Best Practice Guidelines
for the Promotion of Low-Cost Broadband and Internet Connectivity
We, the regulators participating in the 2004 Global Symposium for Regulators,
have identified and proposed best practice guidelines to achieve low-cost broadband
and Internet connectivity. Our goal is the creation of national regulatory frameworks
that are flexible and enable competition between various service providers using
multiple transport and technology options. We believe the best practices outlined
below will help bring social and economic benefits to the world’s citizens.
An enabling regulatory regime that encourages broadband deployment and Internet
connectivity
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We encourage political support at the highest government levels with such
support expressed in national or regional policy goals. These include an effective,
separate regulator insulated from political interference, a transparent regulatory
process, and adoption and enforcement of clear rules. |
We encourage regulators to take into consideration the convergence of platforms
and services and that they regularly reassess regulatory regimes to ensure consistency
and to eliminate unfair market advantages or unnecessary regulatory burdens. |
We believe that competition in as many areas of the value chain as possible provides
the strongest basis for ensuring maximum innovation in products and prices and for
driving efficiency. |
We encourage regulators to allocate adequate spectrum to facilitate the use of
modern, cost effective broadband radiocommunication technologies. We further encourage
innovative approaches to managing the spectrum resource such as the ability to share
spectrum or allocate it on a licence-exempt non-interference basis. |
We encourage regulators to set policies to stimulate competition among
various technologies and industry segments that will lead to the development and
deployment of broadband capacity. This includes addressing barriers or bottlenecks
that may exist with regard to access to essential facilities on a non-discriminatory
basis. |
We urge regulators to conduct periodic public consultations with stakeholders
to inform them of the regulatory decision-making process. |
We believe that the primary objective of regulation should be to secure fair
and reasonable access for competitive broadband services, including Internet connectivity. |
We recommend that regulators carefully consider how to minimize licensing hurdles. |
We encourage the maintenance of transparent, non-discriminatory market policies
in order to attract investment. |
We encourage the development of a regulatory framework that permits ISPs (Internet
service providers) and broadband providers to set up their own last mile. |
We encourage regulators to adopt policies that are technology neutral and do
not favour one technology over another. |
We encourage regulators to provide a clear regulatory strategy for the private
sector in order to reduce uncertainty and risk, and remove any disincentives to
investment. |
Innovative regulatory policies must be developed to promote universal access |
We recommend that the promotion of access to low-cost broadband
interconnectivity should be integrated from "grass-roots" efforts to
identify local needs all the way through the "tree-tops" of international
law. Governments, business and non-governmental organizations should be
involved. |
We recommend that regulators adopt regulatory frameworks that support applications
such as e-education and e-government. |
We encourage each country to adopt policies to increase access to the Internet
and broadband services based on their own market structure and that such policies
reflect diversity in culture, language and social interests. |
We encourage regulators to work with stakeholders to expand coverage and use
of broadband through multi-stakeholder partnerships. In addition, complementary
government initiatives that promote financially sustainable programmes may also
be appropriate, especially in filling in the market gap that may exist in some countries. |
We encourage regulators to adopt regulatory regimes that facilitate the use of
all transport mechanisms, whether wireline, power line, cable, wireless, including
Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity), or satellite. |
We encourage regulators to explore programmes that encourage public access to
broadband and Internet services to schools, libraries and other community centres. |
We encourage regulators to implement harmonized spectrum allocations consistent
with the outcome of the ITU Radiocommunication Conference process and each country’s
national interest. Participation in this well-established framework will facilitate
low-cost deployment of equipment internationally and promote low-cost broadband
and Internet connectivity through economies of scale and competition among broadband
vendors and service providers. |
Broadband is an enabler |
Regulation should be directed at improving the long-term interests of
citizens. Broadband can contribute to this by improving and enabling education,
information and increased efficiency. It can reduce costs, overcome distance, open
up markets, enhance understanding and create employment. |
We encourage regulators to educate and inform consumers about the services
that are available to them and how to utilize them so that the entire population
benefits. |
We urge regulators to work with other government entities, industry, consumer
groups, and other stakeholders to ensure consumers have access to the information
they need about broadband and Internet services. |
Note — Individual country contributions
A number of contributions on key principles for promoting cost-effective broadband
access were received from Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt,
Estonia, Grenada, Guatemala, Ireland, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico,
Peru, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and the United
Kingdom. These contributions are available at
www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/Events/Seminars/2004/GSR04/Contributions |
The first Global Symposium for Regulators was organized by the ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau (BDT) in the year 2000. "The main goal of the GSR is to launch
dialogue among the world’s community of regulators. It is our belief that by facilitating
an exchange of best practices between regulators, we can best help the industry
grow and meet the needs of end-users," Hamadoun I. Touré, Director of BDT.
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