Gabi:  I would add Canada's CRTC to the mix. There's a robust community 
radio sector as well as specific encouragement of indigenous radio and 
TV. I agree that the US FCC isn't a good role model, but it isn't 
surprising to find the planned regulatory agency dubbed as 'the Japanese 
FCC,' since that's what the immediate post WW II regulatory agency in 
Japan was called, even tho' Japan isn't a federation!!

All best,  Don

G wrote:
> Dear OURmedia friends,
> (apologies for cross-posting)
>
> Urgent question regarding independent regulation agencies.
>
> In Japan, the government (constantly changing though the members are) is
> considering finally (!) an independent broadcasting agency (so far airwaves
> directly regulated by ministry of interior). A civil society group called
> ComRights is feverishly gathering information on good examples (and some bad
> ones) of independent regulating agencies from around the world. Does anyone
> know of existing comparative studies or have on hand detailed info about the
> independent regulators (independent from the government) of specific
> countries? 
>
> Japanese colleagues are already currently collecting info from US, UK,
> France and Germany (and I have found some comparative data on EU country's
> regulators), but hints for good examples in other countries would be welcome
> and some notably bad ones too (word so far is: FCC is not so good- though
> unfortunately now being considered as the main model- the planned regulatory
> agency is even dubbed 'Japanese FCC', OFCOM is better, the regulator in
> Germany's Northrhine-Westfahlia is pretty good. Any insights on that?).
>
> We'd be interested also on information on how regulators relate to the
> community media sector(s) in each case (I've found some information on that
> in comparative community radio reports).
>
> Please feel free to pass this question on to other people and lists who you
> think may have leads, but when forwarding please cut out my e-mail address
> in the header and instead include the signature below.
>
> Gabi
> ghprof(at)me.com
>
> PS: They are for now looking at broadcasting authorities ONLY, as the
> convergence law draft is on hold for the moment and industry bodies
> 'self-'regulate internet, game industry, etc. But obviously many countries
> regulators cover multiple platforms, and this may also happen in Jp
> eventually.
>