New net rules would hit digital economy: diplomat

Inter-governmental regulation of the Internet could deter investment, raise costs for consumers and hinder online access, said U.S. Ambassador Terry Kramer.

"We are concerned some of the proposals could create an investment environment that is very tenuous," he said. "We need to be very mindful that we are not creating new, much greater problems than we are solving." The United States wants to restrict the debate in Dubai to conventional telecoms, and two of its three core recommendations have been approved, Ambassador Kramer said. Member states have agreed the definition of 'telecommunications' should remain unchanged, while the treaty's introductory passages, relating to its scope, will also be unaltered. The third recommendation, still being debated behind closed doors, is a technical, but important distinction that the treaty should relate only to "recognized operating agencies" - conventional telecom operators - and not "operating agencies."