[governance] Re: [bestbits] FW: Broadband Manifesto

[Nick Ashton-Hart]

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 sound 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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