12 Amendments of Sofia SAKORAFA related to 2016/0287(COD)
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Following the Communication setting out a European vision of Internet connectivity for the Digital Single Market and in order to promote digital inclusion, the Union should support the provision of free, high speed, local wireless connectivity of high quality in the centres of local public life, including outdoor spaces accessible to the general public, through targeted support. Such support is so far not covered by Regulations (EU) No 1316/201315 and (EU) No 283/201416 . Digital inclusion should not discriminate remote location and rural zones. _________________ 15 Regulation (EU) No 1316/20136 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, amending Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 680/2007 and (EC) No 67/2010, OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 129, as last amended by Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2015, OJ L 169, 1.7.2015, p. 1. 16 Regulation (EU) No 283/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on guidelines for trans- European networks in the area of telecommunications infrastructure and repealing Decision No 1336/97/EC, OJ L 86, 21.3.2014, p. 14.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Support of this kind should encourage entities with a public mission such as public authorities and providers of public services to offer free local wireless connectivity as an ancillary service to their public mission so asand thus help to ensure that local communities in the centres of public life are guaranteed access to information and involvement in (digital) public life, can improve their digital skills and can experience the benefits of very high-speed broadband in the centres of public life. Such entities could include municipalities, public buildings, community centres, parks, town squares and other local public authorities, libraries, universities and hospitals. The offer of high-speed free wireless connectivity should be also provided to freely accessible spaces of public transport.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Local wireless connectivity should only qualify as free where it is provided without corresponding remuneration, whether by direct payment or other types of consideration, including, but not limited to, advertising and the provision of personal data. Under no circumstances the wireless Internet co-financed by the Union can be made dependent on purchasing any goods or services.
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Improving access to fast and ultra- fast broadband and ICT services, especially in remote areas, could increase the quality of peoples' life by facilitating access to services (e.g. e-Health and e- Government) and promote the development of local SMEs. The authorities should therefore ensure that nobody is left behind and that the Internet content and online services are accessible to all.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) Giving local SMEs priority in the context of the procurement and installation of equipment with a view to the provision of WLAN in accordance with this Regulation could safeguard the potential for innovation and creation of quality jobs in municipalities.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) To ensure that connectivity in accordance with this Regulation is provided quickly, local authorities should be informed promptly and in an appropriate manner about the availability of this support, and where necessary helped to apply for it, and financial assistance should be implemented using to the fullest extent possible on-line tools that allow for the swift submission and handling of applications and support the implementation, monitoring and auditing of the local wireless access points installed.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) Given the problems and difficulties that rural, remote and sparsely populated areas are facing, there should be guarantees that these areas also benefit from free, high speed local wireless connectivity of high quality.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Given Internet connectivity needs within the Union and the urgency of promoting access networks that can deliver, throughout the EU, an Internet experience of high quality based on very high-speed broadband services, financial assistance should seek to attain a geographically balanced distribution by taking particular account of the needs of local communities.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 283/2014
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) support the provision of free, high speed, local wireless connectivity in local communities.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) No 283/2014
Article 6 – paragraph 8a
Article 6 – paragraph 8a
8a. Actions contributing to projects of common interest in the field of providing free, high speed, local wireless connectivity in local communities shall meet conditions set out in Section 4 in the Annex.
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU) No 283/2014
Annex – section 4 – paragraph 5
Annex – section 4 – paragraph 5
The available budget shall be allocated to projects in a geographically balanced manner to projects meeting the above conditions in view of the proposals received and, in principle, on a 'first come, first served' basisby taking particular account of the needs of the people and keeping with the objectives of bringing about economic, social and territorial cohesion and offsetting regional differences in the provision of fast internet access across the Union. At least 20% of the budget should be allocated to areas that are less developed economically and digitally, with particular emphasis on islands and on mountainous, border and peripheral areas, in order to invest the resources where they are most needed.