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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jeremy and all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks for this and I recognize the limitations of time and attention which framed the participation in the development of this document however I'ld like to make a few comments on it as it stands and express some reservations on it and the process going forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The overall document, as with the earlier document to which it refers and from which it draws, seems to be primarily (the earlier document exclusively) concerned with "process" matters and specifically with "opening up" the ITU meeting and documentation to broader scrutiny and participation specifically by Multi-stakeholders/civil society but presumably by others as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It is hard to fault this as an objective. However, I do have some concerns about it being THE objective. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This document belows differs I believe from the earlier (November) document by listing some of the substantive areas where CS might make a contribution and this also can not be faulted. However, in (dare I say what appears to be hastily) constructing this list and presumably indicating the areas where CS could make a useful and even "expert" contribution the authors on several occasions refer to the "cost" or "affordability" of access as an issue whereas those with a direct involvement in these matters are aware that "cost" is only one of a range of issues -- language, literacy, cost of devices, availability ("extension" not "expansion") of infrastructure, training, and so on -- which limit access by those with low incomes and this is not even to speak about inequalities in opportunities, supports and means to make effective use of the Internet once access is available. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The list then goes on to include "development" as an issue--without indicating development of who, of what, where, how, why etc.etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thus while the "process" issues are well and extensively covered, the substance related section is dare I say, rather skimpy and even dangerously misleading. (A simple reference to the CS WSIS Declaration(s) would have helped to overcome these limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have in other contexts recently had occasion to note that it was incumbent on those offering opinions "to do as they say" and I think that this should hold for CS/BB as stringently as it does to others and in this particular instance the outcome of not following transparent and inclusive processes of text development has I believe led to the creation of a document which I personally have significant reservations in signing onto and where I would most certainly not recommend to my (for example) community informatics colleagues as something to which they might want to adhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>One final point, while neither the WCIT nor it appears the WTPF are being framed in the context of WSIS +10 this latter meeting is likely to be of greatest significance as it will address the substantive issues of most direct concern to traditional CS -- access and use, content and language, human rights and free expression, equality and social justice -- if, of course, those looking to influence the WSIS +10 agenda allow for such a wide ranging discussion (rumours have it that the OECD countries are pushing for a very limited and mild "forward looking" celebratory agenda for WSIS +10 for example…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mike<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> bestbits-request@lists.bestbits.net [mailto:bestbits-request@lists.bestbits.net] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jeremy Malcolm<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 09, 2013 7:36 PM<br><b>To:</b> bestbits@lists.bestbits.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [bestbits] Civil society statement to the ITU Sec-Gen ahead of WTPF 2013 - PLEASE ENDORSE AND SHARE<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>With the ITU's World Telecommunication and ICT Policy Forum (WTPF) coming up next week, I would like to encourage everyone to read and - if they agree with it - to endorse this statement, which a group of us who will be participating at WTPF have drafted collaboratively:<br><br><a href="http://bestbits.net/wtpf-2013">http://bestbits.net/wtpf-2013</a><br><br>Please forgive us for not having a broader drafting process this time, but it was mainly due to shortness of time. In any case, the text has been drafted consistently with the previous Best Bits statement to the ITU.<br><br>Please feel free to reach out into other networks for endorsements, too. There are buttons on the page that will enable you to share automatically with Twitter and Facebook.<br><br>I am currently working to overcome a technical limitation which means that individuals' names must be listed where an organisation has endorsed. I plan to keep working on this today, but didn't want to hold up distribution of the statement any longer.<br><br>Thanks to Deborah, Joana and everyone else who helped to put this together so quickly. The full text is shown below:<o:p></o:p></p><p>We reaffirm the goals and principles of the statement submitted to the ITU Secretariat in November 2012 in which we urged member states to implement inclusive and transparent ITU processes and uphold and protect the public interest and fundamental human rights.<o:p></o:p></p><p>These fundamental human rights must be at the forefront of internet governance and ITU convenings, including the WTPF. Internet policy topics, including but not limited to affordable access, development, openness and access to knowledge, net neutrality, privacy, and security must be considered through the framework of human rights, in particular freedom of expression.<o:p></o:p></p><p>We welcome progress made by the Secretary-General and the Informal Experts Group in achieving consensus on the six draft opinions. These begin to address important goals, including the expansion of key internet infrastructure in order to reduce costs for those in need; the reaffirmation of multistakeholder processes; and the promotion of transparent and inclusive enhanced cooperation. Rather than seeking to address additional issues, we urge the Secretary-General to move forward in engaging all stakeholders to implement these opinions.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Unfortunately, we must object to the Secretary-General’s report’s framing of the debate on multistakeholderism. The WTPF has not yet achieved open and participatory internet policy making. In endeavoring to foster multistakeholder consensus, it is critical that the WTPF facilitate civil society’s participation as an independent and authoritative voice. The ITU should, for this and future fora, bring all stakeholders together to work on implementing WTPF opinions at the national, regional, and global levels. This means creating spaces for civil society to express their views, for example through an online platform for comment that is part of the official WTPF record, through speaking rights as was done during the WSIS process, as well as providing for both remote participation and live webcasting of the WTPF meeting. Video, audio, and text transcripts will further enables participation by all, including persons with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Open and transparent participation will augment the critical efforts toward broadband connectivity, IXP promotion, enhanced cooperation, and IPv6 deployment that the WTPF is undertaking with these opinions. We look forward to working together with the ITU as it pursues these policies and institutes a multistakeholder structure that can achieve the goals articulated herein in a manner consistent with the public interest and fundamental human rights.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Dr Jeremy Malcolm<br>Senior Policy Officer<br>Consumers International | the global campaigning voice for consumers</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>Office for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East<br>Lot 5-1 Wisma WIM, 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg, TTDI, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<br>Tel: +60 3 7726 1599<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>WCRD 2013 – Consumer Justice Now! | Consumer Protection Map: <a href="https://wcrd2013.crowdmap.com/main">https://wcrd2013.crowdmap.com/main</a> | #wcrd2013<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>@Consumers_Int | <a href="http://www.consumersinternational.org">www.consumersinternational.org</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/consumersinternational">www.facebook.com/consumersinternational</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:#999999'>Read our <a href="http://www.consumersinternational.org/email-confidentiality" target="_blank">email confidentiality notice</a>. Don't print this email unless necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>