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WDR 0201
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Designing Next Generation Telecom Regulation: ICT Convergence or Multisector Utility?

Anders Henten & Rohan Samarajiva

WDR Draft Report 0205

This paper critically examines the multiple rationales for information and communication technology (ICT) and media convergence regulation and multi-sector utility regulation and the practical questions of implementation that they pose with a view to contributing to informed policy choices. Both options involve substantive as well as procedural issues, not necessarily separable. Policy design is affected by overall policy objectives, not necessarily limited to extant and accepted objectives such as increasing investment in a particular infrastructure sector. The design may be driven by explicit objectives such as enhancing a country’s comparative advantage with regard to advanced service industries or implicit objectives such as minimizing the political or perceptual fallout of a change in regulatory regime or personnel. In the paper, the conditions that may affect the creation of convergence and multisector regulation, ranging from underlying commonality of inputs and the behavior of regulated firms to considerations that are specific to the regulatory process such as scarcity of regulatory resources and safeguards for regulatory independence are examined.

Keywords: Multisector utility regulation; definitions of industry, sector, multisector; rights-of-way; shared conduits; utility communication infrastructure; shared use of regulatory resources; sector reform; technological trends; Convergence; Sectoral convergence;  convergence regulation; convergence in content; convergence processes; convergence services; regulatory implications; developing countries; infrastructure and content; converging infrastructure; sectoral scope; regulatory scenarios; technology neutral regulation.

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Document Date:
August 2002
Authors:
Henten, Anders and Rohan Samarajiva
Discussion Paper No.: 
wdr0205
Pages:
- Full Report: 41 pp
- Executive summary: 10 pp
- Annex: 20 pp
Title:
The Next Step in Telecom Reform: ICT Convergence Regulation or Multisector Utility Regulation?
Collection Title:
World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies