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Statement from National
Regulatory Authorities to WSIS on
UNIVERSAL ACCESS REGULATORY BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES
We, the regulators participating in the 2003
Global Symposium for Regulators, have identified and propose the following best
practice guidelines to achieving universal access to information and
communication technology (ICT) services.
An enabling regulatory environment: the
role of governments and regulators
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The success of any universal
access/service policy is dependent upon political support at the highest
level that recognizes the role of ICTs as a tool for development.
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It is essential that Regulators exist or
be established where they do not yet exist, and that their key role in
implementing universal access policies and promoting competition be
recognized and reinforced.
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A series of
policy and regulatory reform measures can be taken to achieve universal
access to ICTs. These include:
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a. |
Formulating a national policy
that identifies appropriate and realistic universal access/service
objectives that take into account the differences between universal
access—public access to ICTs—and universal service—household or
private access to ICTs. |
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b. |
Including all citizens,
regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic level or geographic
location, in national universal access/service objectives. |
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c. |
Reviewing universal
access/service policies, regulations and practices periodically to adapt
to the evolving nature of ICT services and the needs of end users. |
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d. |
Conducting periodic public
consultations to the extent possible with
stakeholders to identify their needs and modify accordingly
universal access policies, regulation and practices |
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e. |
Designing universal access
policies, regulations and practices in order to create incentives for
the private sector to extend universal access to communications
services. |
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f. |
Establishing a fair and
transparent telecommunication regulatory framework that promotes
universal access to ICTs. |
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g. |
Adopting technologically
neutral licensing practices enabling service providers to use the most
cost-effective technology to provide services for end users. |
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h. |
Adopting a framework of
interconnection rates linked to costs. |
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i. |
Reducing regulatory burdens to
lower the costs of providing services to end users. |
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j. |
Developing an effective
regulatory body responsible for implementing policies directed towards
assuring the best quality reliable services at the most affordable
prices that meet the needs of consumers—existing and future. |
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k. |
Promoting competition in the
provision of a full range of ICT services to increase access,
affordability, availability and use of ICTs. |
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Countries can use regulatory reform as
the first step in achieving universal access, recognizing that further steps
may be necessary to achieve ubiquitous access to ICTs, e.g., in rural areas
or to users with special needs.
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Appropriate licensing schemes for rural
service providers could be granted to meet the needs of un-served and
under-served areas.
Access to information and communication
infrastructures
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The lessons learned from the initial
experiences developing countries have achieved with mobile cellular services
can be applied to a broader range of ICT services to foster universal
access. These lessons include
providing services in a competitive framework, using new technologies that
offer both innovative services and affordable pricing options (e.g., pay as
you go options such as pre paid cards) to a wide range of end users.
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Other measures to promote affordable ICT
equipment could include national manufacturing of ICT equipment, reduced
customs tariffs and duties, and end-user loans to foster affordability of
ICT equipment.
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A full range of public access options
can be developed, including the creation of public telecentres.
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Local input (including
the content useful for local populations) into projects increases
their long-term financial sustainability.
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Educating local people on the benefits
of ICTs and their use increases their long-term financial sustainability.
Guidelines in regard to finance and
management of universal access policy
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Universal service funds can be viewed as
an option that complements regulatory reform and developed as a mechanism
within a broader market-oriented approach to achieving universal access.
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Universal service funds can be financed
by a broad range of market players, managed by neutral bodies such as
regulators, and be used to kick-start public access projects that meet the
needs of the local community.
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Governments may consider a full range of
other financing mechanisms, including tax incentives for ICT providers and
end users.
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Competitive minimum subsidy auctions
could be used, as an option, to reduce the amount of financing necessary for
public access projects financed by a universal service fund.
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Public access projects can be designed
to achieve long-term financial self-sustainability, especially where
consideration is given to innovative low-cost technologies.
Individual
Country Contributions
More than 30 countries
responded to this invitation.
The responses can be
found below : click on the country to view their response. These will
serve as the basis for discussion during the roundtable discussion on Tuesday, 9
December 2003. The results of this
debate will be communicated to the World Summit on the Information Society which
takes place immediately after the GSR.
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