Notice to launch public consultation on the draft BEREC Report on measure for Ensuring Equivalence of Access and Choice for Disabled end-users

Document number: BoR (22) 101

Document date: 15-06-2022

Date of registration: 15-06-2022

Document type:
Author: BEREC

During the 51st BEREC plenary meeting (9-10 June 2022), the Board of Regulators has approved for public consultation a draft BEREC Report on measures for ensuring equivalence of access and choice for disabled end-users.

This report follows on from three previous reports published in 2011, 2015 and 2018 broadly on the same subject and is aimed at collating information from NRAs for the purposes of compiling an inventory of measures and initiatives in place throughout Member States to meet the needs of users with disabilities that NRAs might consider when evaluating any action to be pursued to ensure equivalence of access and choice for these end-users.

The report provides information on the way MS are implementing the measures of the EECC on the availability and affordability of specific equipment and specific services that enhance equivalent access, including total conversation services and relay services.

The report explores:

·       the policy principle and legal background and therefore covers Article 111 of the EECC, which contains the main regulatory provisions, Article 102, on contractual information, as well as Articles 85, 96, 103, 104, 109, 114, which contain provisions aimed at end-users with disabilities;

·       the formal implementation of measures relating to the provisions of services/products for end-users with disabilities in the EECC, as well as the implementation of other measures under other regulations/national laws;

·       the measures and initiatives currently in place with regards to the concepts of access and affordability, equipment, software and website information, customer services and complaints, special retail packages, emergency services, directory enquires;

·       the competences of NRAs regarding the protection of end-users with disabilities on adopting specific regulations, imposing obligations such as tariff packages, information requirements, defining QoS parameters and additional standards;

·       the funding mechanism;

·       the implementation of total conversation services and relay services;

·       the engagement with disabled end-users associations and stakeholders;

·       access to emergency services.

Practical details of the public consultation

The public consultation will run from 15 June 2022 to 15 August 2022.

All stakeholders are invited to submit their contributions to the following e-mail address: [email protected] .

Further enquiries about the consultation may also be submitted to this address.
After submitting the contribution, an acknowledgment email will be sent to you.

Contributions should be sent preferably in English and, in order to facilitate processing of the responses, the comments provided should clearly refer to the specific paragraphs/guideline of the document.

We strongly encourage all stakeholders to submit their contributions as early as possible. Contributions received after the above mentioned deadline will not be taken into account.

In accordance with the BEREC policy on public consultations, BEREC will publish a summary of all received contributions, respecting confidentiality requests. Any such requests should clearly indicate which information is considered confidential and be accompanied by a non-confidential version.