UPC is threatening legal action against the council of Amsterdam. The cable company believes the council should not begin the roll-out of a fibre optic network until the European Commission has completed its investigation into the fibre plans of local authorities, such as Amsterdam. In October 2005, the European Commission said it would investigate the issue of local authorities who roll-out fibre optic networks, since this would constitute government support which is not allowed. UPC says that the council has begun excavation work and has sent a letter to the council asking for clarification and whether the council has notified the European Commission. Should UPC not receive a satisfactory reply, the company plans to take legal action, a spokesperson for UPC told Telecompaper. A spokesperson for the council's development company has told local daily Het Parool that the company has indeed started excavation work and that on 29 May the company would begin roll-out of fibre optic cables.
