Vecam

The digital divide : changing the focus

2002-10-28T16:15:39Z

Orientation of proposal

The digital divide must :
go beyond the issue of connectivity without neglecting it ;
be integrated in a global vision and not solely from the angle of developing countries, since it reproduces the timeworn patterns of assistance given to them ;
raise the question of uses : systems of consumption that obey the rules of capitalistic globalisation versus open systems that incorporate co-production in content and tools
be treated not simply from its commercial angle but as public property and thus be dealt with on a political level by all the actors concerned among which governments play a central role. Partnership between governments, companies and the non-profit sector, however positive such joint work is, must not be used as an excuse for withdrawal from public commitment ;
use the initiatives and orientations for proposals made by community networks in the same way as "the world partnership of community networks".

Context

Many bodies now exist, such as the G8 Dot force, the UN Task Force, the World Summit on the Information Society of the IUT, UNDP, etc. that all focus on the stakes involved by the digital divide. This approach raises several problems :
the dispersion of efforts between the different bodies ;
the concentration of reflection on connectivity rather than on content, training and cooperative practices of participation ;
the forever present commercial approach to solve the question ;
The reproduction of a traditional North-South vision. Indeed, the digital divide affects both North and South when examining further than the simple question of connectivity, although the latter obviously remains essential. When developing new uses for the Internet, the developing countries are just as inventive as the industrialised countries, once the question is not confined solely to equipment. This is a major breakthrough in itself, a North that no longer aids the South and a South that can aid the North : an opportunity that cannot be ignored.

Furthermore, the digital divide must be considered in its widest meaning as the difference that exists between users in their twofold capacity to access and contribute to the knowledge and meaning diffused on the Internet. Access to knowledge means drawing full benefit from the information diffused on the Internet and using it in line with one's culture, capacities, needs, interests and hopes. Contributing to knowledge means fully participating in sharing information by dialogue, and producing and diffusing one's own information and be capable of full participation in public debate.

Filling in this divide demands that policies and programmes must consider that technical access (infrastructures, private and community access points, hardware, software, basic user technical skills) is necessary but not enough. They must take into account the many economic, social, educational, linguistic, physical, cultural, religious, generational and gender barriers that prevent the user from accessing and contributing to the content conveyed and to their appropriate use. Programmes for generalised access must combine technical connectivity, basic technical training, vocational training and education, as well as the development of diverse, pertinent and enriching contents adapted to the interests and needs of varied audiences and publics. Access policies must avoid aiming only at individual access and privilege collective access at public places ; they must also avoid encouraging the passive consumption of commercial and public information. On the contrary, they must enhance and promote both individual and community participation and creativity in order to use the interactive potential provided by ICT as dynamically as possible in social, economic and cultural areas and democratic life as a whole.

The basic criteria of such an approach are to ensure that public access points are as diverse as possible, and encourage setting-up local and theme networks, adapted training courses, and varied contents.

Access programmes must be considered for the long term and be revised regularly by taking into account changes in technology and observing social and economic pertinence, needs, appropriate training and the costs required to make them endure in different socio-economic, geographic (urban/rural), generational and cultural contexts.

A coherent and substantial national policy of public service

2002-10-05T00:30:55Z

Proposal

• That every government should formulate a national policy, i.e. guidelines with objectives and resources, that considers access to the Internet and its content as a public communication service and thus as a public utility essential for both individuals and the community as a whole.

• That it therefore sets-up a framework of legislation and regulations related to effective programmes for generalised access and the control of ICTs, and public initiatives for diffusing information participative communication with the community.

• That legislation provides mechanisms for monitoring and control in which groups and associations from civil society participate on an equal basis to represent the public interest.

Permanent updating of definitions of essential services based on the real needs of the population

2002-10-05T00:29:50Z

Orientation of proposal

That definitions of essential services are both precise to define the rights and responsibilities of different social actors (government, the private sector, citizens) but flexible enough to adapt to technological and societal changes.

Thus the following should now be considered as essential services : access by the general public to the Internet and its related technology, adequate and continuous training to ensure it is used well and the guarantee of varied contents suited to the needs and hopes of different categories of the population.

The essential services should acknowledge that the public is not merely a recipient and consumer of information but also an actor and that policies and programmes should encourage and promote the production and diffusion of information and knowledge stemming from individuals and community groups.

That the regular updating of definitions and standards of essential services follows the progression of the needs of the population regarding information and communication services affecting economic, social, cultural and community life. That this study of needs is carried out by an organisation in which community groups participate and have equal standing.

Obligations of a service in the general interest for the public and private sectors

2002-10-05T00:28:15Z

Orientation of proposal

Although there is no longer any monopoly in supplying access to networks, the issue of fulfilling an obligation of public service remains in its entirety. Operators should provide universal access and tariff conditions that allow every citizen to access the Net. Apart for being a universal service, access should also be available for services in the general interest. A policy co-managed by the government and local authorities should be implemented to oblige cable operators to install a network covering the whole territory, which would eliminate geographic disparities. They should also provide the connections required for the development of community organisations and portals and be obliged to pay a small part of their revenues to help the development of these organisations.

Context

The harmful effects caused by the withdrawal of traditional operators from ensuring public services are clear (insufficient flows leading to additional costs for consumers, etc.). Today, this no longer an issue since most monopolies have been dismantled, at least theoretically (even though some of them hold almost exclusive positions), though sometimes to the detriment of public services. In conformity with the Treaty of Amsterdam, private operators are obliged to fulfil the role of public service provider, especially by providing universal access to the network. However, the Treaty covers neither the Internet nor mobile telephones. Universal access is the prerequisite for ensuring that as few people are excluded as possible. Although the supply of access is considered as a public service, it nonetheless raises the issue of investment in infrastructure, pricing for private investors and the consequences for the latter when they bid for entry into new markets (for example, local radio loops, ADSL). The Canadian law of 1991 on radio broadcasting could be used as the basis for the development of a non-profit Internet. This law, which sets out the "Canadian radio-broadcasting system" expressly stipulates that this system must be "composed of public, private and community elements" (article 3-1-b). It obliges the cable operator to not only provide community television channels but also to pay 2.5% of its net profits to them. Unfortunately, the law of 1998 modified this system, emptying it of its substance and thus making it unworkable, whereas it should have been extended to new media. Nonetheless, it remains a very good source of inspiration.

Recognising the role of service in the general interest played by community media

2002-10-05T00:26:39Z

Orientation of proposal

The community media sector should be recognised as an essential public service and as a vital element of pluralism and democratic life in the same way as economic and social development are. This sector should be considered as an actor in its own right in the "radio-TV-web diffusion" system at national and international levels and policies related to the sector should grant them adequate resources and finance to ensure their longevity.

Context

The media sector is one of the biggest battlegrounds of modern capitalism, and as such participates in the wholesale marketing of information and culture ; however, it is vital to preserve non-commercial media in which information does not go hand in hand with profitability.

Territorial development and equal access to infrastructures

2002-10-05T00:25:14Z

Orientation of proposal

Action is needed to prevent two speed services being made available to consumers. Inequalities should be quantified and action plans implemented to make that which is now available for privileged users available to everyone (permanent access, broadband for multimedia, etc.).

Context

There is a new hierarchy in Western countries between quality networks (broadband, reliable machines, etc.), i.e. between networks for the rich, in particular the scientific and business sectors and the major cities, and the traditional network, that of the poor. Even if many people would be happy to access a normal network and consider broadband and improved ergonomic design as subsidiary, care should be taken that this does not become a new source of inequality. This issue is especially important since service quality is often the condition that permits the creation of content rather than being a simple consumer.

Broadband, new stakes, a new solution

2002-10-05T00:23:51Z

Orientation for proposal

Permanent access and broadband involve the same stakes of access as traditional infrastructures. ADSL, WIFI, BLR and IPV6 tomorrow should be taken into account and efforts should be made to ensure that they do not become additional sources of inequality, between territories and professional and social categories. However, it appears increasingly that broadband will be reserved for urban areas and the rich. Regulations should be formulated in all countries where they do not already exist to permit the expansion of wifi, an inexpensive technology particular well adapted to local needs.

Context

The usual reaction is to assert that broadband is necessary for research and business and that traditional speeds are sufficient for the ordinary citizen and community networks. There is nothing innocent about this standpoint, since it reinforces a system that wants to reserve the action of creation for an elite. However, artists and community organisations, families and individuals, need to use multimedia applications : they can use them to aid problem children through artistic creation, permit illiterate populations and those with oral traditions to produce their own contents, implement co-production tools, help maintain family links for victims of diasporas, etc. All these activities require broadband.

Moreover the installation of broadband infrastructures should be done according to guidelines that give priority to the social ends mentioned above, via public consultation in which community interests are taken into account.

In particular, efforts should be made to encourage, support and publish initiatives from users and citizens networks at local level (municipalities, rural committees, urban districts) to define and own directly their own optical fibre broadband infrastructures. Joint ownership and "à la carte networks" exist in which the local architecture of local infrastructures, connections with Internet service providers and interconnections with similar independent networks are installed by community networks on the basis of their own needs. Systems exist that place community interests and hopes above those of telecom companies and service providers.

Many examples of this approach could be described as with the Canadian company, Canarie, with its "à la carte networks"and "black" fibre-optic cables. Regarding broadband in the United States, a recommendation has been made to create a regulatory framework to prevent the new conglomerates such as At & T and AOL Times Warner to censor contents and select the service providers that diffuse them.

Under equipped countries : setting up the development of infrastructures in a movement of international solidarity

2002-10-05T00:19:25Z

Orientation of proposal :

A plan for the development of telecommunications infrastructures in developing countries should be set up, starting with access to the telephone network. This development plan, designed as a programme of international solidarity, could be supported by a special fund.

The North could constitute these funds by using different mechanisms such as :
the fees collected from the operation by African countries of the switching infrastructures in the North during communications ;
a tax on the commercial activities related to new information technologies carried out by subsidiaries of companies in industrialised countries operating in developing countries.
not forgetting increased development aid in conformity with UN objectives.

The mechanisms used to manage the resources collected would be decided in collaboration with international civil society, in particular African. African governments and international civil society should attempt to revise the costs of Internet connections, which penalise developing countries. Programmes for setting up infrastructures for community access should be launched. The government, the private sector and civil society should play complementary roles in this process. Civil society could do more to defend universal access versus monopolistic positions and the liberal tenets that characterise the telecommunications sector.

Improve African integration in the governance of the Internet

2002-10-05T00:17:49Z

Orientation of proposal :

African countries and actors in ICTs should do more to improve the integration of Africa in the governance of the Internet. This integration can be accelerated by founding Afrinic, an African body responsible for managing IP addresses and domain names intended for Africa, thereby giving form to an "African territory" on the Internet. Another strategy would consist of increasing African participation in the management of Icann.

African countries should use lobbying to force the Internet Society to be multi-linguistic. A body such as the "Agence de la Francophonie" (French Language Agency) should set up permanent mechanisms to translate and update important texts produced in this area. African governments, the actors of civil society involved in ICTs and the promotion of the French language can play a significant role in this area.

Multiply the number of public access points, the result of a multiple partnership

2002-10-05T00:16:27Z

Orientation of proposal

The industrialised countries should install a network of public access points in public spaces, service premises and in public facilities already in existence (administrations, libraries, cultural centres, social centres, district facilities, community organisation premises, etc.).

Urban areas should be equipped with a public access point within a few hundred metres of the houses of each citizen and in neighbourhood public services (schools, town halls, post offices) in rural areas. This installation of a dense grid of public access points is totally dependent on cooperation between the public, private and non-profit sectors. The actors in the non-profit sector can either provide social premises naturally adapted to the installation of a public access point (association premises, telecentres, cultural centres, etc.), or support the creation of innovative contents and uses. Public and private actors should combine forces to finance these spaces, including in the most difficult areas (isolated rural areas, disadvantaged urban areas, etc.).

Context

Active policies carried out by certain authorities related to opening public access points have borne fruit. These experiments should now be extended and generalised. They constitute an initial lever in combating inequality vis-à-vis ICTs.

Community organisation access points, called telecentres in some countries (in Latin America) and community networks in others (in Anglo-Saxon countries), should be given recognition by the public authorities, in particular local ones. This recognition could take the form of concrete partnerships (the provision of municipal premises, specific budget envelopes in municipal budgets, priority access to broadband networks, etc.).

These access points fulfil a social function without equivalent :
they develop in disadvantaged districts and remote areas ;
they are most often intended for populations that are potentially the first victims of exclusion by technologies ;
they combine technological training with other functions (e.g., literacy, vocational training, initiation in the arts, sports activities, etc.) ;
they are strongly rooted in local life ;
they constitute places for developing new know-how.

Thus the fruit of their work should be acknowledged and encouraged in order to promote dissemination and interaction with other sectors of society.