broadband strategies handbook.pdf - Khazar University

Society Universal Access Policy. The new policy brings together Chile’sbroadband policy and the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF) andseeks to enable rural communities with productive potential to participatemore effectively in the economy through innovation and increasedcompetitiveness.A universal broadband policy should be a central part of the ICT frameworkand not construed as simply a result of corporate social responsibilityor acts of “goodwill” by investors in the ICT sector. Policies and measuresshould be formulated carefully, and universal broadband policies should begiven a proper space in the national policy and legislative frameworks fordevelopment as well as in the institutional framework for telecommunicationsregulation. Thus it is important not only to set universal broadbandtargets in the context of the country’s UAS policy, but also to take account ofthe country’s overall development strategy. Universal broadband targetsshould be developed based on the country’s short- and long-term goals foreconomic growth and broadband deployment. Development policies (forexample, e-education) should also consider telecommunications-specificregulations and policy goals, such as competitive parity between players(Atkinson, Correa, and Hedlund 2008, 19).As illustrated in a World Bank study on the Republic of Korea, a key factorin achieving widespread broadband access was the country’s holisticapproach to defining and implementing numerous policy developments andinitiatives, including policies to promote universal access to broadband. TheKorean government has sought to promote ICTs, particularly broadbandnetworks and services, by implementing a series of “master plans” thatextend over several years and provide strategic, long-term developmentframeworks. Each framework has set out overarching policy objectives aswell as the supporting policies to achieve these goals. Among the key elementstaken into consideration were the policies promoting universal accessto broadband (Kim, Kelly, and Raja 2010, 20–21).Mechanisms to Drive UniversalBroadband AccessGovernment InterventionIn many cases, broadband infrastructure projects are being led by theprivate sector, with the government’s role focused on developing policiesto encourage and facilitate these private sector initiatives. Withinthis context, countries have recently adopted more integrated strategiesExtending Universal Broadband Access and Use 163