BEREC and FCC (US) sign renewed partnership agreement

The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have reconfirmed their ongoing partnership by signing an updated version of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on their international cooperation. The new MoU builds on previous agreements from 2012 and 2018 with the FCC, an independent US government agency that regulates interstate and international communications via radio, television, wire, satellite and cable networks.

“The renewal of our MoU enables a reinforced cooperation between the FCC and BEREC on topics of mutual interest, such as affordability and access to broadband,” BEREC Chair Annemarie Sipkes commented.

The MoU outlines how BEREC and the FCC have committed to regularly exchange  information, share technical skill sets and best practices and organise bilateral meetings, seminars and workshops to facilitate actions in their respective jurisdictions around topics including:

• cooperation on electronic communications, regulatory policy and other relevant topics related to the digital economy in the common interest of both organisations;
• encouraging and accelerating investment in broadband infrastructure deployment;
• promotion of 5G, 6G, and beyond;
• market shaping and competition aspects of spectrum management and
• sustainability in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.

BEREC study visit to US
The signing event took place during a BEREC study visit to gain insights into regulatory trends and developments in the US telecoms and electronic communications sector. A BEREC delegation engaged with various institutions and companies to exchange views ideas on 5G, broadband access and connectivity, sustainability, digital platform regulation and security. The BEREC delegation also learned about initiatives to enhance high-speed internet availability and to create a more competitive broadband market.

 BEREC Chair Annemarie Sipkes will present the key outcomes of the study trip at the upcoming BEREC public debriefing, which will take place on 12 October 2022 in Brussels and can also be followed online.