EU lawmakers and governments agreed on draft legislation...

EU lawmakers and governments agreed on draft legislation designed to make broadband infrastructure cheaper to build, said the European Parliament Industry and Energy Committee (ITRE) Tuesday. Committee negotiators want to allow broadband providers to share plans and expenses with companies in sectors such as transport, gas and sewage, and also proposed a voluntary “broadband-ready” label for houses, ITRE said. Broadband companies would have the right to access “promptly,” through a single information point, information about the location, route, size, type and current use, owner’s name and a contact for existing infrastructure, it said. Similar information would also be available about infrastructure work already under way. All newly built public and multi-dwelling buildings should be equipped with in-house broadband infrastructure ready for broadband connection, as should those undergoing major renovation, it said. The full committee is expected to vote on the deal March 18 before an April 11 plenary vote.