ETNO welcomes the release for public consultation by the Commission of the draft Guidelines for broadband networks. As underlined on many occasions, ETNO believes that the use of public funds for the deployment high speed broadband networks should be limited to those areas of Members States’ territory where no private investment is foreseen. Therefore, ETNO welcomes that the draft guidelines reiterate the importance of the principle of non-crowding out of private investments. Public resources should be devoted to rural areas and should not interfere with planned investment projects of the private sector, in order not to distort market efficiency, says ETNO, the European Telecommunications Network Operators association, which represents the leading investors in broadband services and networks.

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For more information, please contact: Thierry Dieu, ETNO Director for Communications and Public Policy Tel: (32-2) 219 32 42 Fax: (32-2) 219 64 12 E-mail: dieu@etno.be