Information highways and media policies in the European Union

This article presents an overview of the European Community policy initiatives in telecommunications and broadcasting. The authors conclude that Community policy has not yet fully addressed the convergence of media that is at the heart of the information society. The article identifies a number of issues that need to be addressed: the removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers, universal and public service, line of business restrictions and pluralism of the media. The information society will require a policy framework that encompasses all media and aims to be free from inconsistencies between policies in different media sectors. Since the convergence of media will ultimately affect all aspects of life, the framework should not be limited to the economic dimension alone, but must take into account the whole spectrum of societal and cultural values.