EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013

With first-hand information from the European Commission on: The new State Aid Guidelines for Broadband coming in 2013 EU financing possibilities starting in 2014 European Seminar EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013 12 th 13 th September 2013, Berlin With Experts from: Broadband Unit, DG Connect, European Commission Brochure State Aids Unit, DG Competition, European Commission Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank Swedish Board of Agriculture, Managing Authority for EAFRD, Sweden Close the Gap BV, Initiator and Managing Authority of the Co-operative Ons Net Project, the Netherlands ERDF Funded Broadband Project Superfast North Yorkshire, United Kingdom ERDF Funded Broadband Project RAIN, Lithuania 1

EUROPEAN SEMINAR EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013 Do not lose EU funding and financing opportunities available for your broadband projects Over the next years, huge investments are needed to ensure the development of high speed broadband internet in all regions of the European Union. However, in times of budgetary austerity and insufficient engagement of the industry to invest, especially in rural areas, the issue of financing is the biggest hurdle to achieve the ambitious goals for broadband set up by the Digital Agenda for Europe. The EU provides multiple sources of financing for broadband projects, in form of various EU funds as well as European Investment Bank instruments. Broadband projects are supported via Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF) and the EAFRD as well as from 2014 on through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). But the application process varies significantly within the range of these financing opportunities and requires a high level of expertise of all stakeholders involved. Moreover, in 2013, the European Commission adopted the new State Aid Guidelines for Broadband. These guidelines have to be taken into consideration while assessing whether State aid for broadband is admissible. The comprehension of the changes in the Guidelines is absolutely necessary to ensure the success of the approval application. All stakeholders involved in the implementation of broadband projects in the EU need to be acquainted with the following issues: What are the current and future EU funds and instruments available for broadband projects? Which kind of actions will be funded and which organisations are eligible? How to successfully apply for these financing opportunities now or beyond 2013 and how to avoid typical pitfalls in the application process What are the practical challenges that can occur during the project s implementation? How to meet the requirements set up in the new State aid Guidelines for Broadband and how to receive approval for State aid? Obtain a thorough overview of the current developments in EU financing for broadband infrastructure and receive the answer to all your questions and uncertainties. Benefit from best practice examples of European broadband projects and avail from their experiences and lessons learnt at this intensive European Seminar. 2 Who is this seminar for? Directors, Heads of Departments or Units, Managers, Officers and other decision makers involved in the implementation of broadband infrastructure projects In institutions such as Public and private applicants and beneficiaries of EU funding for broadband projects National, regional and local authorities responsible for broadband development - Managing Authorities and Intermediate Bodies for ERDF, ESF and EAFRD - Ministries - Agencies - Regional governments, communities and municipalities Private companies providing broadband infrastructure - Technology and telecommunication companies - Suppliers and providers of broadband infrastructure - Utility companies ICT clusters Consultancies specialised in broadband Public and private banking sector involved in financing broadband Especially from departments such as EU Funds Broadband Infrastructure/Land Development Digital Agenda/Information Society ICT/Telecommunication Regional Development Rural Development Economic Development Finance Government Affairs/Public Affairs State Aid Control and Monitoring

What will you learn at this seminar? Which funds are available now and beyond 2013? Which projects and organisations are eligible? What are the responsibilities of the Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies and beneficiaries with regard to the new funding opportunities for broadband? How can I successfully use Structural Funds for broadband projects? How to apply and implement an ERDF funded broadband project in practice? What do I specifically take into account when using the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to finance broadband in rural areas? Which financial instruments does the European Investment Bank (EIB) provide to support broadband projects, how to apply for them and which projects are eligible? How to use financing within the new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) starting in 2014? What are the new requirements of the new revised State Aid Guidelines for Broadband? What kind of impact do these changes have for me in the approval process? How to support a bottom-up approach in a broadband project? How to finance broadband projects through public-private-partnerships? Your benefits Get first-hand information from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank on current and future funding opportunities Exchange opinions and receive practical advice from various perspectives Learn about the changes in the EU State Aid Guidelines for Broadband Be informed on time and prepare for the requirements at an early stage Find out how to successfully apply for and use Structural Funds and EAFRD from successful Beneficiaries Benefit from various case studies and lessons learnt from best practice project examples Receive valuable practical advice Be a proactive manager and raise your questions and uncertainties with regard to the new EU financing opportunities for broadband Network and exchange experiences with our experts and colleagues from all across Europe A good overview of opportunities and funding for broadband. Aliscin Cox, Partnership and Knowledge Manager, Superfast Broadband Business Support Programme, Peninsula Enterprise 3

PROGRAMME DAY 1 EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013 8.30-9.00 Registration and Hand-Out of Seminar Documents 9.00-9.05 Opening Remarks from the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law 9.05-9.30 Welcome Note from the Chair and Round of Introductions Andy Lister, Programme Director, Superfast North Yorkshire An ERDF Funded Broadband Project by North Yorkshire County Council, Department for Culture, Media and Sports, British Telecom and NYnet, United Kingdom 9.30-10.15 Financing Broadband in the EU Current Developments Overview on current EU developments with respect to the support and financing of broadband infrastructure in Europe EU broadband policy The EU s Next Generation Access (NGA) challenge Dr. Robert Henkel, Senior Policy Officer, Broadband Unit, Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect), European Commission 10.15-10.30 10.30-11.00 Coffee Break and Networking Opportunity 11.00-11.45 Overview: Funding and Financing Opportunities Now and Beyond 2013 Ongoing work with the EIB Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 - How will funding be allocated? - Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF) post 2013 EAFRD The New Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) starting in 2014 - Scope and objectives of the CEF - Latest developments and state of affairs EU/EIB support Digital Service Infrastructure Dr. Robert Henkel, Senior Policy Officer, Broadband Unit, Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect), European Commission 11.45-12.00 ANDY LISTER Programme Director, Superfast North Yorkshire An ERDF Funded Broadband Project by North Yorkshire County Council, Department for Culture, Media and Sports, British Telecom and NYnet, United Kingdom Andy Lister is Programme Director for Superfast North Yorkshire a 30m project to deliver Next Generation Access (NGA) to England s largest rural area. He and the project were invited by the European Commission to participate in the B3 Regions Project, an EU-funded programme designed to disseminate best practice in the area of next generation broadband for rural areas across the EU. He has had a key role in helping three major UK broadband projects to get underway, namely NYnet North Yorkshire, Digital Region South Yorkshire, and Superfast North Yorkshire. Moreover, he has a specialist expertise in State aid having successfully gained several State aid approvals in the UK. DR. ROBERT HENKEL Senior Policy Officer, Broadband Unit, Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect), European Commission Since 2002, Dr. Robert Henkel is Senior Policy Officer at DG Connect at the European Commission in Brussels. Former to this position, he was Adviser of the BDI (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e. V./ Federation of German Industries) in Berlin. Between 1999 and 2000, he was Private Secretary of the President of the EPP/ED-Group, Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, in the European Parliament in Brussels. From 1998 to 1999, Dr. Robert Henkel was Assistant to the Director General of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), Herbert J. Allgeier, and member of the Cellule de Communication in Brussels. He was Assistant to the Deputy Director General Hendrik Tent in the European Commission in the Directorate- General Science, Research and Development for 3 years. In this position, he had been working as a National Expert from Germany in Brussels. Before that, he was working as Policy Officer of the German Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF), Bonn from 1994 to 1995. Dr. Robert Henkel was working as Scientific Collaborator of the German Federal Parliament in Bonn (1992-1994), as Policy Officer of the German Federal Government for Research and Technology, in the Berlin Department (1991-1992), and as Research Scientist at the Technical University Berlin (TUB) in the Department of Astrophysics (1987-1991). Excellent cross-section analysis of current EU funding schemes! 4 Ivan Ivankovic, Project Coordinator and Network Designer, Zagreb Holding ltd. Digital City Branch

12.00-12.45 Successful Use of Structural Funds in Broadband Projects Experiences of an ERDF Beneficiary From the project idea to its execution The application process Collaboration with the Managing Authority What you need to take into account regarding the planning of time and staff Project financing Cooperation with other stakeholders Practical experiences Lessons learnt The additionality of demand aggregation Stimulating take-up Specifics of using ERDF in the context of broadband Andy Lister, Programme Director, Superfast North Yorkshire An ERDF Funded Broadband Project by North Yorkshire County Council, Department for Culture, Media and Sports, British Telecom and NYnet, United Kingdom 12.45-13.00 13.00-14.30 Lunch Break and Networking Opportunity 14.30-15.15 Best Practice Project: Rural Area Information Technology Broadband Network RAIN The RAIN project is considered to be one of the best practice projects by the Commission s latest EU Guide to Broadband Investment. It is a nationwide backhaul and core network realised through a public Design, Build and Operate (DBO) investment model. RAIN broadband network: Development Implementation of RAIN project - Budget (ERDF Funding) - Preparatory steps - Current status Risk Management Gediminas Šečkus, Legal Adviser, Head of Legal Unit, Broadband Internet ( Plačiajuostis Internetas ), Implementing Partner of the ERDF Funded RAIN Project, Lithuania 15.15-15.30 15.30-16.00 Coffee Break and Networking Opportunity 16.00-16.45 Financing Broadband under EAFRD First-Hand Information from a Managing Authority Financing broadband under EAFRD and the Rural Development Programme in Sweden - Which actions and projects can be funded? - Role of the intermediate bodies such as Regional Administrative Boards and local community groups in managing the projects Focus on local commitment Typical examples Typical challenges of beneficiaries and how the Swedish Regional Administrative Boards deal with those Support for implementation Swedish initiatives - Joint Cooperation for stronger performance The state of affairs - More projects on the way - High demand for available funds Andreas Mattisson, Head of Coordination Unit, Rural Development Department, Swedish Board of Agriculture, EAFRD Managing Authority, Sweden 16.45-17.00 17.00 End of Day One ERDF ERDF EAFRD GEDIMINAS ŠEČKUS Legal Adviser, Head of Legal Unit, Broadband Internet ( Plačiajuostis Internetas ), Implementing Partner of the ERDF Funded RAIN Project, Lithuania Since 2008, Gediminas Šečkus is Legal Adviser and Head of the Legal Unit at the Public Institution Broadband Internet (Plačiajuostis internetas). Plačiajuostis internetas is the Implementing Partner and Beneficiary of the ERDF funded RAIN Project in Lithuania. In this function, he is responsible for legal affairs, public procurement and the project management in the field of business and electronic communications sector. From 2005 to 2008, Gediminas Šečkus was Legal Adviser for the Public Housing Agency (Būsto agentūra). In this position he was responsible for legal affairs and public procurement in the area of business, social housing and public administration sectors. Before that he had been working as the Legal Adviser for the Lithuanian Telecom (Lietuvos telekomas) for 5 years, where he had also been working in the field of legal affairs for business and electronic communications sector. His main responsibility was legal affairs of network construction, installation and maintenance. ANDREAS MATTISSON Head of Coordination Unit, Rural Development Department, Swedish Board of Agriculture, EAFRD Managing Authority, Sweden Since 2009, Andreas Mattisson is Head of Unit in the Coordination Division of the Rural Development Department at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The institution is the Managing Authority for the EAFRD in Sweden and responsible for the partly EU financed Rural Development Programme including a support measure for broadband infrastructure of around 200 million euros. The Swedish Board of Agriculture is managing these funds. From 2003 to 2008, Andreas Mattisson worked at the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture in the Rural Growth Unit, first as Administrative Officer, later as Deputy Director. Prior, he was Administrative Officer in the Project Support Division of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Professional. Rati Skhiztladze, Head of Information and Analysis Department, Georgian National Communications Commission 5

PROGRAMME DAY 2 EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013 9.00-9.15 Welcome Note from the Chair and Brief Review of Day 1 Andy Lister, Programme Director, Superfast North Yorkshire An ERDF Funded Broadband Project by North Yorkshire County Council, Department for Culture, Media and Sports, British Telecom and NYnet, United Kingdom 9.15-10.00 The New Guidelines on State Aid to Broadband Deployment The role of State aid control - Commissions decisions - Rules for State aid clearance Assessment of State aid - EU State aid rules - Reasons for public intervention Revision process - Compatibility: Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband - Compatibility: Basic broadband - Different broadband networks - The aim of the revision Latest changes - Public consultation - Objectives of the new guidelines - The role of the national Regulatory Authority - Transparency and simplification - Access obligations - Digital agenda targets Josef Schwarz, Case Handler, State Aids Unit, Information, Communication and Media Directorate, Directorate General for Competition (DG Competition), European Commission 10.00-10.15 10.15-10.45 Coffee Break and Networking Opportunity State aid It was an interesting seminar with various examples how to implement broadband infrastructure in white areas. JOSEF SCHWARZ Case Handler, State Aids Unit, Information, Communication and Media Directorate, Directorate General for Competition (DG Competition), European Commission Josef Schwarz is State aid Case Handler in the telecommunications, IT, media and sport sectors. He has had a key role in preparing State aid decisions on a number of EU, national, regional and local broadband projects, as well as in handling State aid complaints. Josef Schwarz is a member of the project team responsible for the recent revision of the EU State aid Broadband Guidelines, a set of specific criteria which allow the European Commission and aid granting authorities to ensure that public funding for broadband projects does not distort competition. KEES ROVERS Founder, President and CEO of Close the Gap BV, Initiator and Managing Authority of the Cooperative Ons Net Project, the Netherlands Kees Rovers is Founder, President and CEO of Close the Gap BV, in the Netherlands. Close the Gap advises on and assists communities (in the Netherlands and internationally) in the creation of their own fiber cooperative and connected community. Ten years ago he took the initiative, together with the Director of the local housing corporation in Nuenen to change the way in which citizens own and access advanced services (with a special focus on elderly and disabled people to use advanced digital services). Kees Rovers wanted to archive those digital services by a bottom-up approach: In 2002 he set up a user feedback committee to explore the needs and benefits for the different organisations and interest groups in the town from churches to schools, to the local Turkish community and other stakeholders. As the idea of Ons Net (Our Net) grew, people became excited by the potential. The co-operative Ons Net was realised and in 2004, within a short space of time (5 months) all 8000 households in Nuenen were connected to a community owned fibre network. They achieved a take-up rate of 97%. Kees Rovers frequently speaks, around the globe, on the Close the Gap co-operative Model and was recently awarded a knighthood by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix for, in particular, his founding of Ons Net Nuenen. In the first 20 years of his professional life, Kees held several senior-management positions with the Dutch cooperative bank Rabobank. In 1985, he created his first multi-media enterprise: Telematica International and introduced the French Minitelsystem in the Netherlands. It was an interesting seminar with various examples how to implement broadband infrastructure in white areas. 6

State aid 10.45-11.30 Applying for State Aid and Fulfilling the Requirements of the State Aid Guidelines for Broadband Lessons Learnt from Four Approvals in the United Kingdom by an ERDF Beneficiary Where to start when thinking about State aid How to resource the State aid process Dealing with stakeholders Dealing with telecom operators What you need to be aware of when applying for State aid - Writing the application - Handling questions Common bear traps Do s and Don ts of State aid Further lessons learnt from the following State aid approvals in the United Kingdom: - State aid SA.34188 (2012/N) United Kingdom Next Generation Broadband in North Yorkshire - N559/2009 North Yorkshire Broadband - N746/2006 United Kingdom NYnet North Yorkshire Advanced Broadband Project - N157/2006 - United Kingdom South Yorkshire Digital Region Broadband Project Andy Lister, Programme Director, Superfast North Yorkshire An ERDF Funded Broadband Project by North Yorkshire County Council, Department for Culture, Media and Sports, British Telecom and NYnet, United Kingdom DR. JUSSI HÄTÖNEN Sector Economist, Digital Economy and Education (DEE) Division, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank Jussi Hätönen works as Sector Economist in the Projects Directorate of the European Investment Bank (EIB). At EIB his key responsibilities include carrying out detailed due diligence of the bank s potential lending operations in the ICT sector, including telecommunications, semiconductors, software, ICT equipment and manufacturing. In addition, he is closely involved in the development of EIB s overall lending in the broadband sector. In total, Jussi Hätönen has over eight years of professional experience from financing and advisory roles in the ICT sector. 11.30-11.45 11.45-13.00 Lunch Break and Networking Opportunity 13.00-13.45 Best Practice Project: Experiences from the Co-operative Ons Net Nuenen Project in the Netherlands The Ons Net project is considered to be one of the best practice projects by the Commission s latest EU Guide to Broadband Investment. It is a Co-operative-based Fibre to the Home (FTTH) realised through a bottom-up investment model. Ons Net: Co-operative model Implementation of the Ons Net project Specifics of the Ons Net project - Investment model: Bottom-up approach - Public-private-partnership - Stakeholder involvement Lessons Learnt Kees Rovers, Founder, President and CEO of Close the Gap BV, Initiator and Managing Authority of the Co-operative Ons Net Project, the Netherlands 13.45-14.00 Bottom-up approach 14.30-15.15 EIB Financing for Broadband and Next Generation Networks Types of broadband projects financed Case studies EIB financial instruments and core requirements for broadband projects Perceived challenges in practice Future outlook regarding Next Generation Networks (NGN) investments in Europe Dr. Jussi Hätönen, Sector Economist, Digital Economy and Education (DEE) Division, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank 15.15-15.30 EIB Financing 14.00-14.30 Coffee Break and Networking Opportunity 15.30 End of Seminar and Hand-out of Certificates 7

ORGANISATIONAL MATTERS EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013 Date of Event 12 th 13 th September 2013 Booking Number S-625 BOOKING Fax: +49 (0)30 802080-250 E-mail: booking@euroacad.eu Phone: +49 (0)30 802080-230 For online booking please visit our website: www.euroacad.eu Event Language The event language will be English. Event Price for Public Administration 1.389,- Euro, excl. German VAT (19%) for Others 1.689,- Euro, excl. German VAT (19%) The above price covers the following: Admission to the seminar Hand-out documents in print and digital version Seminar certificate, if seminar fully attended Soft drinks and coffee/tea on both event days Lunch on both event days Booking Modalities It is recommended to book soon as seats are limited. For organisational matters, we kindly ask you to complete the booking form in capital letters. Contact European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law Hausvogteiplatz 13, 10117 Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 (0)30 80 20 80 230 Fax: +49 (0)30 80 20 80 250 E-mail: info@euroacad.eu Internet: www.euroacad.eu Your contact persons for the programme: Regina Lüning, M. Sc. econ. Head of Marketing and Sales Phone: +49 (0)30 80 20 80 246 Fax: +49 (0)30 80 20 80 259 E-mail: regina.luening@euroacad.eu Katinka von Kovatsits, M.A. Junior Conference Manager Phone: +49 (0)30 80 20 80 239 Fax: +49 (0)30 80 20 80 259 E-Mail: katinka.kovatsits@euroacad.eu (Programme is subject to alterations) Event Location NH Berlin Friedrichstraße Friedrichstrasse 96 10117 Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 1805 0037 83 Fax: +49 1805 0037 84 E-mail: reservierungen@nh-hotels.com Internet: http://www.nh-hotels.de/ Please contact the hotel directly and refer to the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law if you wish to benefit from a limited room availability-contingent. Of course you can always look for an alternative hotel accommodation. 8

NOTE Please note, you can register as many delegates as you wish (except, the seminar is fully booked). You only need to copy this formular for as many persons you wish. European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law Brauner Klingenberg GmbH Hausvogteiplatz 13 10117 Berlin / Germany Phone.: +49 (0)30 802080-230 Fax: +49 (0)30 802080-250 E-mail: info@euroacad.eu www.euroacad.eu BOOKING BOOKING NUMBER: S-625 (PR) 12 th - 13 th SEPTEMBER 2013, BERLIN Herewith we register the following persons for the Seminar: EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects Now and Beyond 2013 Delegate 1 Ms. Mr. First name Last name Department Job position Your organisation Street Postcode / City Country Phone Fax E-mail Delegate 2 Ms. Mr. First name Last name Department Job position Your organisation Street Postcode / City Country Delegate 3 Ms. Mr. First name Last name Department Job position Your organisation Street Postcode / City Country Phone Fax E-mail Phone Fax E-mail Invoice organisation To the attention of Street Postcode / City Country Phone Fax E-mail In case of registration of more than one delegate - do you prefer: single invoice? collective invoice? With my signature I confirm my registration and accept the General Terms and Conditions as legally binding. I herewith agree to receive further information from the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law NOTE Only Valid with Signature and Stamp Place, Date Authorised Signature and Stamp 9

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