NP/93-2
17 May 1993
Original: English
ITU released today a report on the changing
role of government in an era of telecoms deregulation
The Secretary-General today released a Report on the Changing Role of Government in an Era of Telecommunication Deregulation. The Report was prepared by a colloquium of experts held at ITU Headquarters from 17 to 19 February. The Colloquium was organized at the initiative of its chairman, Mr David Leive, retiring General Counsel of INTELSAT, who suggested the concept when he was chairman of the Regulatory Forum at the ITU's TELECOM 91. 
The Colloquium represents a new initiative to examine, in an informal, expert and practical way, some of the fundamental issues raised by the evolving role of government at a time when telecommunications regulation is undergoing far-reaching changes. The Colloquium, funded by the New ITU Association of Japan, brought together twenty-six high level regulators and other experts from sixteen countries, who served in their private capacities, to examine the challenges facing national regulatory institutions and processes in light of these changes. The purpose was to formulate practical advice which could be of immediate benefit to regulators and policy-makers from developing and developed countries alike.
A briefing report was prepared by Michael Tyler of the United Kingdom, in affiliation with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to serve as a basis for the discussions. 
The Report describes the consensus of the participants on the principal issues discussed, but does not represent individual participants' views. It describes the types of regulatory structures, the issues to be addressed by the regulatory entities and how these should be addressed, the implementation and enforcement of regulatory decisions and the resources to meet regulatory costs. 
The participants in the meeting strongly endorsed the concept and approach, and recommended that the Secretary-General and the Colloquium Chairman take the necessary steps to plan the next several Colloquia.
In his introduction to the Report, the Secretary-General stated: "I firmly believe that the published results of this and future Colloquia, reflecting the full range of views and insights, will be of great practical benefit to the public by promoting a favourable, predictable and cost- effective telecommunications environment."