The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has submitted comments to the Colombian government regarding a consultation on the regulation of online digital services. The submission emphasizes the importance of maintaining a regulatory environment that supports Over-the-Top (OTT) services, which play a crucial role in the connectivity ecosystem. It highlights the collaborative relationship between content and application providers and internet service providers that sustain the global internet.
The CCIA's comments stress the need to incentivize streaming services to curate quality global libraries without imposing mandatory content quotas or funding requirements. They also caution against potential trade commitment violations if Colombia enforces mandatory payment schemes. Additionally, the submission offers guidance on best practices for combating disinformation online.
Jonathan McHale, CCIA Vice President of Digital Trade, stated: “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."
McHale further warned against imposing streaming quotas or funding obligations: “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.”
