Name of the Book:
REGULATORY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Book Review Chapter:
Chapter 1: Regulation and Governance of the Internet
Quote: Infrastructure layer can be considered the foundational layer of the Internet– it includes the copper and optical fibre cables (or “pipes”) and radio waves that carry data around the world and into users’ homes.
Learning Expectations:
In theory, this allows the market to determine interconnection in an efficient manner. In practice, however, unequal market position, and in particular the important positions occupied by Tier 1 providers, means that the larger providers are often able to dictate terms to the smaller ones, which in turn must bear.
Review:
The Internet is a “network of networks”; it is composed of a multitude of smaller networks that must connect together (“interconnect”) in order for the global network to function seamlessly. In traditional telecommunications networks, interconnection is clearly regulated at the national level by State authorities, and at the international level (i.e., between national networks) by well-defined principles and agreements, some of which are supervised by the ITU. Interconnection between Internet networks, however, is not clearly governed by any entity, rules or laws. In recent years, this inherent ambiguity has become increasingly problematic, leading to high access costs for remote and developing countries, and in need of some kind of governance solution. Indeed, in its final report, the WGIG identified the ambiguity and uneven distribution of international interconnection costs as one of the key issues requiring a governance solution.15
On the Internet, access providers must interconnect with each other across international, national or local boundaries.
Lessons Learned
As we have seen, Internet governance encompasses a range of issues and actors, and takes place at many layers. Throughout the network, there exist problems that need solutions, and, more importantly, potential that can be unleashed by better governance. It is not possible here to capture the full range of issues. This section, rather, seeks to provide a sampling. It describes the issues by layers, and it also discusses key actors for each layer.
Integrative Questions
1. What are the access for every citizen on an individual or household basis?
2. Is there an assurance that all citizens are within reach of an access point?
3. How to access only to basic telephony?
4. What are the value-added services like the Internet and broadband; and
5. Find the access only to infrastructure, or also to content, services and applications.
