/ INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION

SUBSCRIPTION CIRCULAR No. 216

Geneva, 13 March 1997

Order for the Briefing Report on

Regulatory Implications of Telecommunications Convergence

Prepared for the Sixth ITU Regulatory Colloquium on the changing role of Government in an era of telecom deregulation

(Geneva, Switzerland - December 11 - 13 1996)

An order form for the "Briefing Report prepared for the Sixth ITU Regulatory Colloquium on the changing role of Government in an era of telecom deregulation” is attached hereto.

The document is described overleaf.

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Annex:Subscription form
CHANGING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN AN ERA OF TELECOM DEREGULATION

Briefing Report No. 6: Regulatory Implications of Telecommunications

This Briefing Report was prepared for the sixth ITU Regulatory Colloquium, held at ITU Headquarters in Geneva on 11-13 December 1996.

The purpose of the Sixth Colloquium was to access the challenges and opportunities confronting regulators that arise from the rapid “convergence” of telecommunications technologies and markets. Spurred by dramatic technical development, such as high-speed digital telephony, cable television, wireless technologies, and the Internet, the lines between traditional common carrier telephone (“conduit”) services and broadcast-based information and entertainment (“content”) services are becoming increasingly blurred. These trends are compelling regulators to re-examine many of the fundamental policies and institutional structures whose goals are to guide telecommunications industry evolution for the benefit of society.

The Briefing Report considers issues of “regulatory convergences”, specifically the policy concerns and regulatory options associated with specific developments, such as telephone-based television services, cable-TV based telephony, Internet-services, government-based public services, and other key industry segments. It also considers series of options, strategies, and viewpoints for developing comprehensive national regulatory approaches to be combined challenges of the converging industries. These include questions of overall regulatory philosophy, the structure and organization of regulatory bodies, infrastructure development, and competition in communications conduit and content.

The Report was prepared by David Townsend. Funding for the Sixth Colloquium and the Report were provided by the World Bank’s InfoDEV Program and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The views expressed are those of the author.

CONTENTS / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION
PART I / THE ROADS CONVERGING
1.Converging Trends in Telecommunications Technology and Markets
2.Traditional and Evolving Telecommunications Regulation
PART II / REGULATORY CHALLENGES OF CONVERGENCES
3.Objectives, Options
4.Telephone Television
1. Cable Television and Telephony
2. Internet Access and On-Line Information Services
3. Wireless Communication Infrastructure and Services
4. Public Services: Distance Learning, TeleMedicine, Government Information and Access
PART III / INTEGRATED POLICIES AND STRATEGIES
1. Alternative Models for Telecommunications Sector Evolution
2. Regulatory Decision Roadmap
Date of publication : / March-April 1997
Size : / A4 (21 X 29,7 cm)
Number of pages : / about 100
Languages : / Separate editions (French, English, Spanish)
Price : / Swiss francs
Catalogue Price60.-
Price for Member States and Sector Members50.-
Price for Least developped countries (LDCs)35.-
ISBN : / English:92-61-06441-8
French:92-61-06442-6
Spanish:92-61-06443-4
Also available : / Price
Catalogue / Member States and Sector Members
“Options for Regulatory Processes and Procedures in Telecommunications”
(Report of the 1st Regulatory Colloquium, 17-19 February 1993)
announced by our Circular N° 108 (10.01.1994) / 20.- / 20.-
“Universal Service and Innovation: Fostering Linked Goals through innovation” (Report of the 2nd Regulatory Colloquium, 1-3 December 1993)
announced by our Circular N° 121 (30.03.1994) / 25.- / 25.-
“Global mobile Personal Communications Systems (GMPCS)”
(Report of the 3rd Regulatory Colloquium, 9-11 November, 1994)
announced by our Circular N° 143 (16.03.1995) / 50.- / 42.-
“Interconnection: Regulatory Issues”
(Report of the 4th ITU Regulatory Colloquium on the changing role of Government in an era of telecom deregulation, 19-21 April , 1995)
announced by our Circular N° 159 (05.07.1995) / 60.- / 51.-
“Trade Agreements on Telecommunications: Regulatory Implications”
(Report for the 5th ITU Regulatory Colloquium on the changing role of Government in an era of telecom deregulation, 6-8 December, 1995)
announced by our Circular N° 183 (11.04.96) / 60.- / 51.-

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/ ORDER FORMAnnex to Circular No. 216
Sixth ITU Colloquium on the changing role of Government in an era of telecom deregulation: Regulatory Implications of Telecommunications Convergence

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