PROMOTING EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION:

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PROMOTING EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION

• THE WAY FORWARD
• Presented by Albert Opoku Fokuo
• Computer Science Society of Valley View
  University (Accra)

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INTRODUCTION

• This paper examines the role of internet user
  community in Promoting Effective Participation an
  ICANN policy objective equalization of
  opportunities by, for and with persons in
  developing countries in the ICANN process.
• It will review and discuss issues and suggest
  the way forward from the perspective of the
  user community

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INTRODUCTION

• The recent increase in participation of the
  internet by Africans and also the decentralized
  nature of the internet characterized by open
  architecture, Has also presented a great deal of
  challenge as to the management and regulations of
  online activities.
• You would agree with us that the internet has
  influence in almost all aspects of human
  activities and life. Eg education, commerce,
  government etc, thus it can not be left unmanaged.

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INTRODUCTION

• The question is should the governments or
  private organization be left alone to manage this
  open and social infrastructure?
• Obviously we will say no, but call for an all
  inclusive effective user community participation
  at all levels of policy and decision making
  process.
• Unfortunately this is an uncharted area.

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QUESTIONS

• How can user community interest be defined and
  how can the individuals voice be heard and given
  the appropriate voice in this global and
  decentralized but increasingly ubiquitous social
  space?
• What can be done to ensure effective
  participation in policy making, and expression of
  opinion outside once country and the continent?

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ISSUES

• Policy issues
• Educational reforms
• Infrastructure
• Finance
• Leadership

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ISSUES

• Policy issues
• For sometime know, African countries have been
  making efforts to expand their various
  communication infrastructures and ensure their
  sustainability.
• Nevertheless, due to lack of appropriate
  policy framework and the problems associated with
  the existing institutional structures, the growth
  and efficiency of the sector has been obstructed.

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ISSUES

• Educational
• Human resource and institutional development
  is among the prerequisites for sector development
  and participation in the information society and
  the decision process.
• But, in most African countries, the
  infrastructure sector lacks the required human
  resource and institutional capacity as well as
  technical efficiency to produce, create and
  deliver communications services to the African
  community.

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ISSUES

• Infrastructure
• Many cities in Africa are effectively
  "on-ramps to nowhere." Access to full Internet
  services may exist, and local interconnections
  between networks may be well-developed, but
  overloaded, low-speed intercity and international
  channels often render use of on-line media such
  as the Web all but impossible.
• Thus a user may spend minutes waiting for a
  simple page to load. In the United States, an
  individual can order a very high-capacity "T-1"
  dedicated connection to move data between his/her
  home or office and the Internet at a rate of 1.5
  megabits per second (mbps). Bottlenecks inside
  Africas networks are even more severe. On the
  other hand, other cities suffer from what can be
  termed "isolated islands of connectivity," where
  an Internet provider with good external links
  faces extraordinary difficulty connecting users
  within the city.
• Regardless of these problems, acceptable
  connectivity is available and improvements are
  just a matter of time and investment.
• Also the unreliability of power supply in
  many African countries creates potential
  difficulties for the success of the Internet. At
  present, most African countries cannot boast of a
  dependable power supply that could be sustained.

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ISSUES

• Finance
• Related to developing a user base is the
  sheer cost of using the Internet. To participate,
  one needs a computer with telecommunications
  software, a modem, and access to a reliable phone
  line or Internet connection. Hardware and
  software are costly considering the rate of
  exchange for the local currencies to the dollar
  or pound sterling. It is a fact that most
  organizations and institutions in Africa operate
  on an already constraint and over stretched
  budgets and cannot tolerate the costs of the
  Internet even if the desire to use the Internet
  is there.
• Accessible information and communications
  goods and services are a technical concern of
  producers and users of information goods and
  services, since accessibility with reasonable
  prizing is central to realization of full and
  effective participation by all in the new
  economics of development.
• The financial problems in the
  communication sector in the developing are often
  associated with the acquisition, expansion of
  infrastructure and its sustainability through
  maintenance interventions and excessive reliance
  on second class infrastructure. Often, the costs
  of infrastructure renewal are beyond the capacity
  of African countries.

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THE WAY FORWARD

• The way forward must be resolute, yet shaped to
  match the organization, chain of command, and
  logistics of the Internet in pursuit of effective
  participation in policy issues and other related
  matters of the internet. 
• Bilateral, multilateral, and Regional
  initiatives should be encouraged and fostered.

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THE WAY FORWARD

• Education we recommend that the educational
  reforms should make Technology supported
  instructional delivery and learning goals an
  integral part from the very beginning of
  training. We believe that when this culture is
  built the individual will grow with it and will
  demand it in his/her future place of work.
• Also computers should be placed for equitable
  access
• Another practical strategy is to have computers
  available through mobile computer labs.

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THE WAY FORWARD

• Finance
• Join in fundraising and lobbying efforts.
  Help identify potential sources of technology
  funding.
• Next, identify local businesses that are
  willing to support rural services by paying most
  of the operational costs while generating
  revenues in the process.
• Also international agencies encouraged
  working in Africa should include Internet costs
  in their budget
• Policy
• We believe that the information gathering
  process of ICANN should involve gathering input
  from the grassroots throughout the continent by
  At-Large structures and continually modifying and
  refining proposed platform changes until adoption
  by a Delegate Assembly meeting.
• Communicating with your At-Large
  organization and regional director will ensure
  that your opportunity to contribute to this
  critical governance process for the association
  is hared.

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THE WAY FORWARD

• Others
• Get involved in ICANN lobbying efforts by joining
  the At-Large Network and participating in ICANN
  Advocacy INTERACTIVE programs in your
  communities. By so doing you get up-to-the-minute
  alerts on critical legislation and issues, along
  with background information, resources for taking
  immediate action and a system for reporting back
  to ICANN.
• Serve on a committee or task force
• Share your time and talent by serving on a
  standing committee, task force or council. Eg.
  Ralos.(www.afralo.org)
• Run for ALAC Advisor
• Advisors serve as integral members of the
  policy-making body of ICANN. This important role
  involves attending meetings and each year.
• Become a regional At-Large structure member

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THE WAY FORWARD

• User fees
• In the urban areas not many households can afford
  to pay for internet access thus obtaining payment
  from rural people will be harder because they are
  generally poorer.
• One option is to interest NGOs in picking up
  the tab for services by building community self
  acquired access and ownership, including local
  web content development.
• Moreover, information needs to be tailored
  to rural interests to keep interest in the
  Internet alive. For instance, people may want to
  know the price of farm equipment or how to
  improve living conditions, as well as news of
  local developments.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• GET INFORMED, INFORM OTHERS AND EVERYONE IS
  INFORMED

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• THANK YOU