제로레이팅(Zero-rating) 규제의 본질과 합리화방안 모색

Zero-rating means non-billing for specific data, which is one of the carrier billing methods. According to the principle of the free economic market, if the determination of the rate is completely entrusted to the autonomy of the market, it is not necessary to discuss whether it is regulated by the governing body. However, as a telecommunication service provider, the tariffs of mobile carriers are regulated by the government, and zero-rating is included in these plans. There is a pending legislation in the National Assembly that the zero-rating service should be allowed entirely, not subject to government authorization. Therefore, this study examines the effects of zero-rating on the stakeholders of each type, and reviews the current state of zero-rating abroad, and draws implications. As a result, this study sought the regulation necessity of zero-rating and the rational regulation method in terms of the regulation of the charge of the carrier. First of all, zero-rating stakeholders can be called ‘mobile carriers, CPs, users’ and there is no zero-rating type that is beneficial to all stakeholders. There is still controversy as to whether zero-rating full autonomous enforcement is more beneficial to the Internet economy and its users, so there is a need to regulate so that it does not work as a detriment even if zero-rating is allowed. In Korea, the legitimacy of rate regulation is recognized based on the public interest of telecommunication services. Therefore, zero-rating should not be left to the autonomy of mobile operators, but public interest regulation should be imposed. zero-rating should be made transparently by making standards of acceptable services, and zero-rating permitting procedures should be fair and objective. On the other hand, in some developing and underdeveloped countries, where there are not enough platforms, contents, and Internet services, the digital divide problem seems to be resolved through a zero-rating tilted toward overseas famous platforms. However, even in countries with low penetration rates, recent zero-rating practices are particularly prohibitive because they point out that they may be particularly lootable. The digital divide should be addressed by national policy and not by the business model of zero-rating.