Broadcasting & Development Options For The World Bank

Broadcasting has an important role to play in development - as a widespread tool of information transfer, as a method to improve governance, as an important economic sector in its own right, and as a potential access point to new information and communications technology. Sector reform is long overdue, with the state dominating radio broadcasting in three-quarters of the world. Reform can have a significant impact on governance and transparency.It is time for the World Bank to turn its attention to broadcasting, where many lessons of reform apply, and where the unmet need for assistance is great. Potential activities include basic reform of sector ownership, convergence regulation to harmonize regulations covering broadcast and telecommunication infrastructure, support for community radio stations to improve access for the poor, and pilot projects in digital television to assess the potential to widen access to the internet.