ESC urges rapid public access to the Internet
Rapid public access to the Internet is vital, stated the EU's Economic and Social Committee (ESC) as it welcomed the Commission's proposal on 'universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services'. Public access to the Internet should be included immediately in universal service. This would promote the objectives of eEurope, and would also ensure that those with low incomes, and those in the voluntary sector, non profit-making organisations and less populated regions are not denied access to advanced services. According to the European Commission, the 'universal service' is a dynamic and evolving concept, which can be revised periodically in order to take account of technological progress, market developments and the changing needs of users. The opinion of the Committee sets out a series of principles, for example pricing and geographical spread, which it considers should govern universal service. The ESC called on the Commission to ensure that specific measures aimed at users with disabilities and special needs be mandatory rather than optional, in order to offer the most vulnerable users the most appropriate form of protection. The ESC also proposes setting up a telecommunications forum or observatory at the ESC, so that the views of interested sectors and parties are taken into account at Community level.