ITU/94-8
28 March 1994
ORIGINAL: English

The report of the second colloquium on the changing role of government
in an era of telecom deregulation released today

The ITU Secretary-General released today the report of the second colloquium on 
the changing role of government in an era of telecom deregulation, held at ITU 
headquarters from 1-3 December 1993 under the Chairmanship of David Leive, who 
had suggested the concept at ITU Telecom 91.

The report considers how regulators can promote two fundamental national policy 
goals: universal service and timely application of innovation in technologies and 
services. It describes the range of views and areas of consensus among the 
participants on these issues.

The colloquia represent a non-governmental 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 Second colloquium, funded by the Friedrich Ebert 
Stiftung of Germany, brought together 21 high level regulators and other experts 
from 14 countries, who served in their private capacities, to examine the 
challenges facing national regulatory institutions and processes in the 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.

The first colloquium had met in Geneva in February 1993 and considered the 
various ways in which telecom regulatory institutions and processes can be 
reformed and modernized. Its report, translated into French, Spanish and Arabic 
and distributed to all ITU Members, attracted widespread interest and has been 
put to widespread use.

The second colloquium concluded that the colloquia would fill a genuine need and 
that the innovative format and approach had proven sound and should continue. In 
view of his dynamic and imaginative leadership and with the unanimous support of 
the colloquium participants, the Secretary-General asked David Leive to continue 
as permanent Chairman of the colloquia.

A briefing report was prepared by Michael Tyler of the United Kingdom to serve as 
a basis for discussions. It will shortly be disseminated in English, French and 
Spanish.

In his introduction to the report, the Secretary General stated, "I want to 
reiterate the importance I place on innovative devices such as the colloquia in 
providing practical help to policy-makers and regulators throughout the world who 
must deal with the complex challenges of changing industry structures, economic 
policies and new technologies".

The report will be available mid-May for sale at a cost of 25 Swiss francs from 
the ITU sales service (telefax +41 22 730 5194). An executive summary is available at no cost on 
request as long as stocks last. 
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