France's secretary of state for digital affairs, Axelle Lemaire, signed an agreement with the country’s four largest broadband operators – Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free – setting the terms of a new trial on the right to a basic internet service for disadvantaged families. This right is one of the safeguards introduced by the new digital law adopted at the end of September, as detailed in article 108.
Starting from January 2017, the trial will take place in the departments of Seine-Saint-Denis and Haute-Saone. It aims to make public funds available to low-income households experiencing difficulties in paying for their internet connection. The four operators have committed not to terminate the contracts of these households during a period of four months, while their application for financial help is assessed. This help will be managed by a public solidarity fund for low-income households (Fonds de Solidarite Logement or FSL) and will be tested over a 12-month period to assess if it meets the requirements of the new digital law.
