This section features reports of the research conducted under the WDR umbrella by research centres around the globe.
Hello Regulator? Print E-mail
Wednesday, 05 December 2007

ImageTelecom NRA's Information and Communication Practices

Some Telecom National Regulatory Authorities (NRA) provide extensive information via their websites and hold public consultations on a range of topics. Others offer only a few scraps of static information and are generally inaccessible. Why the discrepancy?

In this interactive session prepared for the Global Knowledge 3 (GK3) conference, civil society, researchers and regulators will discuss regulatory transparency and effectiveness, using telecom regulators' websites as a discussion tool. For example, what kind of information should be made available via regulators’ websites? And what are some effective practices in this regard?

There are two major factors inhibiting effective NRA communication and information practices: allocation of scarce human resources and transparency. Yet, effective participation in regulatory and policy processes requires that all stakeholders have appropriate information to make informed choices and demands. Conversely, good regulatory practices are not created in a vacuum, but rather evolve and respond to existing local needs and conditions – which are made evident by stakeholders participating in policy and regulatory processes.

Using specific examples – especially from the participating audience – this GK3 session will explore how having easy access to regulatory information and processes can support community and public agendas, for example in establishing community networks; lobbying for policies which promote women and girls’ access to ICTs; arguing for consumer rights; and so forth. Can licence forms be downloaded from the Internet? Does the regulator collect statistics disaggregated by gender? Is pricing information available and transparent?

The panelists will consider real life situations presented by participants and comment on the different kinds of regulatory information that could be used in support of achieving their particular goals. A live Internet connection will allow respondents to access and highlight regulator’s websites that demonstrate best and worst practices of effective information provision; and will provide an opportunity for a discussion of benchmarking across the different practices.

Session: ET13:

Hello Regulator? Regulatory Authorities Information and Communication Practices - Co-organised by LIRNE.NET and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Date: 13 Dec 2007
Time: 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Venue: FR408-409, Level 4

Panellists:

Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Alice Munyua, Board Member, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK)
See conference paper:
icon Kenya ICT Action Network Online discussions on E-communication strategies for the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) (201.6 KB)

Edwin San Roman, Professor of Rural Telecommunications and Consultant for Rural Telecommunications of INDOTEL; former president of Opsitel and Regulatel
See conference paper:
icon Microtelcos and Regulatory Issues (307.91 KB)

Chanuka Wattegama, Senior Researcher, LIRNEasia
See conference paper:
icon Information Sharing by National Telecom Regulatory Authorities Through Their Websites: The Asia-Pacific Experience (246.36 KB)

Rapporteurs:

Monica Kerretts, Research ICT Africa!
See conference paper:
icon Through the Looking Glass: Consumer Issues An African Regulatory Experience (200.58 KB)

Analía Lavin, Specialised editor, La Asociación para el Progreso de las Comunicaciones (APC)

Moderator:

Amy Mahan, LIRNE.NET Coordinator, LIRNE.NET

This session is organized by LIRNE.NET and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), and is supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. Panelists in this session have benefitted from GK3 scholarships.

 

GK3 Conference - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (11-13th December 2007).