Multi-Networked Governance of Networks: Regulating Telecommunications in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Opinion polls suggest Scotland will reject independence, opening the way to a review of economic governance in the United Kingdom, a complex quasi-federal, asymmetric system of administrations and parliaments, the result of ad hoc changes over decades. One party wants telecommunications “devolved” to Northern Ireland, other would leave it at the United Kingdom, where there is wide support for a voluntary “digital champion” to boost Internet adoption amongst the elderly and the poor. There is network governance economic regulation at the global, EU, ministerial and regulator levels, though generally excluding the four nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are no formal mechanisms to involve the three devolved legislatures in telecommunications governance, which is complex and lies partially beyond democratic oversight and judicial review. Improvements are required to simplify, increase transparency (e.g., more use of open data) and the widen involvement, enabling oversight and review.