Television - Facts you should know

 Television

The approval of satellite TV is another benefit from the WTO Agreement that allows cable operators to make a direct terrestrial connection to consumers. However, as a cable operator would only provide an IP service at a minimum cost, there is no further benefit that would come to the cable industry for any additional legacy infrastructure.

The Internet Watch Foundation

The Internet Watch Foundation is a UK-based non-governmental organization (NGO) which coordinates the efforts of a number of international civil society organizations in tackling the distribution of harmful, inappropriate, and harmful content on the Internet. The IWF is committed to raising awareness of the risks of viewing harmful or inappropriate content. The Internet Watch Foundation has raised concerns that the implementation of the Internet Neutrality and Satellite Decentralization Provisions will create a new disparity for international efforts to combat harmful and inappropriate content on the Internet and may result in a heightened risk of access to potentially harmful material.

In the words of Mr. Greg Dorris, chief executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, "We applaud the European Parliament's vote to maintain global regulatory continuity on Internet censorship and Internet surveillance. The proposals could have changed the security landscape and undermined the effectiveness of all civil society efforts. The European Parliament's vote to maintain regulatory continuity makes an effective civil society response to Internet threats to people's lives and freedom much more likely."

Civic Technology

Also, the current ISPS procedures may allow international or national organizations to engage in an Internet activity within an Internet access jurisdiction, and obtain such jurisdiction as a result. Such an engagement would provide the organization with access to the Internet that they would not have otherwise obtained. For example, the proposals of the European Parliament would allow the inclusion of free space on the Internet for civic technology organizations that are otherwise not authorized to take advantage of satellite or terrestrial connectivity.

Finally, international organizations that act upon behalf of or in conjunction with any governments or other institutions may be subject to international or national jurisdiction. While such organizations may provide services that are beneficial to the citizens and civil society of their nation-states, such actions may result in a greater disadvantage to an organization that operates exclusively within its own nation-state.

Conclusion

The current ISPS Agreement provisions provide a useful mechanism for governments and regulatory bodies to ensure that Internet access is not rendered unworkable or unavailable by cable or satellite providers. However, the current proposals are unwarranted because they would result in a higher degree of regulation that would be of no benefit for either private sector organizations or the public sector.

The imposition of regulations that would fundamentally change the way in which the satellite and cable industries operate in satellite and cable markets in general, is likely to increase the cost of accessing the Internet in such markets, but at the same time provide little benefit to the public.

Further, the proposals of the European Parliament are likely to create a disconnect between the political initiatives of national governments and the regulatory initiatives of satellite and cable industries, leading to the diminution of the regulatory and economic