World telecommunications infrastructure in the emerging information society

The state of the telecommunications infrastructure varies from one nation to another and from one area to another within a country. The transition to an information age requires universal access to information networks, and today such accessibility is at best uneven. While the disparity between developed and developing countries is well known, some emerging nations have had considerable success in developing information infrastructures through liberalization and privatization of their telecommunications industries. This article evaluates the existing environment of the information-intensive society and prospects for the global information age of the future.     

EU developments in IP,IT & telecommunications law

This is the latest edition of Baker & McKenzie's column on developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications. This article summarises recent developments that are considered important for practitioners, students and academics in a wide range of information technology, e-commerce, telecommunications and intellectual property areas. It cannot be exhaustive but intends to address the important points. This is a hard copy reference guide, but links to outside web sites are included where possible. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of information contained in these links.     

Implementation of Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: access to telecommunications services, telecommunications equipment, and customer premises equipment by persons with disabilities--FCC. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is an important step in the Commission's effort to increase the accessibility of telecommunications services and equipment to Americans with disabilities. The NPRM proposes a framework for implementing section 255 of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), which requires telecommunications equipment manufacturers and service providers to ensure that their equipment and services are accessible to persons with disabilities, to the extent it is readily achievable to do so. In addition, if accessibility is not readily achievable, section 255 requires manufacturers and service providers to ensure compatibility with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, to the extent it is readily achievable to do so. The NPRM first explores the Commission's legal authority to establish rules implementing section 255. The NPRM then seeks comment on the interpretation of specific statutory terms that are relevant to the proceeding. Finally, the NPRM seeks comment on proposals to implement and enforce the requirement that telecommunications equipment and services be made accessible to the extent readily achievable. The actions proposed in the NPRM are needed to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in the telecommunications revolution and consequently isolated from contemporary life.     

Protecting the communication: Data protection and security measures under telecommunications regulations in the digital age

This paper aims to provide a comparative overview and evaluation of various legal frameworks for electronic communications security in light of the recent developments in the electronic communications sector. The article also includes an insight on European Union and Turkish legal environment for data protection security in electronic communications sector.     

Security assessment of suppliers of telecommunications infrastructure for the provision of services in 5G technology

The process of commencing services based on 5G technology has begun. One condition for starting up 5G technology is the distribution of the frequencies required for the provision of those services. For the first time in the process of making frequencies available, requirements have arisen pertaining to the security of the infrastructure necessary for the provision of those services. In the EU, recommendations have been drawn up, based in particular on an NISCG report entitled Cybersecurity of 5G networks EU Toolbox of risk mitigating measures. In this article, an analysis is made of the implementation of those recommendations concerning suppliers of infrastructure, based on examples from selected EU countries, in order to ensure that such assessments are objective and transparent. In some cases, the provisions implementing the recommendations do not fully protect the fundamental rights of the entities assessed as foreseen in EU and domestic law, particularly the right to a fair trial before an independent court. I propose certain changes in the regulations pertaining to suppliers of telecommunications equipment.     

Cable television and telephony in the telecommunications act of 1996: Economics,law, regulation and politics

Though reasonable people may argue about whether cable television and local telephone services are natural monopolies in theory, historically they have developed with infrastructures that make them more likely to have important declining cost characteristics in reality. Additionally, common carriage issues, especially for telephones, may necessitate regulatory oversight. Though touted as deregulation, and certainly eliminating many cross‐industry barriers, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is better understood as reregulation. The act maintains a common carriage philosophy while attempting to promote competition. However, evidence indicates it is unlikely that the new regulatory regime will result in efficient prices or true competition. Instead, duopoly in cable and oligopoly in telephony are probably the best that can be achieved under the act.     

Baker & McKenzie's annual review of developments in EU law relating to IP,IT & telecommunications

This is a summary of the Baker & McKenzie columns on developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications. This summarises the principal developments in 2008 that are considered important for practitioners, students and academics in a wide range of information technology, e-commerce, telecommunications and intellectual property areas and which were reported on in this column in 2008. It seeks also to update any further development which may have taken place in relation to the specific topics since originally reported. It cannot be exhaustive but intends to address the important points. This is a hard copy reference guide, but links to outside web sites are included where possible. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of information contained in these links.     

Baker & McKenzie's regular article tracking developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications

This is the latest edition of Baker & McKenzie's column on developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications. This article summarises recent developments that are considered important for practitioners, students and academics in a wide range of information technology, E-commerce, telecommunications and intellectual property areas. It cannot be exhaustive but intends to address the important points. This is a hard copy reference guide, but links to outside web sites are included where possible. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of information contained in these links.     

Baker & McKenzie's annual review of developments in EU law relating to IP,IT & telecommunications

This is a summary of the Baker & McKenzie columns on developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications. This summarises the principal developments in 2009 that are considered important for practitioners, students and academics in a wide range of information technology, e-commerce, telecommunications and intellectual property areas and which were reported on in this column in 2009. It seeks also to update any further development which may have taken place in relation to the specific topics since originally reported. It cannot be exhaustive but intends to address the important points. This is a hard copy reference guide, but links to outside websites are included where possible. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of information contained in these links.     

The concurrent application of competition law and regulation: the case of margin squeeze abuses in the telecommunications sector

This paper explores the issue of margin squeeze in the telecommunicationssector. It observes that margin squeeze abuses can be addressedthrough ex ante and/or ex post intervention. As far as ex anteintervention is concerned, this paper reviews the various regulatorystrategies that can be used to address margin squeeze beforeconcluding that such conduct has been generally prevented throughprice controls. It then evaluates how wholesale and retail pricecontrol mechanisms can affect the ability and/or incentivesof vertically integrated operators to engage in margin squeeze.As far as ex post intervention is concerned, this paper discussedthe way in which margin squeeze has been addressed under nationaland EC competition law. It then explores several unresolvedissues that emerge from the decisional practice of the competitionauthorities and the case law of the courts. Finally, the paperexplores the interface between competition law and sector-specificregulation and in particular the jurisdictional and substantiveconflicts that it can lead to in the area of margin squeeze.     

Baker & McKenzie's regular article tracking developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications

This is the latest edition of Baker & McKenzie's column on developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications. This article summarises recent developments that are considered important for practitioners, students and academics in a wide range of information technology, e-commerce, telecommunications and intellectual property areas. It cannot be exhaustive but intends to address the important points. This is a hard copy reference guide, but links to outside web sites are included where possible. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of information contained in these links.     

Legal developments and industry issues relevant to IT,media and telecommunications law in key jurisdictions across the Asia Pacific

This column provides a country by country analysis of the latest legal developments, cases and issues relevant to the IT, media and telecommunications' industries in key jurisdictions across the Asia Pacific region. The articles appearing in this column are intended to serve as ‘alerts’ and are not submitted as detailed analyses of cases or legal developments.     

Legal developments and industry issues relevant to IT,media and telecommunications law in key jurisdictions across the Asia Pacific

This column provides a country by country analysis of the latest legal developments, cases and issues relevant to the IT, media and telecommunications' industries in key jurisdictions across the Asia Pacific region. The articles appearing in this column are intended to serve as ‘alerts’ and are not submitted as detailed analyses of cases or legal developments.     

The return of public investment in telecommunications: Assessing the early challenges of the national broadband network policy in Australia

Against a current trend of investing in the next generation networks (NGNs) by using public funds, the Australian government has initiated a so-called National Broadband Network (NBN) project to invest up to AUD$36 billion tax payer's money on building a national wide fibre broadband network aiming to cover 93 per cent Australian by 2020. As being the most costly infrastructure-building project in Australian history, the NBN project promises to deliver super-fast broadband services, create jobs and promote the country's economy at large. This article will critically analyse the NBN project in Australia and highlight the challenges that are coming alone at this early stage of the deployment, so the Australia's experience of pubic investment in broadband networks can be shared and lessons can be learnt.