*Benchmarking national regulatory authority websites* Four new LIRNE studies provide feedback to regulators across different categories of information provision. These regional assessments of national telecom regulatory authority websites in Latin America, the Caribbean and North America, Asia and Africa, seek to illuminate best practices for using NRA websites as vehicles to provide information about the sector to the full range of stakeholders. *Working Papers available for free download include: http://lirne.net/2008/07/benchmarking-nra-websites/* * Benchmarking Latin America NRA Websites by Hugo Carrión (DIRSI) Estándares de comparación para los sitios web de los Entes Reguladores Nacionales de América Latina * Benchmarking Caribbean and North American National Regulatory Authority Websites by Opal Lawton * Benchmarking Asia Pacific National Telecom Regulatory Authority Websites by Lara Alawattegama and Chanuka Wattegama (LIRNEasia) * Benchmark Indicators for African National Regulatory Authority Websites, Monica Kerretts-Makau (Research ICT Africa!) National regulatory authorities have a key role to play as information society drivers and facilitators by providing an example of using new technologies and facilitating access to, among others, legislation, standards and best practices for information and communication technology (ICT) adoption and development. NRA websites constitute an important vehicle for information dissemination, communication and transparency. Although these studies do not claim to measure the overall effectiveness, efficiency or transparency of the regulator, the benchmarking and ranking serve to clarify categories of information and their respective users, and to indicate responsiveness and interactivity in providing information. Finally, it is hoped that regulators will benefit from an awareness of how other national regulatory websites provide access and serve their respective communities. http://lirne.net/2008/07/benchmarking-nra-websites/ -- __________________________________ Amy Mahan, LIRNE.NET Coordinator Montevideo, Uruguay Tel: +598.2.410 2979 Fax: +44.870.759 8283 www.LIRNE.net __________________________________