PRESS RELEASE: The Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic has not approved the transposition amendment to the Electronic Communications Act

Prague, 21 July 2021 – The Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic didn´t approve the transposition amendment to the Electronic Communications Act on Wednesday 21 July 2021. The amendment will be returned with amendments to the Chamber of Deputies and positive benefits for consumers and undertakings, which the original text of the amendment brought, are put at risk. In the Chamber of Deputies, however, the amendment was adopted by a very strong majority of 164 out of 168 votes as a balanced and acceptable proposal for all.

A significant change in marketing calls was one of the proposed principles which the Senate didn´t support. While until now, the consumer who didn´t want to be harassed by marketing calls at all had to actively express their disagreement in so called directories, the new principle should have been quite opposite: It should have been automatically assumed that unsolicited marketing calls could not be made because the consumer didn´t want them. On the contrary, if the consumer wished to be contacted by these types of calls, they should give an active consent in the directories. It would therefore be easier to prove a breach of the law, e.g. when demonstrably making a call to a number that lacks such consent.

The amendment was intended to bring other positive changes, e.g. faster and easier possibility to change an internet provider, conditions for easier deployment of electronic communications networks or technological development.

We regret the failure to pass the transposition amendment to the Electronic Communications Act. This amendment, fully in compliance with EU policy, has among other things significantly improved consumer privacy protection and otherwise positively regulated the conditions for the electronic communications market, which is very dynamic and current legislation is already obsolete in many areas. We believe that the Chamber of Deputies will confirm its original position even in the short time remaining before the elections,“ said Hana Továrková, CTU Council Chair.

Press Unit 
Czech Telecommunication Office 
Tereza Meravá 

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