Consider broadband in terms of universal service obligations. As the upcoming OECD report will stress, the wireless revolution is only beginning. Wireless broadband has great potential for e-commerce so therefore it is important to study spectrum allocation mechanisms. As shown in the OECD paper the process of market opening still has some way to go to obtain the full benefits of competition. OECD's careful analysis is enormously helpful to Member countries preparing policies and negotiations.
Effective interconnection is essential to the future of e-com and the Internet.
While the main issue was taxation, we also heard that there are other ground rules to be established and that there must be open public participation in the processes, including on the part of tax administrations. The international consensus on taxes is that they should be applied in a neutral fashion so that there is no discrimination between electronic commerce and conventional commerce. I welcome the commitment by the EU that they will continue to work with the OECD to reach an international consensus on the application of the Ottawa principles in the area of consumption taxes. Cyberspace should not become the tax haven of the new millennium. The OECD will continue to be open and inclusive as it leads and co-ordinates the international work on taxation.