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The availability of broadband infrastructures is considered an essential factor for economic growth and for the knowledge-based economy. This opinion is widely shared by municipalities, provinces, housing corporations, the central government, and the European Commission.
In short, broadband can be defined as the permanent connection between electronic communication networks. However, descriptions of what broadband exactly encompasses vary considerably. These descriptions sometimes relate to the functional nature (what can it be used for?) and sometimes to the technical nature (what is the capacity of the connection?). Due to rapid technological developments, the term broadband is very dynamic. Many definitions used for broadband are rooted in the European Commission and the Broadband Note.
The European Commission has set its ambitions and policy measures regarding broadband on the Lisbon Agenda. Municipalities, provinces, and housing corporations also take the initiative to promote broadband services and networks. Under the right conditions, these parties can provide a significant boost to the development of broadband. The current government's policy focuses on creating the right conditions and improving operations in the free market for digital communication infrastructures. The priority for the development of such networks lies with market parties. This guide is intended to support policymakers from municipalities, provinces, and housing corporations in the development of broadband.
All initiatives must comply with the frameworks of European and national legislation. This guide provides an analysis of European legislation and regulation, state aid and procurement procedures, as well as recent statements from the European Commission on these subjects.
Additionally, this report also addresses the recommendations made by the government regarding the promotion of broadband, taking into account a healthy competitive market. These recommendations are translated into action plans and are supported by practical examples.
