TABLE OF CONTENTS The regulation of an industrial or business activity is a form of market intervention that aims to stimulate behaviours that would not by themselves emerge. It is a process of developing, agreeing, setting, evolving and enforcing rules of conduct and engagement. It is undertaken to encourage desirable outcomes, or to remedy proven problems. While there are many possible reasons for regulating an industry, the principal focus for contemporary regulation of the telecommunications services industry is the creation, nourishment and maintenance of competitive markets. Elsewhere, however, regulation sometimes relates to:
preservation of market ethics (as in retail finance);
maintenance of professional or technical standards (as in medicine, law, transport, manufacture and in the building and repair trades);
consumer protection (as in health, hygiene, safety and trade descriptions regulation);
safeguarding of a workforce (as in apprenticeship, training and exclusivity regulations).
Telecommunications regulation must serve government objectives for the telecommunications services industry. This industry is a fundamental and essential part of the infrastructure of a modern economy. A national telecommunications policy might typically have the following objectives. (As explained in Chapter 1, many countries now regard competition in the supply of telecommunications services to be a fundamental tool for meeting these goals.)
A viable, up-to-date telecommunications industry that compares internationally with best practice.
Universal availability of basic services, and wide availability to the business sector of advanced services.
Cost-efficient and affordable services.
A chosen degree of competition.
Proper support of national security, law enforcement and defence...
