Use Universal Service Funds to Pay for Civil Society Participation in Telecom Regulation

jQuery(document).ready(function($) { window.setTimeout(‘loadFBShareMe_1149()’,5000); }); function loadFBShareMe_1149(){ jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(‘.dd-fbshareme-1149′).remove();$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_1149′).attr(‘width’,’53′);$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_1149′).attr(‘height’,’69′);$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_1149′).attr(‘src’,'http://widgets.fbshare.me/files/fbshare.php?url=http://manypossibilities.net/2010/06/use-universal-service-funds-to-pay-for-civil-society-participation-in-telecom-regulation/&size=large’); }); }Tweet

Not quite a level playing field.

Telecommunications markets are notoriously difficult to regulate effectively.  Telecom operators wield a great deal of power thanks to their wealth and the effectively hold they have on their markets whether through landlines or spectrum licenses and they don’t hesitate [...]

SA Minister of Communications – Reading the Tea Leaves

jQuery(document).ready(function($) { window.setTimeout(‘loadFBShareMe_680()’,5000); }); function loadFBShareMe_680(){ jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(‘.dd-fbshareme-680′).remove();$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_680′).attr(‘width’,’53′);$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_680′).attr(‘height’,’69′);$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_680′).attr(‘src’,'http://widgets.fbshare.me/files/fbshare.php?url=http://manypossibilities.net/2009/05/sa-minister-of-communications-reading-the-tea-leaves/&size=large’); }); }Tweet

Arthur Goldstuck has written a thoughtful piece on the newly appointed South African Minister of Communications, Siphiwe Nyanda, and his new deputy Dina Pule.  He does a good job of highlighting their key strengths and weaknesses.

Based on their lack of experience in the telecom sector, [...]

Kenya: Door opens for new non-profit telecom firms

jQuery(document).ready(function($) { window.setTimeout(‘loadFBShareMe_36()’,5000); }); function loadFBShareMe_36(){ jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(‘.dd-fbshareme-36′).remove();$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_36′).attr(‘width’,’53′);$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_36′).attr(‘height’,’69′);$(‘.DD_FBSHAREME_AJAX_36′).attr(‘src’,'http://widgets.fbshare.me/files/fbshare.php?url=http://manypossibilities.net/2008/03/kenya-door-opens-for-new-non-profit-telecom-firms/&size=large’); }); }Tweet

Business Day Africa profiles the Communications Commission of Kenya’s decision to offer ISM-band spectrum to non-profits:

“Licence-free band spectrum, courtesy of the airwaves’ regulator, could allow non-profit organisations to own and operate telecom companies.

The Communication Commission of Kenya’s offer of the ISM Band 2.4 and 5.8 [...]