China's Triple Play Regulatory Model Study

With the telecommunications, broadcasting and Internet networks evolving rapidly to broadband communication, digital television and NGI(Next Generation Internet) networks, tri-networks integration has become an overwhelming developing trend of global telecommunication industry and broadcasting industry. Tri-networks integration doesn't mean one network replacing the others, but mean the convergence of services over the three networks, that is one network can provide all services over the others. Tri-networks integration can promote development and competition of industry greatly, and can also benefit the country and the people. Despite the advantages of tri-networks integration, it hasn't made any substantial progress in China in more than a decade years. It is generally accepted that it is caused by the interest disputes of regulators under the pattern of separate regulation.January 2010, The State Council of China promulgated The Overall Program to Promote Tri-networks Integration, which put forward the gradual goals of the tri-networks integration progress. During Promotion Phase(2013-2015), China plans to basically establish a new regulatory system, which with clear responsibilities, smooth coordination, scientific decision-making, efficient management and with relatively complete laws and regulations. At present, the tri-networks integration pilot project has been launched in 12 areas including Shanghai. But under the pattern of separate regulation, the pilot project is unfavorable.The paper summarizes the status quo of the development and regulation of three networks, and also comparatively analyzes the countries under the pattern of integrated regulation and separate regulation. Refer to international experience, the paper applies Holistic Governance Theory to the analysis of the defects of separate regulatory pattern, and gives proposals over the construction of the integrated regulatory pattern considering china's national conditions.