What is the ICT Regulatory Decisions Clearinghouse?

The global information and communication technology (ICT) sector is in the process of continual change brought about by technological innovation and convergence, sector liberalization and increased private sector participation. While these trends have contributed to the strong economic growth of the sector, they have also made the task of ICT decisions making bodies more complex. As a result, there is a need to continuously improve the decision making processes of regulatory and oversight bodies in the ICT sector.

The purpose of this database is to facilitate the global exchange of information, experience and precedents among stakeholders in order to promote the application of effective decision making techniques.

The ICT Regulatory Decisions Clearinghouse (ICTDec) is an online resource that provides a one-stop access point to decisions originating from ICT decision making bodies such as telecommunications regulators, industry ombudsmen and specialized dispute resolution tribunals. Currently, ICTDec provides unified and simplified access to thousands of decisions available on the Web, as well as to selected decisions unavailable online.

ICTDec integrates two services in a single Web-based resource:

• A Web search engine of websites belonging to ICT decision making bodies
• A catalogued repository of ICT regulatory decisions

The ICTDec search engine is the first Web search engine to specialize in ICT policy and regulation. Based on LexUM's Phase3 technology, the search engine crawls and indexes thousands of documents that are published on the websites of ICT decision making bodies. These documents can be searched on a country-by-country basis or on a global level.

The ICTDec repository acts as a global publication platform for decisions issued by ICT decision making bodies. Decisions that have been added to the repository can be accessed by theme (subject matter) or by country (and region).  In addition, summaries for selected decisions are available as a tool to assist user research and analysis. As the ICTDec project develops, more decisions by ICT decision making bodies will be added to the repository, thereby adding continuously to the international pool of precedents.

Decisions where summaries are available are indicated by an

Partners involved

ICTDec is the result of a partnership between:

• International Telecommunication Union

  ITU, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is an international organization within the United Nations System where governments and the private sector coordinate global telecom networks and services. ITU is the leading publisher of telecommunication technology, regulatory and standards information.

• World Bank

  The World Bank Group offers loans, advice, and an array of customized resources to more than 100 developing countries and countries in transition. The World Bank Group also provides support to telecommunication sector reform - including liberalization, privatization and the establishment of sound regulatory regimes.

• LexUM

  LexUM is the University of Montreal's legal technologies laboratory. Founded in 1993, LexUM's interdisciplinary team is currently composed of over twenty legal and computer science professionals who are assisted by an equal amount of university students. LexUM's strategy is based on the advanced use of technology to improve access to law and justice. LexUM is a leader in legal technologies on both Canadian and International levels.

Funding

Funding for the initial development and implementation phase of ICTDec was kindly provided by:

• The Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF)

  PPIAF is a multidonor technical assistance facility aimed at helping developing countries improve the quality of their infrastructure through private sector involvement. Launched in July 1999, PPIAF was developed at the joint initiative of the governments of Japan and the United Kingdom, working closely with the World Bank. PPIAF pursues its mission through channeling technical assistance to governments in developing countries on strategies and measures to tap the full potential of private involvement in infrastructure and identifying, disseminating, and promoting best practices on matters related to private involvement in infrastructure in developing countries.

How to contact us

For all comments, suggestions and feedback (technical or otherwise) please contact us by using the comments form.

To contact the ICTDec project manager by mail, please write to: