Interconnection Regulation and Contract Law

List of abbreviations
Glossary

1. Introduction
1.1 Interoperability, access and interconnection
1.2 Regulating access and interconnection
1.3 Interconnection and contract law
1.4 Delineation of research objectives and justification of comparative approach
1.5 Different stakes and the research objectives


I. THE REGULATION OF INTEROPERABILITY, AND OF ACCESS/INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS
2. Technological and economic aspects
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Technical notions
2.3 Basic forms of interconnection
2.4 Structuring interconnection
2.5 Economic aspects
2.6 Interim conclusion

3. The international and EC regulatory framework
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The international regulatory framework
3.3 The EC regulatory framework
3.4 EC specific regulation of access and interconnection
3.5 Other regulated markets
3.6 Interim conclusion

4. Implementation issues with emphasis on the Netherlands
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Harmonization of notions of interoperability and interconnection
4.3 The 1998 Telecommunications act (Tw)
4.4 The 2004 Tw
4.5 Interim conclusion

5. The powers of the national regulatory authority
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The empowerment of the NRA under EC regulation
5.3 The NRA and the notion of SMP
5.4 Powers of the NRA at the national level
5.5 Concurring competencies
5.6 The ERG
5.7 Interim conclusion

II. NEGOTIATION, FORMATION AND PERFORMANCE OF ACCESS AND INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS
6. Contract law aspects
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Qualification of access and interconnection agreements
6.3 Duty to negotiate interconnection and the principle of good faith
6.4 How the interconnection agreement comes about
6.5 The RIO
6.6 Non-performance, damages and error
6.7 Termination for convenience
6.8 Interim conclusion

7. The reference interconnection offer
7.1 Introduction
7.2 The NRA and the RIO
7.3 Discussion of the Decision on the RIO
7.4 Analysis of the RIO February 2004
7.5 Negotiating interconnection and peering agreements
7.6 Interim conclusion

8. Disputes
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Selected disputes on access and interconnection in the Netherlands 1997-2005
8.3 Interim conclusion

III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
9. Final remarks
9.1 Introduction
9.2 The normative framework – synthesis
9.3 Specific observations on the main question
9.4 Recommendations

Bibliography
Overview of cases
Overview of relevant EU and national regulation
Translation of selected provisions in 1998-2004 Telecommunications act (Telecommunicatiewet, 'TW')
Register
Acknowledgements
Resume