In 2000, ITU members listed analysis of the regulatory implications of broadband as a high priority for future work. As described on the ITU website, broadband is "the capacity to transmit large quantities of electronic signals (including data, video, text and voice) rapidly. This capacity "raises two important issues. The first is that, in transmitting various types of signals, broadband is at the heart of the convergence of telecommunication, information technology and broadcasting. While convergence has been discussed for several years, it remains unclear what it implies for end users (the big box), the regulatory framework (the big brother), and the business model (the big bid). In fact all that is clear to-date is that one integrated network (the big pipe) will be able to carry all kinds of communication.

"The second is that several technologies and media may be used to provide broadband services. There may be competition between: networks (e.g., telephony and cable TV); media (copper, fibre optic, satellite, terrestrial microwave, or a hybrid of these).

"Together these two issues imply a radical change in competition at all levels from the application service provider to the network provider. There may be a need to review and modify competition policy and regulation.

• Broadband access

  "Broadband access can be provided by guided media (either copper or fibre-optic), or by unguided media (air-interface) such as satellite or terrestrial microwave. Many developed and middle income countries have a policy of rolling out fibre-based infrastructure across the country. If broadband networks are to have a wide geographic coverage, the expense of this investment may render public-private cooperation essential in some countries. Even with public-private cooperation, the cost of establishing fibre infrastructure in rural or regional areas means that universal service may never be achieved.

  "For developing countries the more immediate goal may be to promote wider Internet access, which may be possible, for example, through broadband satellite or terrestrial microwave, or DSL where there is an existing copper network."

• Broadband and the Internet

  "The current interest in broadband is largely due to the Internet, which permits familiar services to be delivered in unfamiliar ways. This includes the delivery of voice services that compete with traditional telephony delivered over circuit-switched networks. Similarly, broadband infrastructure enables web casting of video or audio signals that compete with broadcast networks. Until now, the Internet has generally delivered these services at a lower quality with less reliability than conventional networks, but broadband access promises to change all that..."

As depicted on the ITU's website:

"Broadband ushers in convergence - at last. Broadband networks can be used for communication of all kinds (voice, data, video, etc.). In a narrowband world, several distinct industries focus on specific kinds of communication. The telecommunications industry focuses on voice, the TV industry (cable and broadcast) focuses on video, and the IT industry focuses on data. These industries have traditionally been regulated distinctly due to their varying levels of monopolization, national interest, and universal service responsibilities. Such distinct regulation may not 'fit' the converged world of broadband.

"Issues such as cross-media competition, access to networks, and technology-neutral regulation place broadband at the center of divergent policy and regulatory debates. What role should policy-makers play in stimulating investment in broadband networks? Do converged networks require converged regulatory structures? What will be the new bottlenecks in an era of plentiful bandwidth?"