AmCham Taiwan Healthy Aging Forum:
2025健康台灣樂齡論壇:公私協力促進全人健康
AmCham Taiwan Healthy Aging Forum:
2025健康台灣樂齡論壇:公私協力促進全人健康
Committee Events & Luncheons
The Committee appreciates the government’s efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s competitiveness by adopting forward-looking policies in areas such as digital transformation, net-zero carbon emissions, and network resilience. We recognize that the telecommunications and media industries are crucial agents in aiding the implementation of such policies. We also applaud the government’s proactive efforts in promoting policies and regulations that enhance the business environment by strengthening the resilience of Taiwan’s communication infrastructure and boosting the competitiveness of the media and entertainment industry.
Given the rapid changes driven by digitalization, strict regulations or top-down approaches will only impede Taiwan’s digital transformation. Whether communication infrastructure and the openness of the media industry can sufficiently support industrial innovation and meet international challenges is of great importance to the Committee. We welcome collaboration to improve the industry and the regulatory framework in which it operates. Unfortunately, limited progress has been made on many issues raised in the last two White Papers. We therefore continue to put forward the following recommendations:
Suggestion 1: Improve the environment for 5G application and development.
1.1 Establish a system of rewards and incentives. The growth of digital transformation brings both opportunities and challenges to the telecom industry globally. Taiwan’s telecom industry is the backbone of modern communication systems that enable voice, data, and multimedia transmissions over long distances. Despite this, the industry is comparatively small in scale and must also contend with the complexities of geopolitical risk that intensify operational pressures.
To ensure that Taiwan’s telecommunications industry remains at the forefront of corporate digital transformation through continual support of emerging applications such as 5G, IoT, and AI, as well as adherence to sustainability principles, the Committee therefore recommends that the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) take charge of the overall planning, promotion, and management of communications and digital resources. We urge MODA to swiftly formulate and implement a strategic blueprint encompassing short-, medium-, and long-term objectives, complemented by a robust guidance and reward system as outlined in Suggestion 1.3. Financial backing for these initiatives should be secured, with allocations at least equivalent to those of the Executive Yuan’s National Science and Technology Development Fund. This funding is essential to address the developmental and operational challenges faced by Taiwan’s telecom industry.
1.2 Deregulate the telecom industry. The Telecommunications Management Act, with its innovative and open policy approach, enables various enterprises to offer telecommunication services that are functionally similar yet significantly more cost-effective. Additionally, this environment fosters the emergence of new entities that can introduce a variety of digital services to the market. Meanwhile, emerging entities may provide various digital services to the market.
Simultaneously, the telecom industry in Taiwan has been subject to a high degree of supervision, owing to the stringent regulations that the government implemented several decades ago. We urge the government to reconsider the existing regulatory framework on telecommunication operators, which not only stifles the industry’s competitiveness but incurs high operating costs that may directly or indirectly hinder telecom operators’ efforts to promote critical areas such as digital transformation, sustainability, information security, and network resilience.
The Committee recommends that the government review and reduce the regulatory intensity imposed on the telecom industry and consider reasonable revisions that promote mutual benefits and common development throughout the industry resulting in a fair environment in which businesses can prosper.
1.3 Empower digital and green transformation. The telecom industry bears significant public responsibility for strengthening network resilience, building infrastructure in rural areas, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions. In Taiwan, the industry also faces geopolitical risks, inflationary pressures, and high regulatory scrutiny, significantly increasing network construction and operating costs. To alleviate the financial and operational burdens on the telecom industry, we recommend that the government:
a). Resume charging frequency usage fees based on the cost of frequency management to reflect the frequency’s true market value.
b). Revise laws and regulations to support telecom enterprises investing in green power and constructing self-use renewable energy facilities. Enhancing smart energy management and incentivizing equipment recycling and circular economy practices with streamlined procedures or tax incentives will encourage the telecom industry’s shift toward green energy.
c). Consider international standards and industry needs in promoting domestically manufactured telecom equipment to foster industry development.
d). We reiterate our request from the 2022 and 2023 White Papers that the government amend the Statute for Industrial Innovation and its related regulations to extend the allowable period for applying for tax deductions on investments, raise the tax credit to NT$10 billion, and increase the number of deductible items.
1.4 Reduce barriers to network infrastructure construction. Enhancing 5G coverage and increasing its penetration is vital for accelerating digital transformation. Yet the expansion of 5G network infrastructure faces serious hurdles, notably including the restrictions on utilizing streetlights, traffic lights, electricity poles, and public buildings for its deployment.
The Committee reiterates last year’s recommendation that the government establish an agency tasked with coordinating 5G policy across central and local government levels and serving as a single point of contact for the industry. This agency, coupled with a set of clear and consistent application procedures and fee-charging standards, would help quickly and effectively remove obstacles to 5G network construction and help promote large bandwidth and AI-related applications. It would also increase telecom operators’ attractiveness to foreign investment since the telecommunications industry often requires substantial capital for network construction and operations.
1.5 Implement spectrum and resilience policies that meet Taiwan’s needs. Following several industry mergers last year, Taiwan’s telecom industry has entered a new competitive situation. Considering the limited availability of telecom spectrum resources, spectrum planning should not only refer to international trends but also consider Taiwan’s market size, competitive landscape, consumer demand, and domestic and international political situations.
We urge the government to refer to international trends as well as Taiwan’s industrial development needs in the planning of and preparation for the second release of 5G frequencies. In addition, if international low-Earth orbit satellite operators wish to use spectrum purchased by telecom operators in Taiwan, the government should implement measures to promote cooperation between these two industries to meet national goals and network resilience needs. This dual approach ensures that national security imperatives are adequately safeguarded while fostering technological and infrastructural advancement.
The 2023 incident in which the Taiwan-Matsu submarine cable was severed and the subsequent delays in maintenance due to difficulties scheduling the cable retriever, which compromised the public’s communication rights, highlighted the vulnerability of Taiwan’s connectivity. We reiterate our recommendation for the government to acquire its own cable retriever and develop comprehensive domestic and international submarine cable maintenance capabilities. Doing so will enable immediate repairs when damage occurs, thereby ensuring the resilience and reliability of Taiwan’s external network connections.
1.6 Amend the Personal Data Protection Act to balance public rights and development of the data economy. While we appreciate the critical importance of personal data protection, we also stress that overprotection without supportive measures for the data economy’s growth could impede the advancement of AI applications and smart services. Hindering their development would not only be detrimental to Taiwan’s strategic Smart Nation 2025 initiative but could also exacerbate the gap between Taiwan and countries with advanced AI applications.
We recommend that the government continue to discuss and revise the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). In the short term, we recommend establishing a sandbox or setting short-term national de-identification standards. For the longer term, the government should revise the PDPA and relevant regulations to ensure that both public protection and the development of the data economy and AI capabilities are properly considered.
1.7 Accelerate the adoption of telemedicine. The features of 5G can enable the development of telemedicine and help overcome geographical constraints through wider distribution of medical resources, thereby reducing healthcare inequality. In Taiwan, telemedicine is still limited by restrictive regulations and a lack of supporting measures. We recommend the following:
a). Continue to relax the restrictions on physicians’ in-person examinations under Article 11 of the Physicians Act and the Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunications.
b). Adjust regulations on treatments such as prescription and medicine delivery.
c). Explore solutions for functions such as online collection of prescriptions and online payment to provide a complete online one-stop service.
Suggestion 2: Relax regulatory and procedural requirements for channel operators to maintain competitiveness.
Broadcast television is undergoing a transition to digital formats, driven by consumer demand for personalized services, intensifying competition within Taiwan’s media sector. Despite these significant changes in demand and supply dynamics, the regulatory landscape for satellite broadcasting and cable TV remains stringent and outdated. This discrepancy underscores the need for regulatory reforms that reflect market realities. These outdated regulations also put channel operators at a disadvantage when competing with other content service providers.
The Committee urges the National Communications Commission (NCC) to relax its regulation of channel operators and adopt a “light-touch” approach that affords equal treatment to channel operators and other content service providers. We hope that the NCC will ease or remove its local content investment requirements on international content operators in Taiwan, including cable channel operators. Additionally, we recommend that the NCC remove the new content ratio requirement as it encourages channel operators to invest in low-cost content simply to meet the ratio. Content mix should ultimately be market-driven, guided by and responsive to the preferences of Taiwanese audiences.
Suggestion 3: Maintain a business-friendly ecosystem for OTT TV services that encourages collaboration with the creative industry.
OTT TV services play an important role in the creative economy, and their tangible contribution is recognized by consumers and policymakers. Initial concerns about these services being predatory rivals have been dispelled, with support for local creative industries expanding globally.
Heavy-handed and protectionist policies risk creating unintended consequences such as increased piracy and restricted content investment. Excessive measures, including mandatory local content requirements, information disclosure of business or trade secrets, and penalties for not meeting the regulatory requirements, hinder business operations and innovation and could further compromise consumer choice. OTT TV services are already adhering to existing laws and have established protocols to effectively safeguard against potential harm.
We encourage moving away from relying on regulatory measures and legislation to mandate collaboration between local content creators and OTT TV businesses. Instead, we suggest recognizing Taiwan’s robust entertainment production capabilities and fostering an environment that promotes creativity. The Committee urges the government to welcome global OTT TV services as strategic partners by offering business incentives accessible to all participating industries, creating programs to bridge the cultural and operational differences between domestic and international entities, and ensuring that policies remain aligned with global trends. Such measures would foster an understanding of the global creative supply chain, incentivize Taiwan’s creative ecosystem, and deepen ties with content creators, spurring further success for Taiwan.
Any contemplated regulatory approach to OTT TV services should be nimble and forward-looking to capture the full potential of the media and entertainment sector. We stress the importance of ensuring that policy objectives are preceded by evidence- and risk-based impact assessments. The Committee stands ready to work with the government to determine how to grow and share Taiwan’s culture and content industries.
Suggestion 4: Amend the Copyright Act for the digital age and ensure transparency when setting music royalty rates.
Copyright protection is essential for fostering growth of the creative entertainment and media industries, which play a vital role in supporting a wide range of stakeholders involved in content production, manufacturing, and marketing. Ensuring creative control for artists and promoting innovative distribution models is paramount to maintaining the dynamism and sustainability of this sector on a global scale.
4.1 Continue to enhance measures to combat online piracy. Digital piracy, manifested through streaming websites, illegal internet protocol television (IPTV) services, and piracy devices, poses serious risks to both users and the industry. Piracy leads to significant revenue loss and endangers users’ personal and financial security, whether through unsafe payments or sale of personal data. The ongoing challenge of combating online piracy is characterized by its high visibility, the complexity of distinguishing between legal and illegal services, and jurisdictional constraints. Effective countermeasures necessitate prioritized government enforcement and collaboration with intermediaries.
The Committee recommends strengthening efforts to fight online piracy by implementing measures such as no-fault injunctions to target the infrastructure enabling piracy and further enforcing measures against illicit streaming devices. Such actions should aim to curtail the accessibility of pirated content and protect the integrity of the digital content marketplace.
Combating online piracy requires a multifaceted strategy that includes legislative updates, collaborative efforts among stakeholders, and a focus on enforcement to protect the creative industry and foster innovation. We urge the government to address online piracy by further enforcing the ban on illicit streaming devices and software applications that facilitate access to pirated content.
4.2 Ensure transparency and stakeholder participation before setting new royalty rates. Transparency and active stakeholder participation in setting royalty rates are vital for ensuring fair compensation, which in turn promotes creativity and innovation. Enhancing the dialogue between Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) and copyright users is crucial, with an emphasis on good-faith consultations and approval processes for changes in royalty rates. The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) should encourage CMOs to boost transparency, improve management efficiency, and consider reducing royalty rates. This approach will contribute to a more equitable and dynamic creative industry.
The Committee also recommends that the government amend Article 24, Paragraph 6 of the Copyright Collective Management Organization Act to mandate that any changes in royalty rates proposed by CMOs undergo review and approval by the TIPO before implementation, rather than automatically taking effect after a 30-day announcement period. The drafting process should include the active involvement of relevant stakeholders, ensuring a more transparent and fair system for setting and adjusting royalty rates.
委員會感謝台灣政府致力於數位轉型、淨零排放和網路韌性等領域之前瞻政策,以提升國家競爭力。我們相信電信傳播產業在協助落實此等政策中的關鍵角色,也讚揚政府在促進政策和法規上的積極努力,以強化台灣通訊基礎設施韌性與媒體娛樂產業的競爭力,使台灣的商業環境能有所提升。
鑑於數位化帶來的快速變化,嚴格的法規範或由上而下的政策執行模式對於政府支持台灣的數位轉型來說成效有限。台灣通訊基礎設施和媒體產業的開放性是否足以支持產業創新並應對國際挑戰,對委員會而言極為重要。我們樂見更多合作以改善產業及其運作的法規監管架構。遺憾的是上次(2023年)白皮書提出的多項議題目前進展有限。因此,委員會繼續提出以下建議:
建議一:提升台灣5G應用與發展環境
1.1 建立獎勵機制與誘因
數位轉型的蓬勃發展帶給全球電信事業機會與挑戰,而身為通訊骨幹,支撐著語音、數據,及多媒體遠距傳輸的台灣電信事業,其規模不如國際業者,又面臨地緣政治風險,營運壓力與日俱增。因此,為利台灣電信事業繼續成為企業數位轉型之推手及助力,建請數位發展部依據《數位發展部組織法》,就通訊傳播與數位資源之整體規劃、推動及管理,應盡速規畫並推動短、中、長期具體發展之整體藍圖與輔導獎勵機制,其經費至少與行政院國家科學技術發展基金業務預算數額相等,協助台灣電信事業解決已經面臨的發展困境與壓力。
1.2 降低對電信產業之管制
在繁盛的科技創新及《電信管理法》之開放政策下,許多產業可以較低成本來提供近似電信的服務,而新興企業也可以提供市場多元的數位服務。台灣政府對電信產業實施嚴格監管已逾數十年,我們建議政府重新考慮現有政策,若持續對既有電信事業維持嚴格之管制架構,除限制電信產業競爭力,亦導致高昂營運成本且直接或間接的不利於國家發展數位轉型、綠色永續、資訊安全或是網路韌性。是故,委員會建議台灣政府應盡速審視並降低電信事業之管制密度,並合理修訂法規、促進產業共好,從而營造一個公平及有利於產業繁榮的環境。
1.3 強化電信事業持續推動數位轉型與綠色轉型
電信事業肩負賦予強化網路韌性、偏鄉基礎建設、淨零碳排等重大公共責任。相較於其他國家,台灣還面臨地緣政治風險、通貨膨脹、及高度監管等因素,使台灣電信事業建置網路及營運成本持續攀高。為緩解電信事業之財務與營運壓力,建議台灣政府採納:
一、 回歸頻率使用費合理收費機制,以頻率管理成本為基礎計收,始能反映頻譜真實市場價值。
二、 修訂再生能源相關法規,對投入採購綠電、購建自用型再生能源電廠、智慧能源管理、實施設備回收/循環經濟之電信事業,得享程序簡化或稅務減免,以鼓勵電信業投資綠能生產應用、及加速產業能源轉型。
三、 台灣政府於推動國產設備使用時,應注意國產設備需符合國際標準及產業需求,以強化產業發展。
四、 委員會重申2022年和2023年《白皮書》中所提出之要求,建請政府修訂《產業創新條例》及相關法規,持續延長可申請投資抵減優惠時間,提高可申請投資抵減稅額至新台幣一百億元,並增加可抵減之項目。
1.4 降低設置網路基礎設施之障礙
透過促進5G高覆蓋率及擴大普及率,始能加速數位轉型。惟布建5G網路基礎建設,常受限於無法利用路桿、燈桿、電桿與公有建物而影響覆蓋率。因此委員會重申去(2023)年白皮書之建議,台灣政府應制定中央與地方通用的「公共設施開放與使用標準」,設立跨中央與地方政府的協調機構,以單一窗口搭配全國明確且一致的申請程序與收費標準,方能快速且有效的解決5G網路建設的障礙,有利促進大頻寬、AI相關應用。網路建設和運營需要大量資本來降低設置網路基礎設施之障礙,增進台灣電信產業對外資與外商之吸引力。
1.5 規劃符合台灣需求之頻譜及網路韌性政策
台灣電信產業經去年整併後,已進入新競爭態勢,有鑑於電信頻譜資源之稀有性,就頻譜規畫除參考國際趨勢,更應通盤考量台灣市場規模、競爭態樣、消費者需求,及國內外政治情勢。因此,就二次5G頻率釋出之規劃及整備,我們敦促台灣政府應參考國際趨勢並了解我國產業發展需求。此外,若國際低軌衛星業者欲與電信事業持有頻段進行合作,台灣政府應提供雙方合作所需之配套措施,以達成國家滿足網路韌性之需求與目標。藉由此雙重措施能確保國家安全獲得充分保障,同時促進技術與基礎建設的進步。
再者,考量2023年發生之台馬海纜損壞事件,因維修船調度不易使維修時程延宕,已造成民眾通訊權益受損,凸顯出台灣通訊連結之脆弱。因此,委員會重申灣台灣政府應購置自有之海纜維修船,並發展國內外海纜維修全方位能力,以利海纜損壞時可即時維修,維護台灣對外網路之韌性與可靠性。
1.6 修訂《個人資料保護法》維護民眾權益並促進資料經濟發展
委員會重申個人資料的保護之重要性,惟須提醒若過度保護,而未有配套措施以因應資料經濟發展,將會影響AI應用或各項智慧服務之進程,不僅不利台灣推動「2030智慧國家」之目標,更會拉大台灣與先進國家AI應用之距離。因此,委員會建議台灣政府持續研擬修訂個資法,於短期內可透過沙盒或國家標準去識別化機制,中長期則有賴修訂相關法規及訂定配套措施,以利兼顧民眾保護、資料經濟、及AI相關發展。
1.7 加速採用遠距離醫療
5G特性可促進遠距離醫療發展,克服地理限制使醫療資源更廣泛地分布,進而縮短醫療資源之差距。然而,台灣遠距醫療仍受限於部分法規或是配套措施,因此委員會提出以下三項建議:一、持續放寬《通訊診察治療辦法》及《醫師法》第11條對於醫師必須親自診察的限制;二、調整關於處方箋、藥品運送等屬於醫療行為之法規;三、政府應就線上領取處方箋及批價付款等功能研議解方,提供完善線上一站式服務。
建議二:放寬對頻道營運商的監管要求,減少與營運執照相關的頻道評鑑、換照等程序,使其保持市場競爭力
台灣的媒體市場包含了多種平台讓觀眾觀賞內容。廣播電視正日益趨向數位化,消費者越來越偏好根據自身喜好而量身訂做的服務,這些供需發展已增加媒體之間的競爭。
雖然媒體服務的供需環境已發生顯著的變化,但衛星電視及有線電視的監管仍然嚴格且未改變。我們鼓勵國家通訊傳播委員會因應實際狀況,重新考慮放寬對頻道營運商的監管要求,減少與營運執照相關的頻道評鑑、換照等程序。
過去對於頻道營運商嚴格監理的法規已不再適用於當前的市場現況,相較於其他的內容服務業者,頻道營運商在此競爭中處於不利的地位。我們敦促國家通訊傳播委員會放寬對頻道營運商的管制,並採取輕觸管制的方式為頻道營運商和內容服務供應商提供平等待遇。期盼國家通訊傳播委員會不要將本地內容投資的要求強加於在台經營的國際內容營運商,包括有線電視營運業商;也不應要求頻道播放一定比例的首播內容,因為這會變向鼓勵頻道營運商為達成比例而投資低成本內容。我們相信內容產製最終應由市場決定,依台灣觀眾的喜好來導向或回應。
建議三:維持影音串流服務的友善市場機制,促使與創意產業相互合作
影音串流服務(OTT TV)在創意經濟中扮演著重要角色,消費者和政策制定者皆認可其實際貢獻。隨著影音串流服務平台在全球各地擴展對當地創意產業的支持,當初對其可能成為掠奪競爭的疑慮也已消弭。
是故過於嚴格和強硬保護主義的政策可能產生預期外的效果,包含盜版內容增加以及限制內容投資。強制本土內容配額、要求揭露商業機密以及未滿足上述監管規範的懲罰等過度措施,將會阻礙企業營運及創新,進而限縮損害消費者的選擇和福利。影音串流服務業者現已確實遵守現行法規,並建立完善的程序來有效防止潛在危害。
我們呼籲政策與法令應避免強行規範在地內容創作者與影音串流產業之間的合作,而是轉向支持提升台灣蓬勃的娛樂製作實力,並打造一個有利於創意發展的環境。委員會建議政府應歡迎全球影音串流服務成為策略夥伴,例如提供適用於所有相關產業的商業誘因、制定協助在地與國際適應文化差異與加強合作的配套措施,以及即時了解全球產業趨勢的發展。這些措施將有助於增進對全球創意產業供應鏈的瞭解、激勵台灣創意生態系的成長,並強化與內容創作者的連結,進一步推動台灣創意產業的成功。
而任何針對影音串流服務的法規都應保持彈性與前瞻性,以充分發揮媒體和娛樂產業的潛力。我們強調在制定政策之前,務必進行基於證據和風險的影響評估。委員會也冀望與政府合作,共同探討如何發展與分享台灣的文化和內容。
影音串流和隨選視訊(Video-On-Demand, VOD)服務業者會盡其所能,協助消費者為自己和家人做出明智且安全的觀看選擇。而產業自律,再加上定期與政府溝通協調,將有助於釐清消費者和各方利害關係人的觀點並建立互信。
建議四:修訂台灣《著作權法》以因應數位時代需求,並確保音樂版稅費率之透明度
著作權保護為創意娛樂和媒體產業發展的關鍵因素,同時扮演支持內容創作、製作與行銷等利害關係人的重要角色,亦能確保藝術家擁有管控其創意的權利並推動創新發行模式,因此,對於促進全球創意娛樂和媒體產業的成長動能與永續發展來說可謂是重中之重
4.1. 持續強化打擊網路盜版。數位盜版問題猖獗,透過影音網站、非法網路協定電視(Internet Protocol Television, IPTV)服務和盜版設備等管道流通,對用戶和產業都造成嚴重風險。盜版除導致產業巨大的收入損失,也危及用戶的隱私和財務安全,例如透過不安全的付款方式或販賣個人資料。打擊網路盜版的長期挑戰在於其高能見度、區分合法與非法服務的複雜性,以及司法管轄範圍的限制,是故政府應採優先執法並與中介服務平台合作始能有效打擊網路盜版。
委員會建議透過執行各項措施,例如透過無過失禁制令加強打擊傳散盜版影音的基礎設施與非法串流影音平台,以降低盜版內容的易得性,並維護數位內容市場的完整性。
打擊網路盜版需要多管齊下的策略,包括法規更新、利害關係人之間的合作、以及將執法聚焦於保護創意產業和促進創新。委員會敦促政府透過加強執法力道,包含禁止非法串流媒體設備(Illicit Streaming Devices, ISD)和提供盜版內容的軟體應用程序,以解決網路盜版的問題。
4.2 確保版權費率訂定程序之透明度與利害關係人參與。在制定版權費率的過程中,透明度和利害關係人的積極參與是確保公平報酬不可或缺的因素,另一方面也可以促進創意和創新。而加強集管團體(Collective Management Organizations, CMOs)與版權使用者之間的對話相當重要,且對話重點在於善意諮詢和版權費率變更的批准程序。此外,智慧財產局應鼓勵集管團體提高透明度與管理效率,並考慮降低版權費率,以有助於建立一個更公平公正且有活力的創意產業。委員會亦建議政府修正《著作權集體管理團體條例》第 24 條第 6 項,即集管團體欲修改現行版權費率時,均應先交由經濟部智慧財產局審查和批准,而非在 30 日公告期滿後即自動生效。此外,修改現行費率之過程也應包括利害關係人之參與,以確保版權費率的設定和調整程序的透明度與公平性。