Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association today submitted comments with the English translation available here) to the Colombian government in response to a consultation on online digital services.
The comments detail the importance of facilitating a regulatory environment that continues to promote Over-the-Top (OTT) services’ role in the connectivity ecosystem, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between content and application providers and internet service providers that power the global internet. The comments also highlight the importance of incentivizing streaming services’ ability to curate quality global libraries and to avoid mandatory content quotas or funding requirements. The comments detail the potential trade commitment violations that could arise if Colombia pursues mandatory payment schemes. CCIA’s submission also responds to questions seeking guidance on best practices to combat disinformation online.
The following quote can be attributed to Jonathan McHale, CCIA Vice President of Digital Trade:
“Online services play an essential role in upholding a healthy internet ecosystem, driving demand for connectivity and contributing significantly to its underlying infrastructure. Without such services, the internet would cease to grow as a global, commercial powerhouse. Market-based incentives have been the key to these developments, such as efficient network exchange markets and content delivery systems, and Colombia should retain this structure to catalyze further benefits to the digital ecosystem.
“The Colombian government should avoid the mistake of imposing online streaming quota or funding obligations. Such mandatory revenue transfers or promotional requirements would likely violate the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and would have a detrimental impact on the content available to consumers in the market, while also undermining the Colombian content industry’s ability to export its programs abroad.”
