Telecommunications Authorization Regimes

This text discusses the different types of authorization regimes that are used to regulate telecommunications and ICT service providers. The three main types of authorization regimes are individual authorizations, general authorizations, and open entry.

Questions

• What are the different types of authorization regimes?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of each type of authorization regime?
• What factors should governments consider when choosing an authorization regime?

Answers

• The three main types of authorization regimes are individual authorizations, general authorizations, and open entry.
• Individual authorizations are issued to a single named service provider. They are useful when it is necessary to regulate a specific service provider or to allocate scarce resources. However, they can be time-consuming and expensive to administer.
• General authorizations are issued to a class of service providers. They are less burdensome to administer than individual authorizations, and they can promote competition by making it easier for new service providers to enter the market. However, they may not be as effective in regulating specific service providers or in allocating scarce resources.
• Open entry regimes do not require any authorization. They are the least burdensome to administer, and they promote competition by making it easy for anyone to provide telecommunications and ICT services. However, they may not be effective in regulating specific service providers or in allocating scarce resources.