Government Input Critical for ICT, Forum Told

Enforcement and policy are two approaches by the FTC to address privacy and security issues, Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. The consumers really don’t understand the privacy implications and current privacy notices for the most part don’t really solve the problem, he said. The commission will release a report by the end of the year outlining recommendations to offer clearer notice on data-collection practices and offer meaningful privacy safeguards, he said. Despite good practices by some companies, implementation of privacy practices has been too slow, he said. Right now it’s hard to conclude that self-regulation is working well, he said. The industry should know that the Congress will step in if the industry can’t protect privacy more robustly, he said, calling privacy and security a bipartisan issue. The FTC doesn’t have rulemaking authority over the issue, he said. Another focus at the FTC is having international privacy dialogues with governments and groups around the world to ensure privacy protection benefits consumers across borders, he said.

The FCC is looking at government inputs like spectrum allocation and a Universal Service Fund revamp that are of great significance, said Eddie Lazarus, FCC chief of staff. The government also has a role in tacking economic issues of adoption, he said. The government itself is also an important player in the IT space, he said. The agency also seeks to work with other countries on Internet censorship, cybersecurity and privacy issues, he said. These problems won’t solve themselves, he said. Making more spectrum available is critical for the future of mobile broadband, said Tom Sugrue a vice president with T-Mobile USA.

With stimulus funds awarded, the Rural Utilities Service will continue to use its existing telecom and broadband loan programs to finance more broadband projects, said RUS Administrator Jonathan Adelstein. It’s not just about building the infrastructure, it’s also about building the business model, he said. Jose Fernandez, assistant secretary for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs with the Department of State, urged governments around the world to promote innovation and development in the information and communications and technology (ICT) sector, advancing IT policy, protecting free flow of information and providing ICT support for other sectors.

Digital technologies have caused and continue to cause major shifts in audience expectations and demands in Canada, said Konrad Von Finckenstein, chairman of the Canadian Radio TV and Telecom Commission. The fragmentation of traditional audiences and the challenge of new technologies have driven the industry into a wave of corporate consolidation, he said. Such consolidation means companies that own cable, satellite and Internet services, even wireless networks, now also have control over content, he said. It’s critical to maintain a diversity of voices in the broadcasting system, he said.

Gabrielle Gauthey, an executive vice president at Alcatel-Lucent, urged public authorities to regulate telecom infrastructure sharing models to lower market entry barriers. Public authorities should also organize new competition models and foster competition and coverage, she said. The “explosion” of mobile data makes a new round of investment in networks absolutely necessary, she said. The rapid shift in consumer behavior toward data consumption is leading to network capacity crunch, she said. Privacy and security is a growing concern in Europe and there’s not a consistent approach on data privacy, she said. Stakeholders around the world should work together on how to create better network resilience, she said.

In Japan, infrastructure coverage is moving ahead while the service lags behind, said Yasuhiko Taniwaki, a director with Global ICT Strategy Bureau in Japan. Tackling the gap between adoption rates and availability is a major task, he said. The Japanese government is encouraging cloud computing technology, he said.