The field of telecommunications is strongly influenced by European requirements. The process of liberalising the telecommunications sector in all EU member states by eliminating the predominantly state-run monopolies began as early as 1987.

In Austria, the European legal framework was implemented through the Telecommunications Act. The Telekom-Control-Kommission (TKK) and the Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR) were created to regulate and monitor the Austrian telecommunications market.

The following pages provide information on the tasks and activities of the TKK and RTR with regard to the regulation of the telecommunications markets.