KISDI Policy Forum Held Inviting Prof. Jerry Kang of UCLA

"It's necessary to consider specific conditions of Korea when it comes to the revision of laws and regulations relating to broadcasting-telecommunications convergence."

The Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) held policy forum on May 15th in meeting room within KISDI, inviting Prof. Jerry Kang of UCLA School of Law.

Dr. Kang gave a special lecture on recent policy trends in the U.S. in relation to the amendment of laws and regulation and the reform of regulatory bodies in preparation for the upcoming convergence between broadcasting telecommunications.

During the lecture, he highlighted differences in policy visions between the broadcasting industry which focuses on socio-cultural public interests and the telecommunications industry putting emphasis on economic efficiency and grounds for regulation. At the same time, Mr. Kang elaborated on various issues arising as a result of inter-convergence of policy directions and regulatory policies between the two industries, boosted by the 1996 revision of the Telecommunications Act, and momentum that lie beneath the surface of these regulatory policies.

Meanwhile, he led discussion among participants regarding what kind of policy indications can be inferred from the U.S. experience with regulations for broadcasting and telecommunications through a single regulatory body (the Federal Communications Commission(FCC)) about argument surrounding the establishment of broadcasting and telecommunications convergence commission in Korea.

During the lecture, Mr. Kang, while commenting on the revision of laws/regulations and the reorganization of regulatory bodies, stressed the importance of recognizing the country's historical circumstances within its political/economic/socio-cultural context and representing them in a creative way.