Page 171 - Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016

The Role of Governments the digital ecosystem, however, are often outside
their jurisdictions and beyond the scope of their Conclusion
Governments, however, have an opportunity legal authorities.
to leverage this engine to boost Internet access
and foster national and local content, in local This does not mean, however, that sector
languages and with immediate relevance to regulators have no responsibility or capability
communities. To generate the kind of broadband to help protect consumers in these areas. They
capacity needed in most countries, there will can cooperate and collaborate with other
need to be both distance-learning students government offices and regulatory authorities to
and social networking subscribers. There will generate innovative educational and enforcement
need to be both commercial content (some of approaches to safeguard the integrity of networks
it international) and national and local content. and services and to help consumers defend
That is because investment will not happen unless themselves. There is a clear need for cross-
there is pent-up demand, and demand will not sectoral cooperation among legislators, policy-
happen until there are sustainable and essential makers and regulators, with multi-disciplinary
services and apps to draw people onto the web. teams needed to address non-traditional
Governments themselves can play a strong role problems. Moreover, there is an opportunity to
in generating content through e-government work with the experts in the private sector to
services and sponsoring cultural content, local app harness their resources, capacities and experience,
development and increased broadband access. either through public-private partnerships or
monitored self-regulation.
Governments also cannot ignore the ongoing
challenges posed by the digital economy – and Perhaps the greatest challenge for policy-makers
the larger digital ecosystem. Along with the and regulators is to step back and survey the
immense positive aspects, there are some well- current state of their own telecommunication
known problematic implications such as identity and ICT markets. They can then define with more
theft, phishing and other Internet frauds, malware accuracy the requirements and goals that must be
of all kinds, privacy abuses and lack of control addressed, as well as the highest-priority issues
over personal information, dissemination of and challenges that must be addressed first.
inappropriate material, psychological dependence Once these goals and objectives are identified,
or “addiction” to the Internet or Internet content, governments can then look to their current
etc. procedures and laws to determine whether they
have the proper regulatory instruments already in
On the economic side of things, the challenges place to tackle their top priorities.
posed by the potential systematic hacking
and theft of commercial data have been all If not (and perhaps even in cases where they
too real. On the other hand, regulators also do), regulators need to assess whether a strong
must guard against abuses of market power, in government intervention is needed, or if it would
which operators may try to limit competition do more harm than good. In many instances,
in downstream markets by “locking in” content a “lighter-touch” approach involving mediation
providers or end users to their proprietary or negotiation among operators, or providing
networks or content. Discussions and debates greater awareness and education to consumers,
in recent years over “network neutrality” issues may be a logical approach – or at least the best
convey the high stakes for competition and starting point. Even where regulatory intervention
consumer protection. is required, it should be targeted to achieve the
desired result with the narrowest-possible impact.
Clearly, many of the challenges involve protection
of consumers – including vulnerable populations In the middle of the second decade of the new
such as the elderly (often dubbed “digital century, the world can no longer ponder the “if”
immigrants”) and children (usually seen as “digital or “when” of the digital economy – which is, in
natives”). Telecommunication sector regulators fact, a digital ecosystem. Many of us are living in
may well be practiced at the art of protecting it, and many of our children are being raised in it.
consumers from operator price-gouging or quality- For those of us who are not, the clock is ticking on
of-service violations. The new challenges posed by a generation that must catch up to it or potentially

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