1. Preventing damage to underground utilities when digging 9 March 2006 Afke van Rijn Deputy director Telecom market

2. TOPICS  Current situation  Problems/Bottlenecks  Goal of this particular Act  Content of the Act  Current state of affairs

3. Current situation  Dutch situation in general  Current system of self- regulation (KLIC)  Policy document (November 2004) New Act

4. Problems/Bottlenecks  No obligation to report digging/to provide data  Lack of quality of the information asked/information not on time  Digging must be done with the utmost care  Unclear who, in practice, is accountable for what

5. Goal of this particular Act  Prevention of damage to underground utilities when digging.  To guarantee public interests as security of supply of utilities and safety for environment Means: legal obligation to exchange information + obligation to dig with care

6. Responsibilities  Excavator responsibilities - Notification - Digging with care  Owners or operators responsibilities - Providing correct and timely information The information process

7. Digging with care Just acting according to the Law is not enough. Prearrangements necessary about what digging with care is. But also:  Communication to the parties involved  Measures by third parties

8. Government bodies involved  Dutch Land Registry Office (Kadaster)  Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands (Agentschap Telecom)

9. Current state of affairs The Act will not take effect at the same time as the electronic information system:  Act a.s.a.p. after approval Upper Chamber  Electronic system: according to plan in 2009  February 2006: Act sent to Parliament  Before summer 2006: debate Lower Chamber  After summer 2006: debate Upper Chamber

10. Summary With the new law there will be:  Obligations with regard to exchange of information for excavators and owners/operators  Obligations to dig carefully  More clarity regarding the individual responsibilities of parties involved But to achieve desired change in behaviour:  Agreement between parties involved with regard to digging safely  Communication  Actions by others (for instance: insurers) All parts needed to achieve goal (less incidents)

11. Further questions or remarks concerning this subject? Please e-mail us at: Grondroerdersregeling@minez.nl