Published on the 27/08/2015 | Written by Newsdesk
Laws haven’t kept pace with technological change, says minister…
Convergence is back in the spotlight as the government launches a Green Paper, work programme and discussion document to outline the government’s response to the challenges and opportunities of a converged world, and explore whether or not policy and regulatory frameworks are fit for purpose in the current New Zealand media landscape.
In a statement, Justice, Communications and Broadcasting minister Amy Adams’ office said the ‘Exploring Digital Convergence’ Green Paper provides an overarching view of the cross-government convergence work programme and sparks a discussion of the impact convergence is having on New Zealand’s regulatory settings.
“How we communicate, do business and access information and entertainment is changing rapidly. Streaming on demand content on a smartphone or getting our news on the web is the new normal,” said Adams.
“While these exciting changes are simplifying our lives and creating new opportunities, our laws haven’t kept pace. They treat various technologies differently, even if they are performing similar functions. We need to consider the implications of convergence across the regulatory framework and ask whether our systems are correctly calibrated for this converged world that we live in.”
Supporting the rapid convergence of new technologies and delivery platforms is a priority for Government.
“Content and delivery have become decoupled. We need to ensure we don’t inadvertently stifle innovation or create inequities between businesses who now find themselves competing for market share,” said Adams.
The Green Paper provides an overview of the convergence of historically separate industries, and the policy and legislative issues that arise from this. It sets out the high-level cross government response and outlines a current work programme.
Adams’s office has also issued a discussion document titled ‘Content Regulation in a Converged World’, which focuses on the merging of previously distinct broadcasting industries. This, said the minister’s office, has produced a lack of clarity around the classification of content, advertising restrictions, and rules around election programmes during general elections.
“We’re testing whether the rules are still fit for purpose and how they should be applied in a tech-neutral way. Currently, there is no consistent application of the appropriate rules,” said Adams.
The Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) welcomed the two papers. “All of us are getting used to the idea of watching what we want, when we want, on whatever device we have with us at the time. Any review should focus on the desired end-user experience and ensure we continue to see increased choice on how we receive content,” said Craig Young TUANZ CEO.
“We are pleased to see the minister clear on the idea that rules and regulations need to be technology neutral, and be focused on the outcomes that our people and organisations experience” Young added.
He said TUANZ has raised a number of issues that it believes need to be debated as part of the overall review of telecommunications law.
Lightbox CEO Kym Niblock said it is positive that the government is leading a discussion on how to update laws so digital businesses can operate in the most effective way. “The new digital economy presents disruptive businesses with exciting opportunities to shake things up. What we need is a flexible and durable approach that recognises the changing landscape that new digital businesses operate in. With that in mind, we need a system that doesn’t load any new costs onto the industry.
“Trying to retrofit old broadcasting-era models won’t work in the digital environment because that would just load cost onto online providers who are competing with the likes of YouTube, which doesn’t go through any classification processes,” she said.
More information can be found at www.convergencediscussion.nz
