EETimes : EU Commissioner slammed for stance on mobile TV
It seems the software industry isn't the only industry wrestling to explain technology neutrality to policy makers. The EETimes reports:-
The head of the WorldDMB organization has made a scathing attack on EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, for rejecting out of hand all but the DVB-H version of mobile TV for use in Europe.
"It is ridiculous for the Commission to think that only one system can work everywhere! Each country has its own unique requirements and market conditions and the Commissioner's preference for one solution suggests she has failed to grasp that mobile operators and broadcasters need flexibility to develop different business models," said Quentin Howard.
He stressed it was vital for European industry that the market is not restricted to one specific technology but rather that it is able to use different systems tailored to each market. "Technology is a rapidly and continually evolving process and it would be damaging to Europe's economy and its citizens for the Commission to mandate one standard," warned Howard.
The story quotes Commissioner Reding's commments at CeBIT, threatening regulation to enforce a single technology standard for mobile TV if member states failed to evolve a common standard.
"The industry should agree on one single standard. I believe this should be the DVB-H family of standards," said Reding at an EC convened conference on mobile TV at the trade fair. She went on to suggest that if the industry and member states failed to agree on one standard she would be forced to "intervene with regulatory measures."
The European Mobile Broadcasting Council (EMBC) presented a report at the conference which concluded
"there is no urgent need for specific new EU regulation to foster the introduction and development of mobile broadcasting." The report suggests the market should be allowed to decide for itself which technologies are best suited for broadcasting television, radio and data to mobile devices in Europe.
The Council, which EETimes points out includes every major mobile telecoms operator, broadcaster, network provider and technology manufacturer from the member states, has spent the past year studying the mobile technology market in Europe, was set up by the Commission last year and charged with making proposals to nurture mobile broadcasting in Europe.
The EMBC recommended technology neutrality and said the Commission "should not favour any one technology over another."