[governance] Theme proposal: Policy for affordable Internet access

[Mawaki Chango]

Sorry, just reloading this with a more specific subject line - why
put numbers when I'm not going to propose 3 themes anyway?
---

1. Policy issues for affordable Internet access

a. A concise formulation for the proposed theme

What are the proper roles and responsibilities of the global
institutions, national and local governments, the private sector and
civil society in expanding and extending the availability and
affordability of the internet? What are the most effective ways to
enhance the capacities of the governments, specially from developing
countries, to better play their role?

b. A brief description of why it is important

As the Internet’s potentials are continuously being realized, so does
the development demand placed over the global network, which
necessarily impacts the roles and responsibilities pertaining to the
Internet governance, and explains why the development issues are
recurrent and important in the debates around it. In many cases, the
issues may stem from a lack of effective information, knowledge,
know-how and clear understanding of the challenges brought about by
the Internet protocols and the subsequent technology innovations. In
any event, those primary issues need to be addressed before the
international community could effectively tackle the broader
development goals that rely heavily on the access, with the
Governments’ significant participation, particularly from the
developing countries.

c. How it is in conformity with the Tunis Agenda

This topic is relevant considering the paragraphs 49, 50, 54, 69, 90
esp. a), b) and f), 100, and 101-b).

Broadly, the implementation section of the Tunis Agenda reaffirms in
its paragraph 90, the Summit’s commitment to provide "equitable
access to information and knowledge for all," and to improve
"connectivity and universal, ubiquitous, equitable,
non-discriminatory and affordable access to, and use of ICTs" by
2015. Among the enabling factors are mentioned relevant e-strategies
and public policy frameworks.

Paragraph 69 specifically acknowledges the "need for enhanced
cooperation in the future, to enable governments, on an equal
footing, to carry out their roles and responsibilities, in
international public policy issues pertaining to the Internet."

The paragraph 49 commits to "foster and provide guidance on
development areas in the broader Internet governance arrangements,
and to include, amongst other issues, international interconnection
costs, capacity-building and technology / know-how transfer."

Paragraph 50 calls for "the development of strategies for increasing
affordable global connectivity, thereby facilitating improved and
equitable access for all." 

The paragraph 54 recognises that an enabling environment is crucial,
for "value is added at the edges of the network in both developed and
developing countries when the international and domestic policy
environment encourages investment and innovation."

d. How it fits within the mandate of the IGF as detailed in para 72;

The IGF mandate calls for discussion of: a) "[...] public policy
issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to
foster the sustainability, [...] and development of the Internet."
And further, the IGF has the mandate to: e) Advise all stakeholder in
proposing ways and means to accelerate the availability, and
affordability of the Internet in the developing world."

Therefore, the IGF is entitled to initiate discussions that make
policy-makers in developing countries and the international community
aware of the factors that actually promote or hinder the development,
availability and affordability of the Internet in the concerned
countries. There is a need to encourage and support policy-makers in
developing countries to design and establish an enabling policy
environment for technical and business best practices to develop and
benefit the users in terms of better and greater access.

e. Who the main actors in the field are, who could be encouraged to
participate in the thematic session

Governments (particularly from the developing countries)

Intern-governmental and sub-regional organizations (e.g. ECOWAS,
SADEC, ASEAN, etc.)

International Organizations: UN, ITU, UNESCO, WTO, World Bank

Regional Organizations (e.g. African Union, EU)

Civil society and consumers organizations

Incumbent Telecommunication Operators

Internet & Telecommunication private operators

Global Internet bandwidth providers

Regional Internet Registries (ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC, RIPE)

f. Last but not least, why should this issue be addressed in the
first annual meeting of the Forum rather than in subsequent ones?

It is necessary that all stakeholders, especially the Governments
with the greater decision-making power, have a clear understanding of
the issues and their responsibilities in this regard, prior to any
attempt to effectively tackle the Internet public policy issues that
are relevant to affordable access and expansion at the edges of the
network. 

Mawaki
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