ICTs and Civil Society Joint Presentation by Civil Society

1
ICTs and Civil Society
Joint Presentation by Civil Society
Organizations in the 1st National ICT
Conference April 25-26, 2006 Kabul-Afghanistan
Nai
2
What do we mean by ICTs?

• Information and Communication Technologies means
  all technologies used for communication and
  information purposes
• Media such as radio, TV and Internet are also
  ICTs and play a crucial role in the development
  of a country and the emergence or not of an open
  and democratic society.

3
What do we mean by Civil Society?

• People, institutions, organizations, and
  individuals who are not part of the business or
  government sectors.

4
Civil Society Organizations mission

• People associate voluntarily to advance common
  interests
• A civil society exists when people may reach
  their lifes fulfillment, under a formalized
  constitutional authority, set into motion by
  those very same people, and totally responsible
  to them while governing. The third sector is the
  vehicle through which a civil society develops.

5
Who are CSOs?

• Hujras, Jirgas (Shura)
• Formal and informal community-based organizations
• Social welfare organizations
• Social and cultural organizations
• Non-governmental organizations
• Associations
• Professional unions
• Emergency response organizations
• Religious and political institutions and groups.

6
Key Issues

• Engagement in National ICT Policies, the third
  sector is the end user or potential loser of ICT
  policies
• Localization/local content
• Lack of access for marginalized people
  particularly women and geographically isolated
  groups
• Freedom of expression and ICT
• Limited ICT use and resources for CSOs.

7
ICTs Role in Civil Society

• To strengthen the capacity of civil society
  organizations
• To increase citizens participation (e-governance)
• To improve the quantity and quality of
  information available particularly to
  geographically isolated people
• To enhance communication between the public,
  private and civil society sectors.

8
Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society
(I-PACS)
Reaching out to the country
Presented by Halim Fidai Media and
Communications Program Coordinator Counterpart
International April 25-26, 2006 1st National ICT
Conference Kabul-Afghanistan
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I-PACS History

• Counterpart International
• In Afghanistan - January 03, 2005 Jan 2008
• Funding 15.5 million
• I-PACS leading USAID funded program

10
I-PACS Partnership Model(Working together to
make a difference)

• United States Agency for International
  Development
• Counterpart International
• Intermediary Service Organizations (ISOs)
• Civil Society Support Centers (CSSCs)
• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
• International Partners
• International Center for Not-for-profit Law
  (ICNL)
• Creative Associates International

11
I-PACS Geographic Coverage
AWEC/ACSF
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I-PACS Goal
To increase the role and viability of civil
society in Afghanistan.
13
I-PACS Program Overview

• Four objectives
• Ensure informed public policy and equitable
  resource allocation decisions concerning civil
  society and CSO development in Afghanistan. Civil
  Society Assessment
• Assist in the development and enforcement of a
  comprehensive legal framework that strengthens
  the CSO sector. NGO Law
• Build the capacity of CSOs to design, implement,
  manage, monitor and evaluate their activities
  effectively, and achieve organizational
  objectives, all with transparency and
  accountability. Capacity Building
• Provide funding to CSOs to implement community
  development and advocacy projects. Grants
• Gender and Media

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Media and Communication

• Employing Non-traditional Information Mechanisms
• Media Trainings to NGOs
• Organizing Roundtables for NGOs
• Technical Assistance

15
Opportunities for ICT Development

• Capacity building
• Limited resources
• Communications constraints
• Huge contribution to the development
• Positive relationship with central and provincial
  Government
• Credibility
• Radio is the media of choice.

16
Recommendations

• Foster positive partnerships
• Examine the use of internet in facilitating
  democratic processes such as transparency,
  citizens participation, accountability, and
  access by all
• Integrate gender in policy regulation,
  legislation and infrastructure development
• All communication and media initiatives need to
  be especially sensitive to the needs and demands
  of women and, by extension, family
• Women constitute 62 of the population and are
  active media users.

17
Thank You
18
Civil society and ICT development ICTs and
development in Afghanistan

• Agathe Dalisson Internews

19
Definition of ICTs

• Information and Communication Technologies.
• All technologies used for communication and
  information purposes. People too often limit them
  to Telecom and Computers. Media such as radio, TV
  and Internet are ICTs and play a crucial role in
  the development of a country and the emergence or
  not of an open and democratic society.

20
Overview of civil society involvement in ICT
development since 2001

• Since the fall of the Talibans, millions of
  dollars have been invested by international
  donors for the development of ICTs in
  Afghanistan.
• ICT projects and orgs working in this field since
  2001
• Aina with 8 media and culture centers in
  provinces, support for news publications, video
  production and training, educational mobile
  cinemas, a school of photojournalism, a women
  radio station and an advertising and
  communications agency.
• DHSA with the Kilid group
• Equal access and radio Danesh
• FCCS with the OMFA

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• IMPACS and 4 women radio stations
• Internews with 31 radio stations across the
  country and GIPI
• IWPR with training, online news and research
• Nai with training and support to local radio
  stations
• Pajwak with online news
• Sayara and internet access in provincial
  universities as well as campus radios
• UNESCO with 10 Community Multi-Media Centres to
  come

22
Why has radio been a preferred tool and what has
been its primary role?

• Radio has been the main educational and public
  awareness tool since the fall of the Taliban.
  Through radios, the Afghan government and
  international community have spread messages
  about
• Elections
• Public health (family planning, bird flu)
• Provincial councils
• DDR disarmament
• Alternative livelihoods
• Counter-narcotics
• Domestic violence awareness
• Educational material, long distance learning
• Children's educational shows

23
Impact of local radio development on the
development of Afghanistan and its society (Altai
findings, March 2005)

• To various degrees, the local independent radio
  stations are proving to be an effective tool in
  reaching under-served communities by providing
  understandable programs fostering interaction
  between media and the community and offering
  on-the-job training to a new generation of media
  professionals.
• The local stations are very popular in their
  coverage areas (with an average 80 with
  knowledge of the stations and 79 of listenership
  among surveyed listeners). Overall there are
  positive signs of integration in the communities.
  31 of respondents know who manages the station
  and 29 have already called or sent a letter.

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• Most Afghans living in areas where there is media
  coverage are intensive media users They listen
  to radio frequently, and for long periods of
  time. 83 own a radio 37 a TV and 6 use the
  Internet. TV usage is limited by expense of the
  sets, and lack of electricity.
• Radio has a predominant role in the country, with
  very high ownership of radios and usage rates.
  Radio is accessible and affordable, and most
  often easily understood even by the illiterate.
• Media usage is sophisticated information sources
  are chosen according to content, which is then
  cross-checked with other sources.

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• Before I started listening to the radio, I used
  to be a very conservative person. For example, I
  forced my sister to marry a man she did not know.
  Since then, I have changed and I will let my
  daughter marry the person of her choice.
  Saidullah, 38, shopkeeper
• Stations have on average reached a high level of
  trust. They benefit from the general trust in
  media, and especially in local media that was
  observed through the different phases of
  research. That said, trust should not be taken
  for granted, as mistakes are not easily
  forgotten.
• Media are trusted more than other sources of
  information. Traditional sources are still used,
  playing complementary roles and often relaying
  information obtained from the media.

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• Media has a very positive image it is seen as a
  source of education and progress throughout the
  country.
• Sensitive topics can and are expected to be
  discussed in media, but in the proper way and by
  the right persons.
• Media are expected to be a tool for progress in
  society. They are doing so, in the first place,
  by providing people a place to discuss their
  problems.
• Media are a primary source of education for
  women, who have specific and high expectations.

27

• Women listen to the radio while doing other
  things, and they CAN turn on the radio and choose
  which station to listen to. However they
  generally defer to men when men are home. 86 of
  men think radio is appropriate for women to
  listen to, although there are regional
  differences in this response.
• No major cultural barriers to media consumption
  were observed, with the exception of the most
  conservative areas were television was sometimes
  criticized, as being non-Muslim.
• Commercials are welcomed, bringing information
  about available products and prices. Since most
  Afghan consumers are not familiar with many
  brands, an empty space is available to the main
  advertisers (Mobile Phone providers, Tea).

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• Locally-based news and other programs (culture,
  music, and announcements) are listened to on
  local stations. National news is listened to on
  Radio Afghanistan, and international news on the
  BBC, and to a lesser extent, on Azadi.
• Mullahs are not generally consulted outside
  religious topics and in some places are seen more
  as a public servant than a community lead
• We discussed the ban on poppy growing a lot
  among farmers. Some of us heard on the radio that
  it is contrary to Islam and that the Prophet
  condemns the cultivation as well as the use of
  drugs. Therefore, we decided to stop, but now we
  know our economic situation is uncertain. Saïd,
  39, farmer, Nangarhar

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Importance of government acceptance to include
civil society in policy making and ICT
development

• The AF gov has been extremely open and supportive
  of NGO work to develop ICTs in the country.
• We wish to see this collaboration continue.

30
Recommendations to the AF government for ICT
development

• Working with international donors to ensure
  continued support to local independent media and
  make sure support to governmental media does not
  harm community or local networks.
• Giving priority to locally driven initiatives in
  media development, including community radios,
  for them to continue working on an equality foot
  with other networks, including ISAF or foreign
  services.

31
Thank You
32
Nai as Media organization, ICTs and CSOs

• By Mujeeb Khalvatgar Nai executive director

33
What is Nai ?

• Nai is an Afghan open media supporting
  organization which is established in 2004 and
  started its operational activities on 13 10 2005
• The main idea of having an organization by the
  name of Nai was that to improve freedom of
  expression and speech as well as improving open
  media and through it increasing information and
  knowledge of civil society.

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Nai and Aims for having Nai

• Increasing professionalism in media sector
• Increasing the idea of existing open and
  independent media
• Supporting the existing independent media
• Building media out lets capacity in general

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Does Nai meet the goal it has established for?

• By having some discussion through radio and TV
  toke out the fear from the people mind that it is
  possible to speak on some issues that people
  thought it is impossible to speak on it.
• And also business section of Independent radio
  stations across the country effected through
  business development workshops which is being
  conducted by Nai since 13 10 2005.

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Nais on going activities

• Training project
• Media Watch
• Show games
• Radio Sada e Haqiqat

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Training project

• The main important project of Nai is training
  project which is called Developing the Media
  sector in Afghanistan and being funded by EC
  European Commission and this projects is going on
  by the partner ship of Internews Europe which is
  based in France.
• In training project Nai is conducting 1 to 2
  weeks workshops for media professional from
  across the countrys media outlets
• The trainings are ranged from computer and
  English and Pashto languages to journalism,
  business development, management, human rights,
  and gender. Family planning, mental health and
  drug events reporting.
• Form the beginning of this project until now Nai
  trained more then 1400 media professionals in
  various mentioned subjects.
• Beside the workshops is being conducted in Nai
  training center in Kabul Nai is conducting in
  house training in radio stations in the
  provinces.
• In house training is focusing more on practical
  aspect of journalism which is required for radio
  professionals.
• The workshops are running by National and
  international professional trainers.
• Since 13 10 2005 Nai has conducted 96 workshops
  in Kabul and more then 20 workshops in provinces.

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Media Watch Monthly News letter

• This project is focusing on issues which is
  relevant to the media, media outlets and media
  professionals.
• The sections of Media Watch is getting news from
  various sources and working on it and then
  release it for more then 1500 media outlets and
  professionals nationally and internationally.
• One of the main effect of Media Watch is that
  Ministry of defense and Ministry of Interior
  decided to have a press officer in each province
  and also Ministry of interior decided to have a
  spoke person when the media watch released a
  report about the problems of journalists for
  finding sources from ministry of defense and
  ministry of interior as well ministry of public
  health.
• Recent mentioned ministry (public health) after
  three months appointed a person as spokes person
  for this ministry.
• Media Watch is also releasing press releases on
  the specific event relevant to the media and show
  it rule as a supporting section for media in the
  country.

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Capacity building and technical supports to Radio
Sada e Haqiqat

• This project is funded by the Danish embassy in
  Kabul and aimed to build the capacity of the
  radio technically and professionally.
• The project is for six months and started at 15
  Jan 2006
• In this project Nai is also supporting
  financially the Radio and pay some of its staff
  for six months.

40
Show games

• this project which is conducting show games in
  Radio stations in provinces and by conducting
  this quiz or show games distributing radio sets
  as a price for those people who are wining the
  quiz.
• This project is funded by the USAID and aimed
  increasing the audience of local radios and also
  gives the chance to people to speak through radio
  and express their feeling when they are wining
  and game or competition.

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Other activities

• Nai also has a very good and close relation ship
  with 35 local independent radio station which is
  established by Internews and working with these
  radios very closely and solving their problems if
  they faced with.

42
Planning and future perspective

• Nai is planning to have some other projects for
  supporting radios and also other media outlets.
• The main plans are to establish a radio
  association and also to make a bogglers
  association.
• The other plans are to connect out seas Afghans
  to the local radios through internet or any kind
  of ways we can.
• The World Bank also likes to have a join project
  with Nai for Afghan media professionals to train
  them in economical issues reporting.

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Conclusion

• By these kind of activities Nai is doing, this
  idea is growing up that this organization is
  doing a kind of information spreading and also
  pave the ground for all people in the country to
  access to the information and also pave the
  ground for this idea that people has their own
  rights and it is people that has the rights to
  make any kind of decision and take and also
  spreading out the idea of civil society and also
  saying the importance of Information and
  communication technology
• Although the people now a days getting the idea
  of how important the Information and
  communication technology is but Nai is doing more
  to increase the information of ICT importance in
  the country.

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Not only Nai

• Mention able that it is not just Nai that works
  for media development in the country there are a
  lot of Afghan NGOs like Nai that are working in
  this field and got their organizations in the
  stage where we are now.
• We can name IWPR, CIJ, SAYARA, PAZHWAK and so on.
  

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Recommendations

• Recognize freedom of expression
• Work for freedom of speech to be in fundamental
  values
• Increasing the trust on media among the civil
  society

46
Thank You
47
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????????? Global Internet Policy Initiative -
Afghanistan
????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ??
????????? Promoting Internet Policy and
Regulatory Reform in Afghanistan
By Javid Hamdard Country Coordinator GIPI-AF
www.gipi.net.af
48
What is GIPI ?

• Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI) works in
  developing countries to promote the adoption of
  legal and regulatory frameworks that will support
  the growth of an open, affordable and
  user-controlled Internet an Internet that can
  drive economic growth and advance human
  development. GIPI's local policy coordinators are
  working in 15 countries to convene dialogue and
  build informed consensus among all stakeholders,
  providing objective expertise on policy issues,
  commenting on draft legislation, and assisting
  policymakers and civil society in achieving a
  better understanding of the legal environment
  needed for the Internet to develop.
• GIPI Concept and Principles
• The Global Internet Policy Initiative addresses a
  key issue of the decade Who will control the
  Internet? GIPI works in developing countries and
  in Afghanistan to support the adoption of legal
  frameworks that will enable the development of a
  decentralized, open, market-driven and
  user-controlled Internet. GIPI operates through
  the following activities

GIPI-AF 2006
49
GIPI Concept and Principles

• Consultative, coalition-based efforts,
  country-by-country, to identify legal and
  regulatory barriers to Internet development and
  opportunities for policy reform.
• On-the-ground engagement through local GIPI
  coordinators experts skilled in policy and
  coalition-building, backed up by Internet policy
  experts at Political Intelligence and Institute
  of Information Law.
• Working with local partners to establish ongoing
  working groups with key stakeholders
  (Internet-related businesses, telecommunications
  service providers, NGOs, government officials,
  and foreign experts) to develop consensus for
  policy reforms.
• Conducting educational seminars on Internet
  policy for government officials, the private
  sector and non-profits.
• Reviewing and commenting upon local policy
  proposals and providing other assistance to local
  policy initiatives.
• Facilitating opportunities, dialogue and
  negotiation, seeking coalitions and consensus
  around an open, competitive, user-controlled,
  non-regulated Internet, and interacting with
  European stakeholders and policymakers at the EU
  and national levels.
• Working with international development
  initiatives in support of open Internet
  principles.

GIPI-AF 2006
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GIPI-Afghanistan

• Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI) in
  Afghanistan (GIPI-AF) is a joint project of
  Internews Europe (France), the Institute for
  Information Law, University of Amsterdam
  (Netherlands), Political Intelligence (Belgium),
  and the Afghan Computer Science Association
  (Afghanistan). 90 of the project is financed by
  the Asia ITC program of Europe Aid (European
  Commission) under the name of (Promoting Internet
  Policy and Regulatory reform in Afghanistan).
• The GIPI Approach
• GIPI works at the local level, country-by-country,
  to develop and advocate Internet policy reform,
  based on rule of law, transparency, democratic
  principles and market-based solutions.
• While the specifics vary in response to local
  conditions, we usually aim to create
  opportunities for dialogue and discussions
  involving all stakeholders - ISPs, content
  providers, telecommunications and wireless
  service providers, NGOs, universities, government
  officials, and foreign investors.

GIPI-AF 2006
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GIPI-AF Activities

• Laws Related Activity Areas
• E-commerce (recognition of electronic contracts,
  digital signatures, tax breaks)
• Creation of a competitive telecom service market
• Intellectual property protection
• Unmet red local phone calls for internet access
• Minimal ISP regulation taxation
• Minimal regulation of distribution access to
  content (incl spam control)
• Balanced privacy protection legislation
• Reduced taxes on computer hardware, software,
  literature, courses
• E-governance, e-government
• Balanced cyber crime legislation
• VoIP legalizations
• Creation of "National ICT Policy" /or "State ICT
  Coordinating Council"

GIPI-AF 2006
52
VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• What is VoIP?
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)also known
  as Internet telephony is becoming a key driver
  in the evolution of voice communications. It is
  sometimes referred to as the future of
  communications.
• VoIP technology is useful not only for phones,
  but also as a broad application platform that
  enables voice interactions on devices such as
  desktop computers, mobile devices, set-top boxes,
  gateways.
• This valuable phenomenon is yet an unclear
  territory in the legal and regulatory framework
  of telecommunications in Afghanistan.

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• What is GIPI doing?
• GIPI Afghanistan organized a seminar April 20,
  bringing different players to the table for a
  candid discussion on the topic of VoIP
  legalizations. Attendees included international
  experts, government officials and ISP
  representatives.
• The new telecommunications law and
  Internet/telecom policy of Afghanistan does not
  mention any VoIP legalization or regulation.
• Furthermore, the Afghanistan Telecommunications
  Regulatory Authority (TRB previously) has banned
  this service in the ISPs licenses, meaning ISPs
  can not sell this service to the end user
  (ordinary consumers).

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• What is the role of GSM operators in VoIP
  in Afghanistan?
• GSM operators (AWCC and Roshan) are using VoIP
  technology for backhaul network connectivity from
  the beginning of their operation in 2001 . But
  There is no benefit to the end user, or ORDINARY
  CONSUMERS.
• The GSM operators, due to their commercial power,
  have a strong influence on the regulatory regime
  of the telecommunications sector in Afghanistan.
• GIPI believes that this monopoly should end as
  soon as possible.
• As far as the Quality of Service (QoS) and other
  things are concerned, let the user to choose what
  is good for him/her, and after all if the
  regulator aim to bring healthy competition and
  quality and quantity telecommunications service
  to every afghan as mentioned in an article of
  the telecom law, so there cant be a better
  opportunity then legalizing VoIP.

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• GIPI-AFs advocacy is for a definition of VoIP in
  which the end user has to take advantage of many
  benefits of this technology.
• In other words, there should be no discrimination
  for the provision of public service to any
  stakeholder in the telecom sector.
• The Regulator should be playing a mediators role
  between the stakeholders in terms of facilitating
  the stakeholder to sit for discussions, debates,
  and solution findings for the existing problems
  in a way which should be for the mutual interest
  of all the stakeholders and at last mile for the
  benefit of ordinary consumers of the services.
  Rather then turning its back and favoring only
  one particular community or stakeholder which is
  against all national laws and policies which
  mentions provision of none discriminatory public
  services for example (continue)

GIPI-AF 2006
56
VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• The National Constitution
• Chapter 1 State, Article 10th The state shall
  encourage, protect as well as ensure the safety
  of capital investment and private enterprises in
  accordance with the provisions of the law and
  market economy.
• Chapter 10, Article 17th Freedom and
  confidentiality of correspondence, as well as
  communications of, individuals, whether in the
  form of a letter or via telephone, telegraph, as
  well as other means, shall be secure from
  intrusion. The state shall not have the right to
  inspect personal correspondence and
  communications, unless authorized by provisions
  of the law.

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• The Telecom Law has been enacted in
  pursuant of these articles of the national
  Constitution
• Telecom Law, Chapter 1, General
  Provisions,
• Article 2 Purpose
• The purpose of this Law is
• To provide further access to Telecom Services to
  the public throughout the country
• To promote non-discriminatory entry of Service
  Providers and Operators to the market
• To strengthen telecom markets in order to promote
  the quantity and quality of their services in the
  country
• To encourage technology that meets the needs of
  users and competitors and to prevent abuse of
  Significant Market Power by Telecom Service
  Providers and Operators.

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• Income Tax Law
• Chapter 6, Article 65 (Rates of Business
  Receipts Tax)
• (2) Taxable services mentioned in sub-paragraph
  (1) 6 of the Article are guest house and hotel
  services, restaurant services, telecommunications
  services and airline services.
• Ten percent of the income derived from the
  service provided by a legal or natural person
  which is 100,000 Afghanis or more per month in
  accordance with rulings issued by the ministry of
  finance
• The national income tax law treats the providers
  of all telecommunication services in the same
  way, and expects them to pay the income taxes
  without discrimination of service.

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• Government response Good news
• During the recent GIPI seminar, MoC
  representative (Aimal Marjan), who was talking on
  behalf of Minister of Communications, said
• Unlike before, the telecom market is
  mature enough that the government (MoC,
  regulator) can think and reconsider VoIP
  legalization for every one.
• The Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulator
  Authority (ATRA) has already received H.E.
  minister of communications instructions for
  doing such survey and case studies, but we still
  need input and assistance from every one GIPI-AF,
  ISPs and any body else who is interested to
  provide us with best practices and case studies
  so we can decide how to regulate this service.

GIPI-AF 2006
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VoIP Legalization in AfghanistanRecent Case Study

• Outcomes of the GIPI seminar
• It was the first time in the history of
  telecommunications sector that representatives
  from different sectors with different
  perspectives and interests discussed the issue
  together.
• Seminar participants and speakers requested
  GIPI-AF to organize follow-up meetings and
  gathering regarding VoIP legalization in the
  future.

GIPI-AF 2006
61
Recommendationsto the Government and Regulators

• Transparency Regulatory and legislative
  processes should be transparent and open.
  Businesses and individuals should have ready
  access to all laws, regulations and judicial
  rulings, including draft laws and regulations,
  and access to government decision-making
  processes.
• Support for Entrepreneurship Business laws
  should support innovation, allowing small
  businesses and other start-ups to achieve legal
  status and pursue operations without delay. The
  law should reduce the risk of arbitrary
  government action and provide certainty, while
  allowing flexibility.
• Privatization and Competition Privatization and
  competition should be promoted to drive down
  prices, investments in the telecommunications
  sector ay any level should be promoted to spur
  the development of all services, including the
  Internet.

GIPI-AF 2006
62
Recommendationsto the Government and Regulators

• Non-discrimination All stake holders in the
  telecommunications market should have access to
  government services and facilities on a
  non-discriminatory basis and the regulator should
  assure this.
• Independent and Effective Regulators as
  mentioned in the Telecom Law the Regulatory
  authorities of the telecommunications sector
  should really be independent, and work for the
  interest of the general public by developing
  policies and regulations which are effective and
  feasible
• Price Reforms and Universal Service Telephone
  service pricing policies must reflect costs,
  encourage investment, and advance the principle
  of universal service.

GIPI-AF 2006
63
Recommendationsto the Government and Regulators

• Training and Public Access The government
  should have a strong role in training technicians
  knowledgeable in telephony, networking, and
  programming, as well as ensuring that the broader
  population understands and has access to the
  ICTs.
• Taxes the government must eliminate/reduce taxes
  on computer hardware, software, literature,
  courses in order to promote access to computer
  literacy and ICTs among ordinary people
• Price Reforms and Universal Service Telephone
  service pricing policies must reflect costs,
  encourage investment, and advance the principle
  of universal service.

GIPI-AF 2006
64
Recommendationsto the Government and Regulators

• Licensing Licensing procedures and requirements
  should be made easy and not restrict market entry
  (The marketplace and ordinary business law are
  sufficient to protect consumers)
• Taxes the government must eliminate/reduce taxes
  on computer hardware, software, literature,
  courses in order to promote access to computer
  literacy and ICTs among ordinary people
• Price Reforms and Universal Service Telephone
  service pricing policies must reflect costs,
  encourage investment, and advance the principle
  of universal service.

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General Recommendations

• ICTs as Enabling Technologies all sectors should
  work for using the ICTs as enabling technologies
  to all fields of life, not as a restriction of
  educational and knowledge standard
• Local Contents all sectors in every field of
  life in Afghanistan associated to ICTs should
  coordinate their efforts and make ICTs available
  in local contents/languages to promote access to
  ICTs for every ordinary afghan, even if He/She
  does not speak English or other foreign languages
• We want our computer to talk to us in our own
  language
• Localization Project (ACSA)

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Thank You