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

Sorry for auto fill from my tablet ...but I think the points get through... I would be happy to write up a paper for the group. .. if you send me your points to add ...the approach I would take is advocacy with special reference to cost effective eGovernment rollout... Regards Amali De Silva-Mitchell Ps CN and Access are my passion. ..I am a CPA ..accountant during the day time😊 On Sun, 31 May 2020 14:53 Amali De Silva - Mitchell, < gphlilanthi(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: > Dear Group > > For a joint group submission here are my points that are noted here, > independent to my own submission to ITU. > > CN supports eGovernment hencephalitis in the interest of governments to > support it at low cost. The Canadian Government donated 5 million dollars > to my organization while I was President of VCN to support the non profits > for Vancouver websites, train elderly, teach unemployed youth IT skills and > provide internet access to low income families with our partnership with > the public library. It was and continues to be successful. > > Information and content dissemination are also important for government. > Using a LAN the data could be even mailed back and forth and then uploaded > / hosted on the LAN. This could be via a weekly update for instance. This > follows to my point noted to ITU to use LANs..as a first step. The > GUI...must be simple to support old or cheaper technology. Good Human > Computer interface is key. > > Using hand me down hardware is cost effective and nonprofits can easily > put together programs to deal with this. > > As more and more service are electronic it is imporant id's don't loose > out on technology skills growing up and havery the great access to online > edu cation all tools. Finding funding to get these smaller areas set up > can be faster and an interim step while waiting for broadband to manifest. > This is for area without wireless. I have hears of mobile wireless > stations even on boats and these should be made use off as well as the new > balloon wireless stations that work well under cloud cover. There is also > the technology from Uni of Edinburgh that uses light less wireless cable > ..i.e through air 😊 transmission etc... > > ITU should challenge new CN technology development through the UN AI for > Good Conference. Alook have Web portal with lots of examples of CN to > advocate the good works done. All SDG s should be covered through CNs. > > CN is for everybody ...even a business group is a CN ... and perhaps > encourage businesses within remote areas to host some users for a fee > through the municipality. .. > > Land locked countries can do well with mobile transmission towers as > will small island nations. > > These are a few points as CN practitioner of several years. ... > > Universal Access ! > > Regards Amali De Silva-Mitchell > > On Sun, 31 May 2020 10:45 Amali De Silva - Mitchell, < > gphlilanthi(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: > >> Thank you for your response ... >> >> A question please, my involvement with CN has been from an economic >> perspective..and not technical... >> >> Could LANs.. be established in rural areas first and then when funding >> available connect to the major networks ? This is what I suggested in my >> submission. ..if this is possible then perhaps older hardware can be >> handed down too through NGOs...I also think that eGovt services should be >> provided so that access by a dial up user can be effective. ..old phone >> lines still exist ... >> >> Regards >> Amali De Silva-Mitchell >> Former CS WSIS, former President Vancouver Community Network a non >> profit ISP. .. >> >> >> >> On Fri, 29 May 2020 01:07 Carlos, &lt;carlos(a)apc.org&gt; wrote: >> >>> Hi AmalI, >>> >>> The G20 mentioned CNs indeed in its "COVID-19 Response Statement from >>> the G20 Virtual Ministerial Meeting" as one of the means to expand >>> connectivity “Furthermore, digital capacities should be expanded, in >>> particular by increasing broadband connectivity using fixed, mobile, and >>> satellite technologies and by exploring non-traditional means of >>> connectivity, such as community networks.” >>> >>> >>> https://g20.org/en/media/Documents/G20%20DETF%20COVID-19%20Ministerial%20St… >>> >>> Policy makers are going sufficiently slow about CNs in most countries. >>> If at all, I see the interest of the ITU contributing to speed up things. >>> It's obviously voluntary for everyone to participate in this process, but >>> the process is taking place regardless, and either we contribute or the >>> likes of the GSMA, Viasat and Telefonica will contribute with their own >>> definitions of community networks which are very far from the ones that >>> have been considered here. In that case, is not only that the ITU may >>> influence policy makers, is that is will influence them with the wrong >>> evidence. >>> >>> Here an example of the interpretation of what community involvement >>> means for GSMA and one of its members >>> >>> >>> https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GSMA-C… >>> >>> >>> https://techcentral.co.za/vodacom-to-pay-community-members-to-protect-its-b… >>> >>> best, >>> >>> carlos >>> On 28/5/20 21:07, Raoul Plommer wrote: >>> >>> We need to work with ITU, if we want changes like free spectrum to >>> break through internationally. However, I totally agree that we need to be >>> very careful what power we give them in advising them. >>> >>> -Raoul >>> >>> On Thu, 28 May 2020 at 16:46, sivasubramanian muthusamy < >>> 6.internet(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: >>> >>>> It is good to keep the ITU informed, but this can't lead to a >>>> situation where ITU gains total legitimacy over all policy related to >>>> community networks, which might place the ITU in a position to influence >>>> all decisions, some of which might cause the policy makers to go slow on >>>> Community Networks... (Sorry, I find it difficult to trust the influences >>>> weighing in on ITU) >>>> >>>> On Thu, May 28, 2020, 19:10 gphlilanthi &lt;gphlilanthi(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: >>>> >>>>> 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 &lt;carlos(a)apc.org&gt; >>>>> Date: 27/05/2020 22:20 (GMT-08:00) >>>>> To: dc3 &lt;dc3(a)listas.altermundi.net&gt; >>>>> 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 >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> DC3 mailing list >>>>> DC3(a)listas.altermundi.net >>>>> https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3 >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> DC3 mailing list >>>> DC3(a)listas.altermundi.net >>>> https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3 >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> DC3 mailing listDC3@listas.altermundi.nethttps://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3 >>> >>> -- >>> Carlos Rey-Moreno, PhD >>> Local Access Policy and Regulation Coordinator >>> Association for Progressive Communicationshttps://www.apc.org/en/project/connecting-unconnected-support… >>> 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 >>> >>