International policy preferences, technological standard-setting and digital television

Abstract

This article looks into the case of digital television and international policy preferences for technological standard-setting aiming to contribute to literature on international regulatory competition and cooperation. It argues that the initial development of standards can be understood as the result of an international race to the top with states and companies as key drivers. When the US, Japan and the EU decided to “conquer the world” with their ATSC, ISDB and DVB standards, respectively, and many waves of countries embarked on digital television, the race became global. Many states have been therefore forced to raise technical standards because of external pressure but key domestic actors and motivations are also part of the complete picture. More specifically, policy preferences in Latin America can be explained too as the product of a race fostered by firms and states, though regulatory competition gave place to a cooperative turnaround that led to new and unexpected associations.