Introduction

The publication, by infoDev, of the Telecommunications Regulation Handbook, in 2000 was a landmark event and provided an invaluable tool to the growing number of independent ICT regulators that were created in the ensuing decade. The stated aim of the Handbook was to “provide regulators and others involved in the regulatory process with a practical source on the methods used to regulate the telecommunications sector around the world, focusing on best practice”. The Handbook included six substantive Modules and four annexes in 320 pages. It was edited by Hank Intven, of McCarthy Tétrault, and published in November 2000. The first edition was translated into the six official UN languages, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and is available online at: /en/Publication.22.html. It remains one of the top ten downloaded resources from infoDev’s website.

The Handbook was also used as the platform for the development of the ICT Regulation Toolkit (www.ictregulationtoolkit.org) as an online resource. The six original modules of the Handbook were each developed into a full resource base, with an executive summary, a full report, case studies, practice notes, and reference materials. A seventh module, on New Technologies and their Impact on Regulation, was added and the Toolkit was completed in early 2009. Modules are updated on a regular basis and the Toolkit has also been opened for inputs and comments from users. It attracts over 600 users per day. The ICT Regulation Toolkit model has also been applied elsewhere, such as the SME Toolkit created by the IFC or the ICT in Education Toolkit, created by infoDev and UNESCO. A similar model will be used in the planned Broadband Strategies Toolkit.

Outline of Tasks

Although the ICT Regulation Toolkit will continue to be the main focus for ongoing efforts in content creation to serve the regulatory community, there remains a high demand for a standalone book that serves as an offline reference source, a textbook, and as training material. infoDev is planning to produce an updated edition of the Handbook during 2010, to mark the tenth anniversary of the original publication, and to complement the ICT Regulation Toolkit. The new handbook should have the following characteristics:

• A report of 250-300 pages that will cover the full range of issues that today’s ICT regulators need to consider, including new issues, such as Next Generation Regulation or Net Neutrality, that were not covered in the original Handbook.
• An enclosed DVD (for instance, inserted in a pocket at the back of the book) that would contain the full text of the existing ICT Regulation Toolkit, together with all translations, with live links to the website for ongoing updates. (Note: The DVD will be produced by the infoDev team and is outside the requirements for this terms of reference. Similarly, the online version of the Web will be handled by the infoDev team).

infoDev plans to appoint an editor (an individual consultant) to assist with creating the new edition of the Handbook. The editor position would involve working part-time, from your place of work, over a period of 2-3 months with the aim of producing printer ready PDFs, plus native files with all fonts and images included, of the Handbook to be printed in the latter part of the year. The editor would be employed as a Short-Term Consultant (STC), but some elements of the task may be sub-contracted by the editor. infoDev will provide inputs on the basis of the existing toolkit modules and other resources.

If you wish to respond to this invitation, send a copy of your CV no later than Thursday, February 25, 2010 to Tim Kelly (email: tkelly@worldbank.org), who can also respond to any inquiries.