<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 6.0.4630.0">
<TITLE>Some Help Needed in Developing CS Statement for OECD Ministerial</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hello colleagues:</FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I've agreed to pull together a section on "Discrimination in the Information Economy" for the CS statement to the OECD Ministerial in Seoul in June.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I've done up several very general statements as placeholders but I know that there are individuals on this list with specific expertise in these areas and I would very much appreciate if they could redo what I've done and as well add appropriate referencing to previous CS documents, standards, appropriate websites etc.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">If people could send their comments to me individually indicating which numbered section they are referring to, I'll compile them and recirculate them. I've agreed to do a final by Monday at the latest so speed is of the essence. (This is a bit of a last minute job so I'm not sure how much debate on wording will actually be possible so please if comments could be made as "generic" from a CS perspective as possible that would be great.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Among the barriers to equitable participation are: </FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">1.<U>physical disability</U> which interferes with the opportunity to make use of the input/output devices through which the digital platform is access. Such disabilities might include visual disabilities (the inability to read or interpret messages on a screen) as for example arising from blindness, colour blindness or other forms of visual impairment. There are a variety of well recognized standards for the design of web interfaces which enable utilization of these sites by those with visual disabilities but these standards are for the most part voluntary and frequently are ignored or overlooked. The enforcement of these standards particularly in government sites or site which are supportive of public participation, provide public services, or are overall in the realm of “public activities” should become mandatory and means for their enforcement should be developed. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">2.levels of</FONT><U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">literacy</FONT></U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> may be required by certain digitally enabled activities which act as discriminants for those with lower levels of education, cognitive abilities or limited facility with the language being used on the site. Similarly as with visual disabilities standards exist for determining the level of literacy required for utilization of specific sites and these should be formally adopted and means developed for their enforcement particularly in those sites necessary for social, political and economic functioning in the Information Society </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">3.differential access to the use of the Internet because of</FONT><U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> barriers of cost of access</FONT></U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">(Internet access costs or costs of the input/output devices themselves (personal computers for example). Many of those currently not using the Internet (as understood by means of the concept of the “Digital Divide”) are not doing so because of the cost of this service. Ensuring that publicly accessible services at no or nominal cost is a minimum basis for ensuring equitable participation in the Information Society.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> </FONT></SPAN>
</P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">4.related to the financial barrier of access may be the</FONT><U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">barriers of physical disability in limiting access</FONT></U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">to places where no or minimal cost Internet access may be available. Many of those with physical disabilities also have very low incomes so the opportunity to use the Internet (or other ICTs) may only come through public Internet access points (PIAPs). If these PIAPs are themselves not accessible because of physical barriers (as for example not being wheel chair accessible), then the opportunity to participate is doubly restricted. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">5.further, many of those also who do not make use of the Internet may not be doing so because of a</FONT><U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">lack of knowledge or personal confidence</FONT></U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">with respect to the means for making such use. This would be particularly the case for the elderly and those with lower levels of education. The barrier of confidence or skill with respect to Internet use may be overcome through the availability of training or support services in the context of the PIAPs and thus publicly supported means for providing this training (it is frequently done through support of volunteers or student interns) is a further means for ensuring that discriminatory barriers do not exist for Internet participation. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">6.</FONT><U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Equitable gender access</FONT></U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> to ICT has been linked to an increase in overall social equality for women; however, within numerous global contexts—including those of Developed Countries—gender disparities in access to ICT persist, and women predominate the lower-wage sectors of the information economy. Women also are under-represented in ICT decision-making capacities. Gender is one of many factors that determine the impact of ICT on women’s lives. Ethnicity, religion, age, physical ability, and socio-economic status also figure into the degrees of inclusion and exclusion that differentiate regions and communities. Key to overcoming the barriers, shortcomings and misconceptions that exacerbate gender inequalities in ICT are the comprehensive education of all persons regardless of gender, the promotion of equal access for women to scientific and technological arenas, the provision of opportunities for lifelong learning in ICT, and the augmentation of women’s roles in ICT decision-making. Governments should enable equal access and opportunity for all via policies and programs as well as collaborate more broadly with the private sector and civil society to change social attitudes, cultural ideologies, and stereotypes that limit women’s participation in the digital economy. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">7. in many circumstances there are additional difficulties (and costs) in obtaining access to the means for participation in the digital economy by those living in</FONT><U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">remote, rural, or low-income areas</FONT></U><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. The cost of the provision of enhanced (broadband for example) infrastructures in such areas may lead to gaps in access in these areas if the service provision is only left to market considerations. In order to ensure that there is no discrimination or additional barriers to participation on the part of rural and remote residents it may be necessary for public authorities to intervene to find means to balance costs as between locales. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-ca"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">8.</FONT><U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Individuals' relationship with access providers or their business partners</FONT></U> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">may also be a source for discrimination against particular users. Vertical integration of access provision with other products, content, and services may lead access providers to engage in tying behaviors, such as blocking or degrading competitors' services. Competition and communications authorities should act to prevent such behavior.</FONT></SPAN></P>
</BODY>
</HTML>