[bestbits] FW: Broadband Manifesto

[Anja Kovacs]

I wouldn't actually agree that an approach that starts from the national
level is the only way forward. In the analysis of the Internet Democracy
Project, among important reasons why more progress has not been made on
various goals set out in the WSIS Action Lines is not only because Action
Lines have been implemented in too top-down a fashion, but also, and
relatedly, because the Action Lines mix together two types of issues: those
that fundamentally rely on the input of the larger development community,
and those that are Internet governance issues in the more narrow sense. The
latter frequently cut across Action Lines, and as long as they are not
addressed adequately, it is unlikely that the development agenda that is at
the heart of the Action Lines will take off either. The former is in many
cases the foundation for the success of the latter.

For this reason, the Internet Democracy Project proposed in September, when
the first inputs into the preparatory process for the ITU's High Level
Review meeting were due, to actually rearrange the Action Lines to make
sure both aspects of the Action Lines get their due. This would entail
highlighting, and addressing, the Internet governance agenda that is
embedded in the Action Lines separately, without at any point losing sight
of its connectedness with the development agenda. We resubmitted this
proposal as an input into the zero draft of the zero draft of the WSIS+10
vision in November, please see:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/review/inc/docs/phase2/rc/V1-D-2.docx

While many development issues in the Action Lines require action first and
foremost at local and national levels, many of the Internet governance
issues are really global public policy issues (and by splitting the two
strands, where to engage can become much more clear for a range of actors).
We therefore also made this proposal an integral part of our proposals for
the evolution of global Internet governance. If much of the groundwork to
enhance cooperation has already been done in the context of the Action
Lines, why not build on this rather than constituting a new,
government-dominated body? This would also ensure that the enhanced
cooperation agenda, too, is tethered quite closely to development - that
seems to be the case only rarely now.

Different issues require action at different levels and through different
processes. The challenge is not which one to chose, but how to hold on to,
organise and maximise the multitude.

Best,
Anja



On 2 December 2013 06:06, michael gurstein <gurstein at gmail.com> wrote:

> +1
>
>
>
> M
>
>
>
> *From:* nashton at consensus.pro [mailto:nashton at consensus.pro]
> *Sent:* Sunday, December 01, 2013 4:05 PM
> *To:* michael gurstein; governance at lists.igcaucus.org; bestbits
> *Subject:* Re: [bestbits] FW: Broadband Manifesto
>
>
>
> The merits of the report aside, your point, Michael, is one I believe
> strongly to be true: the whole WSIS follow-up system is top-down, because
> the ITU took control of it. What's needed is national-level action plans,
> drawn up by all stakeholders, which can then be compared like-for-like as
> to results internationally so countries can learn from what works in other
> countries. The irony is that this model is how "Agenda 21" the climate
> change process from the first Rio conference works; sadly WSIS didn't pick
> this up despite it postdating Rio by more than a decade.
>
> In the WSIS review, we should fix this. The digital divide is not going to
> be met in Geneva at one-annual "WSIS review" meetings where INGOs (however
> well-meaning) compare notes and report cards  - it will be met at the
> grassroots level, with buyin from that level.
>
>
>
> michael gurstein <gurstein at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Anyone wondering why a grassroots/community informatics perspective is
> necessary in the WSIS and related ICT4D venues should take a close look at
> this corporate driven top-down techno-fantasy of what could/should be done
> with no attention being given to how it might actually be accomplished on
> the ground even after almost twenty years of similar pronouncements and
> failed (and hugely wasteful) similarly top down initiatives.
>
>
>
> M
>
>
>
> http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/67.asp
>
>
>
> Broadband infrastructure, applications and services have become critical
> to driving growth, delivering social services, improving environmental
> management, and transforming people’s lives, according to a new Manifesto
> released by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development and signed by
> 48 members of the Commission, along with other prominent figures from
> industry, civil society and the United Nations. “Overcoming the digital
> divide makes sense not only on the basis of principles of fairness and
> justice; connecting the world makes soun d commercial sense,” the Manifesto
> reads. “The vital role of broadband needs to be acknowledged at the core of
> any post-2015 sustainable development framework, to ensure that all
> countries – developed and developing alike – are empowered to participate
> in the global digital economy.”
>
>
>
> Supporting Document
>
>
>
>
> http://www.broadbandcommission.org/Documents/working-groups/bb-wg-taskforce-report.pdf
>
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from Kaiten Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
>
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-- 
Dr. Anja Kovacs
The Internet Democracy Project

+91 9899028053 | @anjakovacs
www.internetdemocracy.in
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