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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Dear All<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>I think IGF should also take up some substantive issues like of defining
the public and egalitarian nature of Internet as the guiding principle for Internet
related public policy. This is important in the context of emergent issues like
network neutrality which require urgent responses. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>And since IGF is not WSIS, we can put up broader issues that tend more
toward opening up debates, rather than reach consensual agreements. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>And I also agree with Karen’s point made a few days back that IGC
should involve broader CS, at least from the WSIS plenary list, to develop suggested
themes for IGF. I am therefore marking this to the wsis plenary as well. It
will also be useful to take a buy-in from CS involved in IPR – WIPO issues,
since public domain vis-à-vis Internet is an important issue implicated here. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>My proposal, in the format suggested by Bertrand is submitted as below.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Parminder<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";font-weight:bold'>ISSUE: Defining and
fostering the ‘public-ness’ of the Internet – issues of
public interest, public domain, public infrastructure and public good in the context
of the Internet. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";font-weight:bold'>a. A concise
formulation for the proposed theme<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>In determining global public
policy issues and directions for IG, it is important to first define and
characterize the Internet. Its essential public and egalitarian nature must be
asserted as basic principles through open discussions at the IGF. And these
principles can then be interpreted in terms of specific issues that face us
today - content issues (protecting and promoting the public domain, network
neutrality) infrastructure issues (universal access, public infrastructure,
open spectrum, Internet as public good), as well as many other issues.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";font-weight:bold'>b. A brief description
of why it is important</span></font></b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>The Internet, as understood
by most of us, is what it is basically because of its egalitarian and public
nature. It is important to articulate these fundamentals of the Internet
strongly, and use them as the guiding principles to debate and develop global
public policies on IG. WSIS was an arena that required quick resolutions for consensus
positions. This imperative did not allow sufficient informed debates on
developing public policy principles for IG, including characterizing the
essential public and egalitarian nature of Internet as the technology that
promises a ‘better world for everyone’. IGF is the right forum for
initiating this process, and taking it forward in a sustained manner. Formulating
these ‘essentials’ of the Internet, and due exposition of their
implications in various contexts, will enable better global policy responses to
pressing issues including network neutrality and universal access. If these
essential principles that define the Internet are not discussed and settled
urgently, the Internet is likely to disintegrate, along both political and
economic lines. Even if it is going to be a difficult and protracted process, discussing
and resolving this is essential and the IGF is the right forum to initiate it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:60.0pt;text-indent:-42.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
text-autospace:none'><![if !supportLists]><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";font-weight:bold'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font></b><![endif]><b><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-weight:bold'>How it is in conformity with the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State></st1:place> Agenda <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>The WSIS Declaration of Principles
assert “… … our common desire and commitment to build a
people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where
everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge,
enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential
in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of
life…… ”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>The earlier mentioned issues
of characterizing the global resource of the Internet fall within these overall
ideals agreed at the WSIS. <st1:place w:st="on">Para</st1:place> 31 of the
Tunis Agenda declares <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>“We recognise that
Internet governance, carried out according to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Geneva</st1:City></st1:place> principles, is an essential element
for a people-centred, inclusive, development oriented and non-discriminatory
Information Society.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>d. <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>How it fits within the mandate of the IGF as detailed
in para 72;<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Discussion on the stated
issue is important in order to develop guiding principles for laying down a public
policy framework on IG. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-style:italic'>(72 a of Tunis Agenda: Discuss public policy issues related
to key elements of Internet Governance in order to foster the sustainability,
robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet;)<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Such discussions will lay
the guiding principles for, and help clarify, possible policy responses to
important emerging issues of network neutrality, public internet
infrastructure, spectrum de-licensing etc. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;punctuation-wrap:
simple;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><i><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-style:italic'>(72 g: Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention
of the relevant bodies and the general public, and, where appropriate, make
recommendations;)<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;punctuation-wrap:
simple;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>And
most importantly, it puts IG discussions in the context of the broad guiding principles
adopted at <st1:City w:st="on">Geneva</st1:City>, and later in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;punctuation-wrap:
simple;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:baseline'><i><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-style:italic'>(72 i: Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the
embodiment of WSIS principles in Internet Governance processes;)<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-weight:bold'>e. Who the main actors in the field are, who could be
encouraged to participate in the thematic session<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>All stakeholders –
from governments, civil society, business and multi-lateral organizations to
those organizations currently involved with IG, like the ICANN, have an
important role in discussing these issues. However, more stress needs to be
given on inclusion of representation from (1) developing countries and (2)
development community without technical background. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-weight:bold'>f. Last but not least, why should this issue should be
addressed in the first annual meeting of the Forum rather than in subsequent
ones.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>The first phase of Internet
development was driven purely by enterprise and innovation, and in many ways by
private sector leadership, which served us well. Internet grew mostly
autonomous of public policy in this phase. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'> But now with the power of
Internet firmly established, and its economic and political threat to many
entrenched interests increasingly obvious, and no longer possible for them to
ignore, we are into an important phase of development of the Internet where its
egalitarian and public nature is increasing threatened. To stem this trend and
possibility, global public policy response in the form of clearly establishing
the public and egalitarian nature of the Internet, and laying out its policy
consequences, needs to come in urgently. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Otherwise, if
Internet’s growth is left to its own, as many entrenched interests
advocate, it may soon be too late to reclaim the promise of Internet for the
purposes that the world community asserted at the WSIS. As a commentator
recently said in the context of the issue of ‘network neutrality’,
if urgent policy action is not taken the situation may soon become intractable,
and it will then be like trying to push the ‘genie back into the
bottle’. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Parminder Jeet Singh<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>IT for Change<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>91-80-26654134<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>www.ITforChange.net <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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