Small Nations Regulators’ Forum

The Small Nations Regulators’ Forum was originally created as a result of an invitation-only IIC meeting supported by OfReg, the multisector regulatory authority of the Cayman Islands. Representatives from island nations agreed that particular issues were not unique to islands and countries with small populations and/or economies typically have more problems in terms of ensuring competition, enforcement and access, and it was felt valuable to share experiences and remedies.

It has proven to be popular and membership has grown and now forms part of the International Regulators’ Forum (IRF) held each year as part of the Communications Policy and Regulation Week.

The IIC Forum for Small Nations focuses on the opportunities and constraints in media and communications regulation in countries with small populations and or small economies. As with other IIC Fora, meetings take place under the Chatham House Rule.

What is a Small Nation?

*A small nation is a country whose population is less than 0.1% of the world population – currently approximately 7.9 billion across 195 countries.

SNRF Membership benefits

Included with IIC Regulator membership, for eligible Small Nations*

Opportunities for gathering insights, exchanging views, and influencing the debate include:

• Full IIC Regulator benefits
• Exclusive access to the IIC SNRF programme of events
• To use the IIC SNRF logo on your company website

2021 / 2022 – Dr Allyson Leacock, Barbados Broadcasting Authority (BBA) . Please see press release

2020 – Rainer Schnepfleitner, Office for Communications (AK)

2019 – Paul Canessa, previously Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

2018 – Prof Anthony Clayton, previously Broadcasting Commission Jamaica

2017 – Alee Fa’amoe, previously Ofreg

2021 – Virtual event

Small Nations Regulators’ Forum Knowledge Café

This virtual Café gave members of the Small Nations Regulators’ Forum the opportunity to engage with colleagues in a small group setting to share experiences, problem-solve, and plan for next steps.

Discussion included the following topics:

• Regulating Digital Networks in a converged environment- Imperative? Or Impossible?
• Rolling Out 5G- what are the implications for:

a) Fibre Connectivity

b) Spectrum coordination and

c) constructing single open access fibre infrastructure?

• How can Broadcasting Commissions use AI to enable an environment for human progress for Sustainable Development?

2019 London

The Cost of Regulation in a Small Nation

The matters raised previously continue to be an issue for the SNRF and were discussed at the 2019 meeting in London which was supported by Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
Reports and discussion papers are available to members of the Forum.

2018 Mexico City

How Can the Retention of Domestic Revenue Be Improved in a Converged Environment?

The following year, the Broadcasting Commission Jamaica (BCJ) chaired the Forum and hosted the first online meeting which looked at the emerging threats to democracy and social stability in small nation-states, and included a discussion of fake news, political manipulation, and criminal and terrorist use of social media.

2017 Brussels

Internet Connectivity and Net Neutrality in Island Nations

The inaugural meeting of the Small Nations Regulators’ Forum was held in 2017 in Brussels under the chairmanship of OfReg, the multisector regulatory authority of the Cayman Islands. At that meeting the particular challenges facing small nations, especially in terms of connectivity and accessibility were discussed.