ARLINGTON, Va.-Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard last week launched a new effort to export the telecommunications revolution to African nations and other developing countries.
“Fair, open and transparent regulatory processes are essential to U.S. companies doing business abroad. This initiative is designed to promote pro-competitive regulatory policies so that consumers around the world can reap the full benefits of the telecommunications revolution,” Kennard told the AFRCOM ’99 conference last Wednesday in Arlington, Va.
Kennard said the program will focus initially on Africa, but eventually will be beneficial to Asian, Eastern European and Latin American nations. Many of the emerging markets in these regions are leaning toward adopting wireless technology for mobile and basic communications.
The FCC said it is not providing financial support to the countries, leaving them to invest their own resources.
“U.S. consumers and workers will benefit because telecommunications competition and regulatory parity abroad result in lower domestic and international telecommunications and high-paying jobs back home,” said Kennard.
