Access power peering

In this report for the CCIA, Rob Kenny examined the trend towards paid peering, scrutinised the logic for such charges and discussed the risk of abuse by last mile providers.

Access to platforms and findability of content

Robin Foster presented to an EBU workshop, addressing the case for making public service content available and findable in a changing world. In particular he considered the impact of new content gateways, and concluded that there is still a case for regulatory intervention to support prominence for public service content

AI - To legislate or not legislate?

The governance of AI is under consideration globally, and the European Union proposes legislation focussed on AI. 

This paper concludes that legislation for AI, or any other general purpose technology, involves a category error; and that it is preferable to focus on outputs and outcomes and to adapt existing context specific regulation as required as the application of AI develops. 

AI governance – lessons from other general-purpose technologies

This paper from Brian Williamson considers Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is a general purpose technology which will drive a wave of productivity growth. AI is also the invention of a method of invention, which will contribute to breakthroughs in areas including health.

Previous general purpose technologies were not regulated via specific legislation - we did not have a law of steam, electricity or connected computing. Nor were applications subject to assessment requirements prior to release. Innovation without permission was an enabler of progress. 

Applications of previous general purpose technologies were subject to existing regulation and new regulation was developed where issues arose e.g. rail safety in relation to an application of steam. 

We should not abandon the principle of innovation without permission in relation to AI, rather we should rely on adaptation of markets, existing law and regulation, and only legislate to address targeted issues where these adaptations prove insufficient

An internet traffic tax would harm Europe’s digital transformation

Brian Williamson has written a paper for the CCIA, setting out the case against an internet traffic tax.