The Emergence of a Supranational Telecommunications Regime

Abstract

Abstract The creation of a European telecommunications infrastructure provides a clear example of a policy domain in which the competence of national governments has been transferred into the European Union. The chapter begins by presenting a theoretical framework for this process. It then looks at the societal groups involved, explaining why the former PTT system of national monopolies over postal, telegraphic, and telecommunications services harmed their interests, and why the European integration of such services was urged as a preferred solution. It then describes the intergovernmental starting point, which was the establishment in 1959 of the CEPT (Conférence européenneto des administrations des postes et des télécommunications) to encourage cooperation between PTTs. It then analyses the ways in which transnational interest groups and the European Commission exploited existing rules to consolidate supranational control over telecommunications policy‐making, in respect of both setting technical standards and liberalizing service provision.

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