Directive (EU) 2018/1972
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11th
December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code
(‘EECC’) entered into force on the 20th December 2018. Member States
have two years to incorporate it into national law, except where specifically
mentioned.
Amongst
others, the EECC contains provisions on the interoperability of car radio
devices in Article 113. For other radio devices intended for consumers,
additional measure may be adopted by the Member States. The aim of the
regulation is to encourage more widespread use of digital radio services across
Europe.
The EECC
requires that any car radio receiver integrated in a new vehicle of category M,
which is made available on the market for sale or rent in the European Union as
from the 21st December 2020, to be capable of receiving digital
terrestrial radio.
The Malta
Communications Authority (MCA) is consulting on a proposed amendment to the
Electronic Communications Networks and Services (General) Regulations, SL
399.28 (‘the Regulations’) in order to implement the provisions set out in
Article 113(1) of the EECC regarding the interoperability of car radio
devices.
The
proposed amendment to the Regulations is intended to provide legal clarity to
the effect that as from 21st December 2020 any car radio receiver
integrated in a new car (category M) made available for sale or rent in Malta
must be equipped, as a minimum, with a DAB+ radio device.
The amendments to the Regulations will ensure
that local car importers are aware of this requirement well in advance of the
date when the obligation comes into force.
2. Consultation Questions
The MCA
is seeking the views and comments from all interested parties (including,
amongst others, car importers, car rental companies, consumers and the general
public) on the proposed changes to the Regulations in order to introduce
measures related to the interoperability of car radio devices.
Views on
whether additional measures should be introduced for other radio devices
intended for consumers (not only based on equipment requirements for car radios
but also extending the range of possible reception channels, including, amongst
others, the reception of internet radio) are also welcome.
The MCA
will, after taking into consideration the responses received to this
consultation, submit to the Minister responsible for communications its
proposed amendments to the Regulations.
3. Documents
4. Submission of input
Submissions were sent in through the following channels:
By post: Chief of Legal
Malta
Communications Authority
Valletta
Waterfront, Pinto Wharf,
Floriana, FRN 1913
Submissions were received by 12 November 2019.
We thank you for your input.