The Responsive Evaluation of Broadband Network Policy

• Main Authors: BRUCE CHENG, 鄭明宗
• Other Authors: LIN, CHUNG-YI
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/69361090317081790632

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 公共行政暨政策學系碩士在職專班 === 92 === The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of the projects related to the construction of the fixed broadband network, which are part of the Taiwanese government’s broadband network policy, by focusing on the issue concerning the establishment of a fair competitive environment. The research is based on the responsive policy evaluations proposed by the U.S. policy researchers, Guba & Lincoln in 1989 and undertakes the micro-level policy analysis and the macro-level policy analysis on policy implementation from the stakeholders’ perspectives namely, consumer, telecommunication service provider and the bureaucracy. According to the criteria of cooperation for “policy implementation” proposed by Edward III, four variables including communications, resources, dispositions and the bureaucratic structure are selected for this study. In addition, “the interest structure and ethics pertaining to policy implementation” proposed by Dr. Lin, Chung-Yi, are also used as the indicators for our evaluation. Further, this study employs the theory of policy formation- Policy Streams- proposed by policy analyst, John Kingdon to undertake theoretical and empirical analysis and exploration on Taiwan’s broadband network policy. Responsive policy evaluation emphasizes the evaluator’s direct involvement in the evaluation process. As such, the research technique adopted in this study is primarily based on in-depth interviews, which are built on the aforementioned evaluation indicators and the issue concerning the establishment of a fair competitive environment. Unstructured interviews are conducted on policy stakeholders including the consumers, telecommunication service providers and the bureaucracy pertaining to the broadband network policy. The aim is to seek the respondents’ thoughts on the evaluation items and their claims, concerns and issues to compile commonly understood issues and sort out issues yet to be commonly understood and discussed by the stakeholders. We have obtained nine research findings and proposed four policy recommendations as follows: I、 Research Finding 1、 Government-owned and private service providers hold opposing views on the establishment and implementation of a fair competition mechanism in the broadband network market. This reflects that the problem associated with policy implementation lies in administrative discretion. In addition, the explicitness and consistency of the regulations need to be further improved. 2、 Consumers are of the opinion that the broadband market lacks competition, impairing their ability to choose freely. They are also unsatisfied with the quality and costs of the related services. 3、 The fact that service providers and the local government have doubts on the likely effects of the “Broadband Communication Multiple Access” project, which the government and the consumers strongly believe may facilitate broadband network competition, reflects that policy implementation is not fully communicated. 4、 Demands for broadband application are inadequate. Private operators are reluctant to lease the local loop. There are concerns for the accomplishment of the “Broadband to 600 Homes” project. 5、 Not all information is publicly available. The central competent authority lacks the professional capabilities in carrying out rate assessment. Consumer rights are not protected. 6、 Central and local governments hold inconsistent views and attitudes towards the broadband network policy. The relevant operation standards cannot be unified, causing variances between the projected results and the actual results. People’s opinions are the most important considerations. II、 Policy Recommendation 1、 Enforce the lease of the local loop to establish a fair competition mechanism for network construction and speed up the replacement of traditional phone lines by the optical network. 2、 Pursue e-government services across the board. Cooperate with the reorganization of the optical network to induce broadband application and digital content services. 3、 Maintain the political mission of providing “citizen-oriented” services to accurately grasp citizens’ needs and maintain consumer rights. 4、 The government shall plan and supervise broadband network construction, harmonize macro-view policies and the micro-view gap between the standard of living in cities and the countryside and establish a “bottom-up” policy.