Convergence of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation

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Posted Tue 25 March 2008 @ 7:49 p.m. by Ernie Newman

As many know, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage has released a discussion paper on the future of broadcasting regulation. It raises the prospect of telecommunications and broadcasting regulation being combined under a single regulator - as is the trend internationally.

I'm at the 6-monthly meeting of APECTel in Tokyo this week, where these issues are being debated by regulators, policy setters and user representatives from around the region. Such convergence is a well-established path, with leading economies already there and most others having the issue at least in a discussion phase.

One of the better speakers on the topic today was Chris Cheah of ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Chris produced this wonderful animated slide showing how after being quite distinct 15 years ago, telecommunications and broadcasting have become inseparable.

TUANZ will be making a Submission to the Ministry - due early April.

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  • Hamish MacEwan says:

    Unless Dial-A-Prayer was broadcasting, neither is the Internet.

    The rationale for government intervention in regulating broadcasting was about pervasiveness, scarcity, and fear of the impact of a mass market audio/video experience.

    There is no scarcity in digital communication, no pervasiveness (you have to ask for it), and we don't try and control citizen communications in OECD top ten countries...



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