Documents and Laws in Parliament

Scope: § 21–§ 21a; pages 1–24.

The bill amends the rules for highway toll stickers by eliminating the automatic annual adjustment based on inflation and the length of the highway network and instead directly sets the rates in the law starting in 2027. It maintains the current fee levels, including discounted rates for certain low-emission and natural gas vehicles, and eliminates the Ministry of Transportation’s obligation to announce the rates annually via a notice. The main impact is greater predictability and a “freeze” on the price of highway toll stickers for drivers and business owners. At the same time, lower revenue growth is expected for the State Transport Infrastructure Fund, which may limit funding for transport infrastructure.

The law introduces obligations for network operators and public entities to report and update data on physical infrastructure (particularly buildings) in digital technical maps and the ZABAGED database, thereby fulfilling the requirements of the new EU regulation on gigabit infrastructure.

The management and provision of data on technical infrastructure are being refined, penalties are being increased to up to CZK 10 million or 5% of turnover, and the Czech Telecommunication Office is now responsible for handling these matters. At the same time, rules for internal communication wiring in buildings are being amended, particularly regarding the conditions for revoking the owner’s consent and the allocation of costs.

Electronic communication connections are being reclassified as minor constructions, administrative fees are being adjusted, and the respective public administration systems must be technically modified to comply with EU requirements.

The law establishes a central digital contact and information point that unifies processes for obtaining information, permits, and coordination of construction work in building gigabit networks, significantly accelerating and reducing the cost of construction. It introduces an obligation for operators and public institutions to record data on existing and planned infrastructure in digital technical maps and other registries, and imposes high penalties of up to 10 million CZK for non-compliance with these obligations. A key change is the automatic approval of a project after 60 days of administrative inactivity, which significantly shortens approval processes and reduces the risk of delays.

The law also adjusts the procedural framework for granting permits directly by law, their subsequent review, and the limitation of appeals. It strengthens the role of the Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) in resolving disputes over access to physical infrastructure, pricing, and contract modifications, setting fixed deadlines and enabling amicable settlements. At the same time, it expands the obligations of builders regarding the installation of optical infrastructure in buildings and clarifies conditions for registering easements in the land registry, including special exemptions for heritage-protected or security-sensitive properties.

Energy infrastructure is protected through binding opinions from the Energy Regulatory Office, and the law introduces new offenses and fines for violations of the rules. It also repeals the previous legal regulation (Act No. 194/2017 Coll.) and ensures alignment with the European regulation on gigabit infrastructure as well as the ongoing digitalization of construction permitting processes.