Evidenced-based internet policy for emerging nations: Maximizing network investment and local content development

This article reviews the three components of evidence-based policy and the seven inputs to good regulation. It describes the challenges to conducting evidence-based policy, particularly with using data to make decisions as well as deploying measures to see how well a policy is working. Examples from net neutrality policy are provided to illustrate some of the challenges for telecom regulators. Some literature from the policy research field is presented to help explain why regulators have difficulty using evidence-based approaches. The paper concludes by reviewing the importance of evidence-based approached for regulators in emerging countries, particularly as net neutrality policy to date has limited documented success to stimulate local digital economies.