The new structure follows closely the new EU regulatory philosophy and
it aims at speeding up processes.
The General Secretariat
The General Secretariat has a key role between the collegial bodies
and the structure.
It is directed by the General Secretary (Mr Roberto Viola) which is responsible
to the Council for the running of the structure an the efficiency of the
services.
It must verify formal completeness of all decisions and ascertain that
they correspond to Agcom's policy; it must as well plan and monitor all
inquiries and is responsible for the official information and the Annual
Report to the Parliament.
The General Secretary attends the meetings of the collegial body as well.
Direction For Electronic communication networks and services
It deals with infrastructure and services issues with a pure technological
neutrality approach, in line with the current EU philosophy, and controlling
the whole procedural flow (Regulation, Monitoring and Conflict Resolution).
As an example of the issues dealt by the Direction:
- Interconnection and Access to the networks;
- Wholesale and retail telephony and broadband;
- Numbering;
- Spectrum issues
Direction for Audiovisual contents and media
It deal with all content issues, controlling the whole procedural flow
(Regulation, Monitoring and Conflict Resolution).
As an example of the issues dealt by the Direction:
- Regulation of licence and authorisation regime for contents and access
to multimedia platforms;
- Protection of pluralism of information and competition in the media
sector;
- Protection of minors;
- Monitoring of European and independent productions quota in the media;
- Right of reply compliance;
- Protection of intellectual property right;
- Advertising regulation;
- Public broadcasting;
- Etc.
Direction for Market analysis and competition
It carries out all market analysis activities and liases with the Competition
Authority for the opinions as requested by the law 249/97; it is also
responsible for issues such as cost accounting and other technical issues.
Direction for Consumers Protection
It is responsible for dealing with consumers complaints and relations
with Consumers Associations; it also gives opinion to the Competition
Authority regarding misleading advertisement and it is in charge of issues
such as Quality of Services Agreements of the operators and conflict resolutions.
Direction for Training, research and study
It manages AGCOM library and information center; publish and diffuses
AGCOM publications and promotes researches and studies.
Functional Bodies of AGCOM are the Regional Committees for
Communications (Corecom) which replace the former Regional Radiotelevision
Committees.
Law n. 249 also established the National Council
of Users which, in full autonomy, expresses opinions and makes proposals
to Agcom, Parliament and Government in order to safeguard human dignity,
pluralism, objectivity, completeness and impartiality of information and
of communication activities.
The Authority also approved its own Ethical
Code of conduct to be respected by all its members, management personnel
and staff members. A recently established Committee has the task to assess
the correct application of the Code.
The Authority is funded by the State through an annual budgetary allocation.
Other revenue derives from the contribution owed to Agcom by operators
of communications, whose amount is established each year in a decree issued
by the Ministry of Finance in agreement with the Treasury.
A Guarantee Committee has been established to ensure transparency and
fairness in Agcom’s administrative
and financial management. |
Authority