[governance] Internet Governance Project Receives Ford Foundation Grant

[Milton Mueller]

>>> McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com> 3/6/2006 11:53:54 AM >>>
>>Though, I am concerned that there's no mention of a development focus -
>> a key aspect in the WSIS process.

>IGP is supposed to be about IG, not development.

Exactly. The two intersect, of course. But they are not the same. And IGP's agenda is set by what is happening or needs to happen in Internet governance, not by "the WSIS process" per se. 

>However, I have a project that needs 170k to break the 
>current paradigm of high interconnection costs in Africa.
>Perhaps Milton, et. al. in IGP would like to help get something 
>done instead of just talkin about it??
>Whaddya say Milton, wanna buy a satelittle hub? 

We do, of course, want to get something done, but becoming a telecom carrier in Africa is not the kind of task IGP is set up to do. Don't undervalue the importance of "talk" by the way; once you get your satellite hub you'll have to do a lot of it before certain people let you use it. ;-)  

>It will bring connectivity costs down by ~ 40% all over 
>Africa.  Can't say fairier than that! ;-)

Fairier? As in, more Tinkerbell than thou? 

Anyway, if an investment of only $170,000 can do that, I'm interested inl helping. (But not as IGP). Undercutting the rates of telecom monopolies is something that gives me great personal pleasure. I suspect, however, that by the time you finance ongoing operations, gain license and regulatory approvals, conclude negotiations with ISPs and obtain interconnections, etc., another zero or two would have to be added to the budget. Let's go offlist and talk business models of you're serious. 




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