It is already clear that technological development in the field of
communications is moving faster than regulators can act. It is far easier
to cite the present and potential conflicts of rights and interests than
to provide equitable recommendations in advance. Several guidelines,
however, can be set down:
1. The new communication technologies should be treated by all
governments as vital instruments of free expression, and the
free flow of their content protected from governmental control.
2. As soon as possible, all the new technologies should be
standardized so that everyone everywhere can have equal
access to the networks and the archival content.
3. Regulatory supervision may be needed to enhance the diversity of
content by preventing the monopolization of communication
systems by governments or entrepreneurs, and encouraging
competition among &verse systems.
4. International communication systems should not be regulated
as commercial trade-offs (e.g. under the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade - GAIT), but rather as channels of free
expression, a basic human right.
5. Developed nations should acknowledge the long-term value to all
countries of assisting poorer nations to build communication
infrastructures that will enable them to join the global networks.
The conflict between nations regarded as suppliers and others
intent on building their own infrastructure should be quelled
in international regulatory and development-aid forums. Third
World countries should be encouraged, for example, to use
digital systems and fiber optics in order to leapfrog the older,
more expensive communication systems.
6. Protective rules should be enforced globally to defend intellectual
creators against pirating of their products.
7. Transborder data flows - essential to all peoples everywhere
-should not be regarded either as an unlimited instrument for
the defence of national sovereignty or commercial property, or
as an unlimited channel for the transfer of data of a personal
nature from one country to another.
8. Earnest efforts should be made by developed countries to help
Third World nations enhance their human and technological
capacities for the Age of ISD