 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
DOT Force Urges Global Action On Divide
by William New
The Digital Opportunity Task (DOT) Force, created by the leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations at their summit last July to find a way to combat the digital divide, has completed its recommendations to this year's summit in Genoa.
"The members of the DOT Force are convinced that the basic right of access to knowledge and information is a prerequisite for modern human development," the report said. "ICT must be embraced wholeheartedly by the broad development community at the earliest opportunity."
The study brought together 43 teams from government, the private sector, non-profit organizations and international organizations from developed and developing countries.
The process took several months of formal meetings, informal consultations, talks with stakeholders and electronic outreach to broader audiences around the world, the report said. The group analyzed the underlying causes of the digital divide, wherein less developed countries are being left behind by the rapid rise of information and communications technologies. It also looked at how new technologies might reduce poverty and empower people, as well as the "complex mix of strategies, policies, investments and actions" to create digital opportunities for everyone, not just a few.
The report also examined the roles and responsibilities of all participants in the process in creating digital opportunities. The DOT Force identified priority actions that must be taken, involving all levels of society in partnerships.
These actions include fostering policy, regulatory and network readiness through developing countries and emerging economy "eStrategies" including e-government and universal participation in new international policy and technical issues that arise with information and communications technology. Typically, developing country representatives are not present when international organizations make decisions that directly affect them, such as copyright protections or the allocation of domain names, the report said.
It also recommended that within six months of this year's summit, the structure be finalized for an International eDevelopment Resource Network of regulatory, policy and strategy expertise from developed and developing nations and cutting across the public and private sectors.
The report also recommended improving connectivity, which would increase access and lower costs. The report suggests a range of targeted interventions as well as dedicated initiatives for the inclusion of least developed countries in IT development. These could include research and development efforts for the development and installation of technologies suitable for conditions specific to developing countries, e.g., tropical climate or using alternative energy sources. It also could mean the deployment of national and regional Internet backbones and the creation of local Internet exchange points, plus the creation of national information centers and infrastructure support for domain name services, the report said.
The report also proposes building human capacity through a range of targeted training, education and knowledge sharing efforts, plus the promotion of information technologies for health care and against HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
A final area for action is in encouraging broader participation in global e-commerce and other electronic networks, the report said. This can be accomplished through entrepreneurship for sustainable economic development, and the promotion of national and international efforts to help create local content and applications.
Accomplishing these goals will mean fully integrating information and communications technology in G-8 and other donor development assistance policies and programs, as well as enhancing coordination of multilateral initiatives, the report said.
In its advice to the G-8 governments, the DOT Force said, "Addressing the issue of the digital divide in an open and imaginative fashion could be instrumental in offering an action-oriented vision to all those who, in developed and developing countries, seek to make globalization work for the poor." The group added, "If no action is taken at this specific point in time, we might never get another chance to build the 'global bridges' required to address these critical issues.
ITU Gives Advice
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) made a number of recommendations to the world at its third World Telecommunications Policy Forum in Geneva this month. According to a report by Washington law firm Alston & Bird, the United Nations body supported the view that business opportunities for those involved in Internet Protocol (IP) telephony will remain as long as governments favor unregulated markets.
The ITU said unregulated, competitive IP telephony markets speed the implementation of technologies in those countries. The body recommended regional workshops for regulators on infrastructure, technologies and attractive investment climates. It also proposed ways to increase the number of skilled telecommunications workers and recommended studies on issues in developing countries. The opinions will provide the basis for action at the next World Telecommunication Development Conference in Morocco next spring.
European Telecom Operators Vigilant
The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO) expressed concern Tuesday over discussions in the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on traffic data retention in "advanced technologies." ETNO represents 44 major telecom operators from 35 countries.
Keeping electronic data for a period of time is an important element in countering cyber crime, but ETNO wants to be sure any extension in storage requirements the needs of law enforcement authorities is "carefully justified" as far as cost and benefits to society, it said. ETNO is especially concerned that the issue about a possible lack of transparency in the process despite an "EU Forum" for involving all stakeholders in the process.
"ETNO strongly supports the Commission's initiative which launches an open dialogue regrouping all interested parties," Michael Bartholomew, ETNO director said in a statement. However, it seems that law enforcement authorities have been working on traffic data retention with member states in the Council behind closed doors. In light of these developments, would the EU Forum still have a role to play?"
In a separate issue, ETNO is organizing a conference on implementation of the EU regulation on local loop unbundling -- which is believed to facilitate the rollout of broadband services. Local loop will be the subject of a major industry conference in Milan June 7-8. The conference hopes to get to the bottom of complaints about slow implementation.
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
