13.12.2021

 

The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) published today for public consultation its action plan for 2022. "Electronic communications services and postal services are evolving both in terms of advancing technologies and in terms of improving end-user experience. It is important to have an adapted legal framework that supports the development of markets and the protection of end-users. This is our goal, which we intend to achieve through the actions proposed for 2022", said Vlad Ștefan STOICA, ANCOM President.

In 2022, ANCOM will review and update a series of normative acts and decisions, following the transposition into national legislation of Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Electronic Communications Code.

Regulatory acts and decisions regarding end-users

Amendments will be brought to the decisions regarding communications to the Single National Emergency Call System and the establishment of measures for disabled end-users.

An important aspect pursued in the implementation of the new communications code is increasing the end-users’ degree of information, with an emphasis on the electronic communications service providers offering information before the contract conclusion. With a view to ensuring that the legal framework is fully adapted for the communications operators to correctly inform the end-users, ANCOM will elaborate new legislative provisions.

Frequency spectrum administration and management

The Authority will continue the licensing process for radio frequencies. Thus, the action plan provides for the adoption of the decision on the organization of the selection procedure for awarding frequency usage rights for the spectrum resources available in the 700 MHz, 1500 MHz and 3400-3800 MHz frequency bands for the provision of public networks and broadband electronic communications services, as well as of other necessary normative acts, under the conditions provided by the reviewed primary legislation.

This action, correlated with the review of the ANCOM President’s Decision no. 551/2012 on setting the spectrum usage tariff, and with the review of other decisions in the frequency management field, will provide for the actual organisation of the selection procedure for awarding frequency usage rights.

Establish minimum security measures for communications networks and services

ANCOM is planning to review and update the secondary legislation regarding the security of electronic communications networks and services, taking into account the changes in the primary legislation, technology developments and the national and European context. Thus, ANCOM will update the decision on the minimum security measures to be taken by providers of public electronic communications networks or of publicly available electronic communications services and on reporting incidents with a significant impact on the provision of electronic communications networks and services.

Law no. 159/2016 on the regime of infrastructure

The multi-annual process of implementing the Infrastructure Law will continue in 2022. For this year, the Authority plans to organize a section, on its website, presenting the relevant standards for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of public electronic communications networks and associated physical infrastructure.

Regulations on electronic communications services

Some of the main projects targeting this sector are: updating the general authorization regime for the provision of electronic communications networks and services, the decision on collecting statistical data and reviewing the wholesale market for high quality access at a fixed location.

Regulations on postal services

For ensuring a legal framework according to the legislative developments in the field of postal services while adapting it to the innovative technologies and practices impacting the respective market, ANCOM will update the general authorization regime regarding the provision of postal services. Moreover, ANCOM will start a study on the implementation of self-service in the delivery of postal items, in order to analyse the legal framework and the developments regarding postal items related to services with delivery at a point chosen by the addressee.

Public consultation

ANCOM’s Draft Action Plan for 2022 is available, in Romanian, here. Interested persons are invited to send comments and suggestions not later than 14 January 2022, to the ANCOM Headquarters (2 Delea Noua Street, 3^rd District, Bucharest), as well as using the Online Registry or by means of the Authority’s Regional Divisions. Comments may also be sent by fax, to +40 372 845 402, or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.ro.