[WSIS CS-Plenary] World Regulators to Focus on Licensing Rules, Broadband

[Sasha Costanza-Chock]

Anyone attending this? It would be great to somehow intervene, or at the 
very least get some information back.

sc


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http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/Events/Seminars/2004/GSR04/

http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/Events/Seminars/2004/GSR04/pdf/Programme.pdf

WORLD REGULATORS TO FOCUS
ON LICENSING RULES, BROADBAND

When the ITU's 2004 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) opens next week in
Geneva, it will be chaired by a U.S. regulator for the first time -- FCC
Comr. Kathleen Abernathy. Abernathy told us Mon. she's approaching the
session with an open mind. The U.S. has much to learn from the discussions,
for example, as it struggles with changes to the universal service fund
system, said Abernathy, who has attended 2 other GSRs. The official theme of
the meeting is "licensing in an era of convergence." Regulators have
traditionally controlled spectrum through licenses, but that approach makes
less sense in an era of convergence and given the large number of
competitors challenging incumbents. "The old way of regulating... doesn't
seem to work anymore," Abernathy said: "You have to step back and say what's
the appropriate regulatory framework... You need to think beyond 'I regulate
a monopoly' to 'How do I create an environment that attracts investment?'"

Wireless broadband services like Wi-Fi, which has emerged as a popular
alternative in the U.S., likely will be a hot topic, Abernathy said. The
U.S. has adopted an unlicensed approach and "wireless appears to be one of
the lowest cost alternatives out there," she said: "The question is how does
it fit in" with other regulation. Finding ways to make more spectrum
available, through auction or other means, is another likely topic, she
said. GSR sessions are largely "feel good" meetings that give regulators
from around the world a chance to interact, said a source who has attended
previous sessions. However, they can be viewed as important. For example,
the chairmanship of the last GSR by a Jordanian was considered significant
by the Arab group of companies.