Mexico. The Platform of Audiovisual Regulators of Ibero-America (PRAI), in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Latin American Observatory of Regulation, Media and Convergence (OBSERVACOM) organized at the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) the International Seminar "Regulatory Challenges of Convergence in Audiovisual Services".
International experts openly discussed and debated the challenges generated by technological changes for regulatory frameworks, as well as audiovisual media services in the region, their scope, limitations and alternatives.
The event was opened by María Lizarraga Iriarte, Head of the Media and Audiovisual Content Unit of the IFT, Santiago Marino, from OBSERVACOM, Guilherme Canela, Minister of Communication and Information of the Regional Office of Sciences for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNESCO; as well as the IfT President Commissioner and current Prai President, Gabriel Contreras.
During the event, two modules were held; the first, where the document entitled, "The convergence of media, telecommunications and the Internet in the perspective of competition. Towards a multi-understanding approach." The panel was attended by Martín Becerra, professor and researcher at the University of Quilmes; Francisca Levin, representative of the National Economic Prosecutor's Office (FNE) of Chile; Marco Carrizo, of the Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition Authority (ACODECO) of Panama; and IFT Commissioner Ramiro Camacho; and Guilherme De Souza Godoi (UNESCO).
The presentation of the document served as a basis for participants to discuss economic competition in the face of media convergence, cross-ownership in the media, the right to freedom of expression, and the right to access to culture.
In the second module of the Seminar, "Regulation of audiovisual services on the Internet", Santiago Marino participated; Rosana Dos Santos Alcantara and Ángel García Castillejo, experts in audiovisual regulation from Brazil and Spain, respectively; IFT Commissioner Javier Juárez; and Guilherme Canela, who presented the current state of the debate on the regulation of audiovisual services on the Internet and some international experiences, in addition to commenting on recommendations – mainly addressed to regulatory bodies in Latin America – regarding the key aspects to establish a regulatory environment on the so-called audiovisual OTT services. In addition, the document "Challenges and regulatory asymmetries on the Internet regarding audiovisual services. What to do?", made by OBSERVACOM.
The International Seminar on the regulatory challenges of convergence in the audiovisual sector allowed to identify a series of recommendations on regulation in the face of the new digital environment, the challenges of this ecosystem; the multiplicity of platforms for accessing content; and the experience of diverse audiences of digital platforms, both fixed and mobile and personalized services.
