Policy and regulation aimed at providing access to communities

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  • Lishan Adam - Moderator
  • Amy Mahan – Universal Access
  • Shazad Ahmad - Pakistan… an example
  • Andrew Garton - Community television and the digital spectrum in Australia
  • Nestor Busso - Regulatory issues in community radio in Latin America


Lishan Adam

Background presentations (not presented at the event)


Amy Mahan, Lirne.NET - Universal Access (UA)

  • What is Lirne.NET (see [1])
  • UA is not a "problem", but a starting point - it's the foundation for good regulation
  • Regulators are supposed to provide UA and universal service - and the conditions for that (create favorable environment, minimize entry barriers, transparent processes)
  • We talk in terms of UA as a problem because there are gaps: market gaps / access gaps
  • The real access problems are in poorer, isolated areas that the market doesn't reach) - need concrete policies to extend the network.
  • Principle the we need to keep in mind: moving from universal service obligations (access to telephone) to universal access obligations (much broader - to be able to productively use the network)
  • Strategies for UA: technology; business models; access funds (see presentation)
  • Technology develops so quickly that it’s impossible to regulate in advance – regulators go behind the technology
  • Cheaper networks allow for new participants and competition at the local level
  • Business models are changing - the economies of scale (justification for monopolies) are eroding – we’ll see more community owned / driven networks
  • We have to move from the WB model of competition (80s-90s) – towards regulation that allows people to provide services – licencing reform is needed to make sure that people can offer competing services at the local level
  • UA Funds are controvertial – there are some failures - there are countries with huge funds that have not been used (see presentation)
  • UAFs should support for technical capacity building so people can build their own networks
  • We don’t know how poorer people value or use networks


Shahzad Ahmad, Bytesforall.net - Pakistan… an example

  • Pakistan ICT indicators (see presentation) - In particular: Population: 162 million; Total internet users on dial-up: 3-4 million (approx.); Total DSL subscribers 54,000
  • Quality of service is problematic
  • Pakistan's ICT policy and action plan - Aug. 2000 (see pres) - totally business-focused / no human development perspective
  • Broadband Policy – Dec. 2004 - includes content, broadband delivery, end users - but nothing happened
  • Crisis (see pres) - bandwith monopoly / predatory tariffs / unfair taxes / influence of telecos and businesses / stakeholders not included in policies / "national security" policies – dialup internet users at threat (charged every 15 min) -> lead to a "graveyard of failed projects".
  • Learning and challenges (see pres) - real access is a distant dream / not human development angle - market dynamics dictate the policies / censorship and surveillance in the name of national security - they can take your phone, connection / conflict resolution and redressal of grievances / serious capacity gap - in particular at the level law enforcing authorities and judges - they are not aware of these issues
  • A strong people movement is required to bring ICT agenda on the fore
  • The challenge is huge (but so is the motivation)


Andrew Garton, APC.au - Community television and the digital spectrum - Experience in Australia

  • Background
    • Australia has traditionally supported a healthy community broadcasting licensing regime.
    • Since 1989 Australia has enjoyed an active, licensed community television sector (CTV) supporting five broadcasters in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
    • CTV is made by the local community for the local community and provides open access to underrepresented sectors of that community, diverse programming and industry training.
    • Melbourne's C31 reaches 1.4 million viewers a month making it a competitive to free-to-air broadcasters.
    • The station has a local focus. Many independent producers create fantastic shows for the station, with everything from cooking shows to fishing and gardening! CTVs are also a training ground for volunteers and staff to gain valuable industry experience in producing, presenting and technical skills. C31 Melbourne broadcasts up to 98 unique programs a week. That's 98 individually produced programs being created every week, many who are syndicated across the country.
  • Issues
    • The Federal Government, represented by Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts,Senator Helen Coonan, released its Digital Action Plan on 23rd November 2006.
    • This paper on the media reforms was supposed to tell C31 and the community TV sector exactly what our digital future would look like.
    • However, no concrete timelines were given, nor promises made.
    • The only thing we know is that every Australian TV viewer will be watching digital only by 2010-2012.
    • This means that if we don’t get a digital license, simulcast, and funding, soon no-one will be able to watch community television, which would mean the end for C31 and the entire CTV sector!
    • Community television must have a place on the digital spectrum.
  • Other issues impacting CTVs
    • The control and accumulation of ownership (read PBL, Macquarie etc.)
    • The growing share of foreign capital in national media (recent sale of TEN to foreign interests)
    • The centralisation and homogenisation of content (‘reality TV’ need I say more?)
    • The convergence of different technological platforms (e.g. between telecommunications and the media; new technologies and traditional technologies)
    • The weakening and privatisation of public services (have you watched ABC or SBS lately?)
    • The globalisation of media markets and industries.
  • Strategies and interventions
    • In 2005 a community spectrum taskforce was formed, Open Spectrum Australia (OSA).
    • OSA lobbies the Federal and State Governments and local members to ensure policies are put in place to ensure CTV access to the digital spectrum.
    • OSA publishes discussion papers and responds to Federal Government inquiries.
    • OSA performs interventions in various standing committees and receives media coverage as a result.
    • A campaign “Don't Go Until We Do” is launched to educate the public to spectrum issues.
    • Digital Information Kit is launched. Contains information about the issue, what has been done and what can be done.
  • What are we calling for?
    • Provide digital access as soon as possible so CTVs gain viewers who use digital televisions, whilst not losing our current viewers, members and sponsors.
    • Allow community television (CTV) to broadcast on both digital and analogue (simulcast) until the analogue switch off date, likely to be 2012. This is so that all community members can continue to receive C31 regardless of whether they’ve ‘gone digital’ or not.
    • Provide funding for our digital transmission costs during the simulcast period ($1.7 million per year of simulcast, plus $6 million for conversion of equipment. This figure is for the whole Australian community television sector, not just C31 Melbourne)
    • A long term commitment to a full “7MHz channel” for community TV.
  • Support and strategies
    • Several rounds a letters to Federal Government have been initiated, in particular to coincide with the current Federal election.
    • We are also seeking support from local sporting, cultural, church, political, community,
    • charitable and business groups to ensure a digital future for community TV.
    • OSA researchers and partners continue to present papers at local and international forums gaining support from like communities.
    • Seek local and international collaborations policy based networks and organisations to ‘intervene’ in the policy decision-making around digital spectrum in Australia.
    • Digital spectrum issues are not, and will not be local to Australia only.
    • Particularly as we see the increasing exclusion of civil society, community and not-for-profits from decision making processes world-wide.
  • Digital inclusion = Social Inclusion .... We wish!


Nestor Busso, ALER - Regulatory issues in community radio in Latin America

Notes (in Spanish)

Summary:

Community radios in Latin America face regulatory problems:

  • Media concentration in:
    • Property
    • Geographic coverage (more and more areas are covered by few media)
    • Convergence between content production and media control
  • Communication media are bought and sold or given based on economic power - radio frequencies should not be managed as commercial goods
  • Proposals:
    • New legislations emerging from democratic debate:
      • Many current laws were created during militar dictatorships in the region
      • Community radio laws have led them to marginalization - "we don't want laws for community radios, we want integral communications laws"
    • Coexistance of three broadcasting models:
      • Traditional (commercial), privately managed (USA model)
      • Social, managed by civil society/non-profit organizations
      • Public, managed by the State (European model)
    • It is necessary to strengthen community and public media (governments such as Brazil and Ecuador are trying to do so)
    • Save frequencies for social and community sector
    • Licenses should be given for a specific period (5-10 years) according to the services offered - they should not be transferred or sold.
    • Monopolies should be limited - For instance, a limit should be established for potential audiences of 25% (as in the US)
  • We are living an interesting and positive time in Latin America, where it's possible to think another model for communication media - regulation is needed
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