Dear all,

 

Just a brief report on the excellent discussion we had at RightsCon.

 

The session was very good and we had very interesting exchanges and comments from participants. The meeting we had after the session was really excellent, we progressed a lot with regard to the type of document we want to develop as DC3 annual outcome and, as a cherry on top, the meeting was perfectly gender balanced.

 

First we agreed to avoid using the term “Model Policy” for our outcome but to rather call it Policy Proposal to signify that we are not being prescriptive but we are simply putting forward suggestions for proper CN policies.

 

The target audience for the outcome are regulators and our aim should be to offer useful information. In this spirit, we agreed to build a threefold outcome document, including

1)    A brief introductory session on CNs and their core elements. For this purpose, we could utilise a brief 2-page text that Steve and Carlos prepared for WSIS.

2)    The CN Policy Proposal that should be reworked including an introduction explaining that the aim of the proposal is to offer a set of core (and non-exhaustive) elements as policy suggestions to regulators willing to consider CNs and that such elements should ALWAYS be discussed as a first step with local CN representatives, to understand the specificities of such elements in the local context and obtain feedback on the proposed elements, etc

3)    A final part calling for further research in specific areas, while already referencing existing literature and good practices that should be considered by regulators

 

We identified 4 macro areas that we could explore in 4 webinars over the next months, ahead of the IGF, so that we can consolidate them into the final section of the outcome document:

-       Access to infrastructure including spectrum

-       Licensing, fees and compliance

-       Taxation and funding

-       Fundamental rights

 

To facilitate the webinar, Kira has agreed to utilise her podcast organising a series of 4 webinars dedicated to the abovementioned areas (to be called “Rights to the network” or something along these lines). Steve and I have volunteered to be the curators of the first and last webinar respectively. I have not noted in my notes other volunteers so there are still two webinar left open in case you are interested in being a curator: be my guests!

 

The DC3 session will be therefore largely dedicated to the presentation and debate of the outcome document, to have further feedback. We can print copies of the document to present them at the IGF but the goal is to use the outcome doc as a working document that could be updated in the future and is not cast in stone

 

All comments are more than welcome!

 

All the best

Luca