure terrestrial broadcast radio presence in all vehicle types (e.g. M, N, L6 and L7) so that  it can serve as lifeline for all people in times of crisis.  

 We stand ready to work constructively with the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU and national authorities through the process of negotiations to ensure that the DNA achieves its objectives while safeguarding the democratic access to public service media’s content and services. 
 

EBU DNA Call for Evidence position

Media Intelligence Service report: Radio in times of crisis