July 2020 - DC3 - listas.altermundi.net

ITU Council seeking input on how Community Networks increase Internet connectivity

by Carlos

Hi everyone, After all the noise some of us have made at national, regional and international Internet Governance spaces, it looks like the ITU Council wants to hear directly “How can small/community/non-profit operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity?” This poses an unique opportunity to showcase directly to the ITU Council all the amazing work that most of you are doing, specially at times where CNs are gaining more and more visibility to curve the digital divide and rural marginalization that is now more and more apparent due to the pandemic. And I say directly because this request is made through one of the very few consultations the ITU open to all stakeholders: the Open Public Consultation of the Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet). I provide a bit of background about it below for those who are interested. The consultation is structured as a set of questions, one of them the one included above, available in the following link: https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/consultation-sep2020.aspx where you can also find important information and instructions on the submission process. I think it is strategically important that the ITU receives as many contributions from each of us as possible highlighting the many different ways community operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity. This will surely contribute in creating a more policy and regulatory environment for community networks in each of your countries. I’ve copied some of the basic instructions to participate below. Participating can be as easy as forwarding existing text you may have written (the GISWatch country report for those of you who wrote it: https://www.giswatch.org/community-networks) to the email address below. Note that your online submission can be drafted in a UN language other than English (these are Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish), but you are encouraged (not obliged) to provide a translation in English for the benefit of all readers. At APC we are available to provide support to any of you wanting to make a submission but struggling with the process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. Best, carlos == Basic instructions == You can include your responses to the questions into the online form in the following link : https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/form-oct2019.aspx OR send it to InternetPublicViews(a)itu.int including your Full Name, Title, Country and Organization you are representing. Your response will then be published on the ITU Website: https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/consultation-sep2020.aspx Please include each submission also includes a short summary/abstract (1-3 paragraphs). This will form part of the final summary document to be published after the end of the physical open consultation meeting. == Background == ITU Council Working Groups There are different Working Groups set up to provide input to the ITU Council in different matters. In the last last Council Group (February, 2020) meeting four appeared to be active [1]: - Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) - Council working group on Child Online Protection (WG-CP) - Council Working Group on WSIS (WG-WSIS) - Council Working Group on Financial and Human Resources (CWG-FHR) The participation in those working groups varies and some are for Members States (MS) only, others allow for the participation of Sector Members (too). CWG-Internet is limited to Member States, but they hold an open consultation to all stakeholders. This poses one of the few opportunities for Civil Society Organizations that are not Sector Members of the ITU to present their views to the ITU Council. In most other ITU’s consultations, organizations such as the Association for Progressive Communications and the Internet Society, both with Sector Member status do their best to bring the voice of the Civil Society in general, and of community networks in particular to these spaces. In particular, CWG-Internet is tasked to identify, study and develop matters related to international Internet-related public policy issues and to disseminate its outputs throughout ITU's membership, as well as to report annually to the Council on activities undertaken on these subjects [2] [3]. The 13th Session of the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) decided on 20 September 2019 to hold an open consultation (online and physical) on “International internet-related public policy issues on harnessing new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development” where some of our contributions provided already content in relation to community connectivity [4]. In the 13th Session it was also decided that the next round of Open Consultations (February 2020 – August 2020), on the topic of “Expanding Internet Connectivity” with the questions below: [5] Expanding Internet Connectivity - What are the challenges and opportunities for expanding Internet connectivity, particularly to remote and under-served areas? What are the roles of governments and non-government actors in overcoming these challenges? - Are there particular challenges facing land-locked countries in securing affordable Internet access? What can be done to overcome these challenges? - How can small/community/non-profit operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity? [1] https://www.itu.int/en/council/Pages/groups.aspx [2] https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/default.aspx [3] https://www.itu.int/md/S19-CL-C-0136/en [4] https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/consultation-oct2019.aspx [5] https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/md/19/rclintpol13/c/S19-RCLINTPOL13-C-001… -- Carlos Rey-Moreno, PhD Local Access Policy and Regulation Coordinator Association for Progressive Communications https://www.apc.org/en/project/connecting-unconnected-supporting-community-… Cel: +27 (0) 76 986 3633 Skype: carlos.reymoreno Twitter: Creym

3 years

10
23
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Re: [DC3] ITU Council seeking input on how Community Networks increase Internet connectivity

by gphlilanthi

I hear G20 are supporting CN. Does anyone know of any specifics regarding this policy please? Regards AmalI De Silva-Mitchell Sent from my Galaxy Tab A (2016)-------- Original message --------From: Carlos <carlos(a)apc.org> Date: 27/05/2020 22:20 (GMT-08:00) To: dc3 <dc3(a)listas.altermundi.net> Subject: [DC3] ITU Council seeking input on how Community Networks increase Internet connectivity Hi everyone, After all the noise some of us have made at national, regional and international Internet Governance spaces, it looks like the ITU Council wants to hear directly “How can small/community/non-profit operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity?” This poses an unique opportunity to showcase directly to the ITU Council all the amazing work that most of you are doing, specially at times where CNs are gaining more and more visibility to curve the digital divide and rural marginalization that is now more and more apparent due to the pandemic. And I say directly because this request is made through one of the very few consultations the ITU open to all stakeholders: the Open Public Consultation of the Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet). I provide a bit of background about it below for those who are interested. The consultation is structured as a set of questions, one of them the one included above, available in the following link: https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/consultation-sep2020.aspx where you can also find important information and instructions on the submission process. I think it is strategically important that the ITU receives as many contributions from each of us as possible highlighting the many different ways community operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity. This will surely contribute in creating a more policy and regulatory environment for community networks in each of your countries. I’ve copied some of the basic instructions to participate below. Participating can be as easy as forwarding existing text you may have written (the GISWatch country report for those of you who wrote it: https://www.giswatch.org/community-networks) to the email address below. Note that your online submission can be drafted in a UN language other than English (these are Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish), but you are encouraged (not obliged) to provide a translation in English for the benefit of all readers. At APC we are available to provide support to any of you wanting to make a submission but struggling with the process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. Best, carlos == Basic instructions == You can include your responses to the questions into the online form in the following link : https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/form-oct2019.aspx OR send it to InternetPublicViews(a)itu.int including your Full Name, Title, Country and Organization you are representing. Your response will then be published on the ITU Website: https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/consultation-sep2020.aspx Please include each submission also includes a short summary/abstract (1-3 paragraphs). This will form part of the final summary document to be published after the end of the physical open consultation meeting. == Background == ITU Council Working Groups There are different Working Groups set up to provide input to the ITU Council in different matters. In the last last Council Group (February, 2020) meeting four appeared to be active [1]: - Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) - Council working group on Child Online Protection (WG-CP) - Council Working Group on WSIS (WG-WSIS) - Council Working Group on Financial and Human Resources (CWG-FHR) The participation in those working groups varies and some are for Members States (MS) only, others allow for the participation of Sector Members (too). CWG-Internet is limited to Member States, but they hold an open consultation to all stakeholders. This poses one of the few opportunities for Civil Society Organizations that are not Sector Members of the ITU to present their views to the ITU Council. In most other ITU’s consultations, organizations such as the Association for Progressive Communications and the Internet Society, both with Sector Member status do their best to bring the voice of the Civil Society in general, and of community networks in particular to these spaces. In particular, CWG-Internet is tasked to identify, study and develop matters related to international Internet-related public policy issues and to disseminate its outputs throughout ITU's membership, as well as to report annually to the Council on activities undertaken on these subjects [2] [3]. The 13th Session of the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) decided on 20 September 2019 to hold an open consultation (online and physical) on “International internet-related public policy issues on harnessing new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development” where some of our contributions provided already content in relation to community connectivity [4]. In the 13th Session it was also decided that the next round of Open Consultations (February 2020 – August 2020), on the topic of “Expanding Internet Connectivity” with the questions below: [5] Expanding Internet Connectivity - What are the challenges and opportunities for expanding Internet connectivity, particularly to remote and under-served areas? What are the roles of governments and non-government actors in overcoming these challenges? - Are there particular challenges facing land-locked countries in securing affordable Internet access? What can be done to overcome these challenges? - How can small/community/non-profit operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity? [1] https://www.itu.int/en/council/Pages/groups.aspx [2] https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/default.aspx [3] https://www.itu.int/md/S19-CL-C-0136/en [4] https://www.itu.int/en/council/cwg-internet/Pages/consultation-oct2019.aspx [5] https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/md/19/rclintpol13/c/S19-RCLINTPOL13-C-001… -- Carlos Rey-Moreno, PhD Local Access Policy and Regulation Coordinator Association for Progressive Communications https://www.apc.org/en/project/connecting-unconnected-supporting-community-… Cel: +27 (0) 76 986 3633 Skype: carlos.reymoreno Twitter: Creym _______________________________________________ DC3 mailing list DC3(a)listas.altermundi.net https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3

3 years, 3 months

17
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Internet Openness at IGF 2020

by Luca Belli

Dear all, In case anyone else is interested in participating to the booklet on "The Value of Internet Openness at Times of Crises", please send me your drafts by 15 August. FYI, many of the contributions that were originally submitted for the online symposium on Covid19 and Internet Openness are available on MediaNama https://www.medianama.com/tag/covid19-and-internet-openness/ A second batch will be added “in exclusivity” to the booklet to be released during the online IGF 2020 All the best Luca

3 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

Come join us! AUC webinar on Complementary Access Networks - 30th July

by Carlos

(apologies for cross-posting) Good morning, I hope everyone is keeping well in this troubled times. I'd like to share with you the 5th Webinar of the AUC series on Internet Resilience that will take place next Thursday 30th July from 11:00 to 12:30 UTC and that we have been curating from APC. It is about Complementary Access Models with a special focus on community networks, with what I believe is an great and diverse line up. You can find all the information here: https://www.apc.org/en/node/36617/ And you can directly sign up here: https://isoc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_29SOkv6YQquoXJES0sKlDw Apologies for the late notice, I really hope it still arrives on time for those with an interest in attending. It will also be recorded in case you have other plans at that time. It would be very grateful if you can share it in your networks. best, carlos -- Carlos Rey-Moreno, PhD Co-lead Local Networks: Policy and Strategy Association for Progressive Communications https://www.apc.org/en/project/connecting-unconnected-supporting-community-… Cel: +27 (0) 76 986 3633 Skype: carlos.reymoreno Twitter: Creym

3 years, 4 months

1
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Broadband Breakfast talk -- Broadband ==> Infrastructure

by dc3＠bob.ma

http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2020/07/broadband-breakfast-live-online-on-jul y-22-2020-champions-of-broadband/ Bob Frankston https://Frankston.com

3 years, 4 months

1
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Fwd: Self-Paced e-Course: Innovative Business Models for Expanding Fiber-Optic Networks and Closing the Access Gaps

by Michael J. Oghia

Hi everyone, this looks like a really interesting course. I've not checked out the syllabus more closely, but the fact that it's both a free course and self-paced means it may be good for anyone interested in the topic but also have other commitments. Best, -Michael ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Open Learning Campus <WorldBank(a)newsletterext.worldbank.org> Date: Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 8:28 PM Subject: Self-Paced e-Course: Innovative Business Models for Expanding Fiber-Optic Networks and Closing the Access Gaps To: <mike.oghia(a)gmail.com> If you're having trouble reading this message, click here <http://t.newsletterext.worldbank.org/r/?id=h9e9fc8a,4041637,4041961&p1=@dxD…> . <http://t.newsletterext.worldbank.org/r/?id=h9e9fc8a,4041637,4041962> <http://t.newsletterext.worldbank.org/r/?id=h9e9fc8a,4041637,4041963> <http://t.newsletterext.worldbank.org/r/?id=h9e9fc8a,4041637,4041964> <http://t.newsletterext.worldbank.org/r/?id=h9e9fc8a,4041637,4041965> <http://t.newsletterext.worldbank.org/r/?id=h9e9fc8a,4041637,4041966>

3 years, 4 months

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[Report] Renewable Energy in Africa: An opportunity in a time of crisis

by Michael J. Oghia

FYI everyone, this may be relevant to many of your networks, especially those focusing on renewables, access, and gender. Best, -Michael ---------- Forwarded message --------- View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/womin/new-report-renewable-energy-in-africa?e=6800791e36> *NEW Report | **Renewable Energy in Africa: An opportunity in a time of crisis* Dear friends, We hope that you, your family and community are well and safe during these perilous times. Today, WoMin African Alliance and 350Africa.org are launching a report on the status of renewable energy in Africa called Renewable energy in Africa: An opportunity in a time of crisis. You can download the report in English or French by visiting this webpage <https://womin.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0802b003c8bbbfab0977c493b&i…> . The research was done by the University of Cape Town’s Energy Research Centre. As well as the main report which provides an overview, the research covers ten African countries, with an individual document for each. The research shows the status of Renewable Energy in these countries, in order to support activists there. It also raises questions about the implementation of renewable energy projects in Africa, and how we can avoid issues similar to those surrounding big fossil fuel projects when establishing renewable energy projects. To this end we have highlighted potential areas for additional research. The report also includes 5 case studies from different countries, carried out by partners in those countries. We hope you will use and share the report in your own work. Kind regards, Trusha (WoMin) and Glen (350Africa.org) <https://womin.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0802b003c8bbbfab0977c493b&i…> *JOIN US* *We will be hosting a webinar on the 30th of July to discuss the report, and would welcome your attendance - you can sign up on the report webpage <https://womin.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0802b003c8bbbfab0977c493b&i…>. If you have other feedback on the report, you’re welcome to send that to us directly. * [image: WoMin on Twitter] <https://womin.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0802b003c8bbbfab0977c493b&i…> [image: WoMin on Facebook] <https://womin.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0802b003c8bbbfab0977c493b&i…> [image: Website] <https://womin.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0802b003c8bbbfab0977c493b&i…> *WoMin African Alliance © 2020, All rights reserved.* *Our mailing address is: *PostNet Suite 16, Private Bag X4, Braamfontein 2017 South Africa *Email*: info(a)womin.org.za

3 years, 5 months

1
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Re: [DC3] [Governance] PL 2630 in Brazil

by sivasubramanian muthusamy

Carlos, It is particularly disturbing to see the condition to use mobile telephony as an element for registering and authenticating users. It attempts to get the State to accord undue importance to an industrial sector. Sivasubramanian M <https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivasubramanianmuthusamy/> 6.Internet(a)gmail.com twitter.com/shivaindia On Wed, Jul 8, 2020 at 12:45 AM Carlos Afonso via Governance < governance(a)lists.igcaucus.org> wrote: > Dear people, as some of you probably know, the Brazilian Congress is > discussing a crucial bill of law on fake news. A version of the bill has > been approved by the Senate (where the proposal originated) and is now > under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies. Below is a precise review of > the situation, by the Brazilian chapter of the Internet Society). > > The text refers to the statement on the bill of law published by the > Brazilian chapter, which can be read here in Portuguese and English: > > > https://isoc.org.br/noticia/capitulos-da-isoc-apoiam-nota-tecnica-da-isoc-b… > > fraternal regards > > --c.a. > > ============================= > > This is a brief report on the recent developments in the Brazilian > Congress regarding the Bill on Fake News. > > Despite strong opposition from civil society organizations and tech > companies, which asked for a postponing of the voting so that a more > informed discussion could take place, the Bill has been voted and approved > by the Senate on June 30. Voting result was 45 in favor, 32 against the > Bill (1 abstention + the President), from a total of 89 senators. > > The Bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it can be amended > or even rejected. If amended, it must come back to the Senate for another > round of discussion and voting. Forecast is that it might take up to 3 > months for the matter to return to the Senate. *But recent press coverage > indicates that things might be expedited in the House in a response to > Bolsonaro's announced willingness to veto some parts of the project that > might affect "freedom of expression".* If finally approved by the Senate, > it must be sanctioned by the President, who can interpose his veto to > specific parts of the text. So we still have many opportunities to fight > for a much better version of the Bill. > > Some important highlights on the version that has been approved, both > positive and negative ones: > > > - End-to-end encryption was recognized as legal. But traceability > through "forwarding metadata" was kept, and this was the hardest fight > so far. Several organizations are threatening to take the matter to the > Supreme Court, because of the threat to privacy. > - Facial recognition was not inserted as means to identify users (as > promised by the Rapporteur the weekend before the vote). Providers are > required to develop measures to "identify users" accused of "inauthentic > behavior". Collection of phone numbers is not mandatory anymore. The > Bill now states that "those apps that rely on phone numbers to function are > obliged to suspend services to those phone lines that are cancelled by the > operator". > - A last-minute copyright rule was suppressed from the Bill in the > final round of deliberations. > - Data localization was suppressed from the Bill. A CLOUD Act-inspired rule > was adopted to oblige companies to provide access from Brazil to data > stored abroad. > - Mandatory arbitration for Terms of Service was suppressed. The > Intermediary Liability regime from the “Marco Civil” stands untouched. But > complicated rules related to authorization for providers to remove content > immediately remain, in cases of "harmful consequences, information security > or user security, threats to the functionality of the service, hate speech, > child pornography, support to suicide and self-mutilation", "defamation and > slander" against politicians, trademarks, individuals and legal entities, > as well as "content that lead to error or confusion, including through deep > fakes" (which is very broad). There is a need to ensure that all those > reached by the content are also reached by a 'right of reply' in cases of > defamation and slander. > - The issue of TCP/IP ports in CG-NATed connections still remains. > > We thank the support from other Chapters to the statements we published. > They were collected here > <https://isoc.org.br/noticia/capitulos-da-isoc-apoiam-nota-tecnica-da-isoc-b…> > and also resonated on Twitter. > > for ISOC-BR > > Flavio Wagner, chair > > > -- > Governance mailing list > Governance(a)lists.igcaucus.org > https://lists.igcaucus.org/mailman/listinfo/governance >

3 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Designing off-grid power systems

by Michael J. Oghia

Hi everyone, I came across this short guide to designing off-grid power systems on Reddit, and I figured it may be relevant. It's not extensive or detailed, but I found it helpful: https://traverseda.github.io/lessons/offgridPower.md.html Best, -Michael

3 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PL 2630 in Brazil

by Carlos Afonso

Dear people, as some of you probably know, the Brazilian Congress is discussing a crucial bill of law on fake news. A version of the bill has been approved by the Senate (where the proposal originated) and is now under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies. Below is a precise review of the situation, by Flavio Wagner, chair of the Brazilian chapter of Internet Society. Flavio refers to the statement on the bill of law published by the Brazilian chapter, which can be read here in Portuguese and English: https://isoc.org.br/noticia/capitulos-da-isoc-apoiam-nota-tecnica-da-isoc-b… fraternal regards --c.a. ============================= This is a brief report on the recent developments in the Brazilian Congress regarding the Bill on Fake News. Despite strong opposition from civil society organizations and tech companies, which asked for a postponing of the voting so that a more informed discussion could take place, the Bill has been voted and approved by the Senate on June 30. Voting result was 45 in favor, 32 against the Bill (1 abstention + the President), from a total of 89 senators. The Bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it can be amended or even rejected. If amended, it must come back to the Senate for another round of discussion and voting. Forecast is that it might take up to 3 months for the matter to return to the Senate. *But recent press coverage indicates that things might be expedited in the House in a response to Bolsonaro's announced willingness to veto some parts of the project that might affect "freedom of expression"_._* If finally approved by the Senate, it must be sanctioned by the President, who can interpose his veto to specific parts of the text. So we still have many opportunities to fight for a much better version of the Bill. Some important highlights on the version that has been approved, both positive and negative ones: * End-to-end encryption was recognized as legal. But traceability through "forwarding metadata" was kept, and this was the hardest fight so far. Several organizations are threatening to take the matter to the Supreme Court, because of the threat to privacy. * Facial recognition was not inserted as means to identify users(as promised by the Rapporteur the weekend before the vote). Providers are required to develop measures to "identify users" accused of "inauthentic behavior". Collection of phone numbersis not mandatory anymore. The Bill now states that "those apps that rely on phone numbers to function are obliged to suspend services to those phone lines that are cancelled by the operator". * A last-minute copyright rule was suppressed from the Billin the final round of deliberations. * Data localization was suppressed from the Bill. A CLOUD Act-inspired rule was adopted to oblige companies to provide access from Brazil to data stored abroad. * Mandatory arbitration for Terms of Service was suppressed.**The Intermediary Liability regime from the “Marco Civil” stands untouched. But complicated rules related to authorization for providers to remove content immediately remain, in cases of "harmful consequences, information security or user security, threats to the functionality of the service, hate speech, child pornography, support to suicide and self-mutilation", "defamation and slander" against politicians, trademarks, individuals and legal entities, as well as "content that lead to error or confusion, including through deep fakes" (which is very broad). There is a need to ensure that all those reached by the content are also reached by a 'right of reply' in cases of defamation and slander. * The issue of TCP/IP ports in CG-NATed connections still remains. We thank the support from other Chapters to the statements we published. They were collected here <https://isoc.org.br/noticia/capitulos-da-isoc-apoiam-nota-tecnica-da-isoc-b…>and also resonated on Twitter. Flávio

3 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

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