From cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org Wed Sep 1 11:51:49 2004 From: cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org (cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org) Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 13:51:49 +0200 Subject: [Cinsainfo] National Civil Society ICT Roundtable Message-ID: <006601c4901a$1141f060$d500a8c0@sn.apc.org> Subject: [Staff] National Civil Society ICT Roundtable NATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ICT ROUNDTABLE "What is our stake in the multi-billion rand South African IT & communications industry?" 9 September 2004 Johannesburg \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) and the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) are convening a national ICT roundtable event for civil society organisations to be held on 9 September 2004 in Johannesburg. The event will focus on the long-awaited Second National Operator (SNO), which will be licensed on 17 September 2004, as well as the fourth draft of the ICT Empowerment Charter, which was released last week. Public comments on the charter must be submitted to the Charter Working Group before 15 September 2004. Both the SNO and ICT Empowerment Charter present civil society with unique challenges and opportunities to ensure that all South Africans share in the benefits of these important developments. Our failure to act in this regard will only result in the continuation of current access, cost and ownership trends, and not in the desired transformation of South African society and the IT industry. The forthcoming event will therefore provide participants with an opportunity to gain insight into the focus and scope of both developments, as well as to raise specific issues and expectations which will be collated and presented to the appropriate authorities after the meeting. The roundtable will be held on Thursday, 9 September 2004 (10h00-15h30), at the School for Public and Development Management, Wits University in Parktown (1st Floor, Donald Gordon Building, cnr St Andrews and St Davids, Parktown). A map of the venue is available on request. If you have something to contribute and/or want to learn more about the SNO or ICT Empowerment Charter, please attend this important event. *************************************** If you cannot attend the event, we are still interested in your views. Please e-mail or fax us your comments by 10 September 2004. ************************************** Information on the SNO and ICT Empowerment Charter is available at http://www.itweb.co.za and http://www.ictcharter.org.za. To register for the event or submit written comments, please contact: Sandra Roberts SANGONeT Tel: (011) 403-4935 Fax: (011) 403-0130 E-mail: sandra@sangonet.org.za URL: http://www.sangonet.org.za _______________________________________________ Staff mailing list Staff@lists.sn.apc.org http://lists.sn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/staff From cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org Fri Sep 3 08:13:55 2004 From: cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org (cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org) Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 10:13:55 +0200 Subject: [Cinsainfo] E-discussion on IPR Message-ID: <001701c4918d$f59649e0$d500a8c0@sn.apc.org> "ON-LINE DISCUSSION ON ICTs & IPR" Research ICT Africa (RIA) is hosting an on-line discussion from Monday September 6 on intellectual property, mainly copyright, and information and communications technologies (ICTs) in Africa. The purpose of the discussion is to identify areas and issues for further research and study by RIA and its partner organisations. You can register on the web site http://www.researchictafrica.net/ to participate in the discussion, which will be faciliated by Wend Wendland of (WIPO), who will be joined in the discussion by colleagues Neema Nyerere-Drago (African Bureau), Susanna Chung (Traditional Creativity and Cultural Expressions), Lien Verbauwhede (SMEs), Lucinda Jones (Copyright Law), Christopher Kalanje (SMEs) and Esteban Burrone (SMEs). For more information, contact: Vanessa Phala Research ICT Africa! Coordinator Wits LINK Centre, Johannesburg phala.v@pdm.wits.ac.za ***** ____________________________________________ Chris Armstrong, Associate, LINK Centre Wits University, Johannesburg tel: +27-11-717-3548 or +27-83-590-8744 fax: +27-11-717-3910 alternate e-mail: carmstrong@icon.co.za http://link.wits.ac.za >>> 09/01/04 01:35pm >>> Dear Chris Thank you very much for your message, and your assistance in securing a room for our meeting next week. Please find enclosed more information on the event. Best wishes David Dear David, This is to confirm that Classroom A, Donald Gordon Bldg, Wits P&DM, has been booked for the SANGONET meeting, 10am to 3:30pm, Thursday Sept. 9. The room holds 75 people. Teas will be served at 11:30 and 2:30, and lunch (sandwiches + cool drink) at 1:00. Cost of room will be R500. Cost per head for teas and lunch still to be confirmed. SANGONET to confirm number of attendees on Monday. Data projector available; SANGONET to bring lap-top. I will try to get hold of a map to P&DM. Sincerely Chris PS Please confirm topic of the meeting ------------------------- NATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ICT ROUNDTABLE "What is our stake in the multi-billion rand South African IT & communications industry?" 9 September 2004 Johannesburg \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) and the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) are convening a national ICT roundtable event for civil society organisations to be held on 9 September 2004 in Johannesburg. The event will focus on the long-awaited Second National Operator (SNO), which will be licensed on 17 September 2004, as well as the fourth draft of the ICT Empowerment Charter, which was released last week. Public comments on the charter must be submitted to the Charter Working Group before 15 September 2004. Both the SNO and ICT Empowerment Charter present civil society with unique challenges and opportunities to ensure that all South Africans share in the benefits of these important developments. Our failure to act in this regard will only result in the continuation of current access, cost and ownership trends, and not in the desired transformation of South African society and the IT industry. The forthcoming event will therefore provide participants with an opportunity to gain insight into the focus and scope of both developments, as well as to raise specific issues and expectations which will be collated and presented to the appropriate authorities after the meeting. The roundtable will be held on Thursday, 9 September 2004 (10h00-15h30), at the School for Public and Development Management, Wits University in Parktown (1st Floor, Donald Gordon Building, cnr St Andrews and St Davids, Parktown). A map of the venue is available on request. If you have something to contribute and/or want to learn more about the SNO or ICT Empowerment Charter, please attend this important event. *************************************** If you cannot attend the event, we are still interested in your views. Please e-mail or fax us your comments by 10 September 2004. ************************************** Information on the SNO and ICT Empowerment Charter is available at http://www.itweb.co.za and http://www.ictcharter.org.za. To register for the event or submit written comments, please contact: Sandra Roberts SANGONeT Tel: (011) 403-4935 Fax: (011) 403-0130 E-mail: sandra@sangonet.org.za URL: http://www.sangonet.org.za From cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org Sat Sep 4 07:50:36 2004 From: cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org (cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org) Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 09:50:36 +0200 Subject: [Cinsainfo] NATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ICT ROUNDTABLE Message-ID: <003f01c49253$defa4120$d500a8c0@sn.apc.org> NATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ICT ROUNDTABLE "What is our stake in the multi-billion rand South African IT & communications industry?" 9 September 2004 Johannesburg \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) and the South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) are convening a national ICT roundtable event for civil society organisations to be held on 9 September 2004 in Johannesburg. The event will focus on the long-awaited Second National Operator (SNO), which will be licensed on 17 September 2004, as well as the fourth draft of the ICT Empowerment Charter, which was released last week. Public comments on the charter must be submitted to the Charter Working Group before 15 September 2004. Both the SNO and ICT Empowerment Charter present civil society with unique challenges and opportunities to ensure that all South Africans share in the benefits of these important developments. Our failure to act in this regard will only result in the continuation of current access, cost and ownership trends, and not in the desired transformation of South African society and the IT industry. The forthcoming event will therefore provide participants with an opportunity to gain insight into the focus and scope of both developments, as well as to raise specific issues and expectations which will be collated and presented to the appropriate authorities after the meeting. The roundtable will be held on Thursday, 9 September 2004 (10h00-15h30), at the School for Public and Development Management, Wits University in Parktown (1st Floor Classroom A, Donald Gordon Building, Wits P&DM cnr St Andrews and St Davids, Parktown). A map of the venue is available on request. If you have something to contribute and/or want to learn more about the SNO or ICT Empowerment Charter, please attend this important event. *************************************** If you cannot attend the event, we are still interested in your views. Please e-mail or fax us your comments by 10 September 2004. ************************************** Information on the SNO and ICT Empowerment Charter is available at http://www.itweb.co.za and http://www.ictcharter.org.za. To register for the event or submit written comments, please contact: Sandra Roberts SANGONeT Tel: (011) 403-4935 Fax: (011) 403-0130 E-mail: sandra@sangonet.org.za URL: http://www.sangonet.org.za _______________________________________ WSIS mailing list WSIS@lists.sn.apc.org http://lists.sn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/wsis _______________________________________ WSIS mailing list WSIS@lists.sn.apc.org http://lists.sn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/wsis From cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org Tue Sep 7 11:53:10 2004 From: cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org (cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org) Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 13:53:10 +0200 Subject: [Cinsainfo] Reminder: ON LINE DISCUSSION ON ICT & IP Message-ID: <011301c494d1$3fcb99c0$d500a8c0@sn.apc.org> Dear All, ON LINE DISCUSSION ON ICT's & IP This is to remind you that the discussion on ICT'S and IP is live on the RIA web site www.researchictafrica.net in both English and French. To participate in the discussion you simply click on the topic/message and respond to it, hope you find the discussion stimulating and interesting. Warm Regards, Vanessa From cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org Fri Sep 17 13:59:24 2004 From: cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org (cinsainfo@lists.sn.apc.org) Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 15:59:24 +0200 Subject: [Cinsainfo] Roundtable Response on telecommunications sector changes Message-ID: <007b01c49cbe$8a9d4b20$d500a8c0@sn.apc.org> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_007C_01C49CCF.4E261B20 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_007D_01C49CCF.4E261B20" ------=_NextPart_001_007D_01C49CCF.4E261B20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Civil Society Response Second National Operator (SNO) and proposed changes to the telecommunications sector Outcomes of the SANGONeT and SANGOCO ICT Roundtable held on 9 September 2004 South Africa is still one of the most unequal societies in the world despite the advent of democracy in 1994. If anything, the degree poverty has worsened. A government audit of how far it has lived up to its responsibility to its citizens and redressed apartheid’s injustices, concludes that “two economies persist in one country”. In one economy, people have access to information and the formal economy. In the other, informal economics prevail which do not contribute to the GDP. The poor do not have access to information and are increasingly marginalised and isolated. In South Africa and globally, the digital divide [1] is increasing. The prevalence of new technologies continues to benefit only a section of the population, while the majority still do not have sufficient access to crucial government and other information and services. This lack of access is a further disadvantage to the poor, particularly women. There is sufficient research demonstrating that those societies which dismiss the potential of ICTs run the risk of “stagnation in their Development Index.” The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) and the South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) hosted a meeting for civil society organisations on 9 September 2004 in Parktown, Gauteng to discuss the Second National Operator (SNO) and ICT BEE Empowerment Charter. Organisations represented at the meeting included SANGONeT, SANGOCO, FXI (Freedom of Expression Institute), Creative Commons, Aba Imfundo Foundation, TASA (Telecentre Association of South Africa) and MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa). Edmund Baloy, Manager of Legal Services at the Department of Communications, and Dr Angus Hay, Chief Technology Officer of Transtel, made presentations on the SNO. Specific issues of concern raised and discussed: Civil society organisations are concerned about the limited scope and conception of redress and transformation in the telecommunications sector. The Department of Communications has failed civil society by not capacitating the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Universal Service Agency (USA) sufficiently to ensure that the telecommunications industry fulfils its Universal Service Mandates. This has exacerbated the divide between the information haves and have-nots, and caused communities without access to basic telecommunication services to regress When we as civil society organisations engage with development and ICT issues, we do it not in our own interests, but on the principle of representing the poor and marginalized. Our own history in South Africa demonstrates that genuine participation is a fundamental for bringing about social delivery and shaping delivery plans. Key to the challenges of the digital divide is education for all (EFA). Education is a core human right. It is the key to sustainable development, peace and stability within and between countries, and thus an indispensable way to participate effectively in the societies and economies of the twenty-first century. Achieving EFA goals should be postponed no longer. The basic learning needs of all must be met as a matter of urgency. Strategy ten of the Dakar EFA affirms the need to ‘harness new information and communication technologies to help achieve EFA goals’. Central to this is providing access in schools to computers and the Internet.. The tragedy is that even when computers are available in schools, access to the Internet is denied because of the high cost of connectivity in South Africa. Community ICT initiatives, such as telecentres and community radio stations, are likewise isolated as they have no or limited Internet connectivity due to high prices. These organisations have the ability to distribute health, education and social education information to a wide, otherwise inaccessible audience. However, with no fixed-line connectivity, they are cut off from crucial information streams. The public health system is also failing to deliver to many marginalised South Africans. For public hospitals, free Internet connectivity could widen the reach of each hospital and take staff into inaccessible regions. Telemedicine would be facilitated and administration costs reduced. Given the lack of resources in many public hospitals, money spent on telephone calls could be better spent on improving staff capacity and working conditions. Specific issues related to the SNO Representing civil society, we are concerned that the SNO will not solve the long-outstanding problems associated with telecommunications in South Africa. Telkom has set a precedent in high pricing and exclusionary approaches and we are concerned that the SNO may adopt too. ICASA and the USA have not been effective in ensuring that Telkom meets its universal service mandates, and we question whether they will be with the SNO. Telkom and the SNO have had no economic incentive thus far to provide lines and services to under-serviced areas, and we suggest that a monetary incentive be instituted. We are also concerned with the effectiveness and partiality of ICASA and the USA, and request that this be investigated. Furthermore, with regard to the announcement by the Minister of Communications relating to the introduction of an e-rate for schools in 2005, we call for this benefit to be extended to a 100% discount to the following institutions: - public hospitals, - police and correctional services, - public schools and public further education training institutions. This discount should be for all calls or charges to local landlines or to an Internet service provider, via whom one can access the Internet or send and receive signals. In addition, we call on the Department of Communication to extend this incentive to SMMEs and cooperatives located in rural and under-serviced areas. We believe that the extension of the scope and discount of the e-rate would raise the levels of service delivery in the country. With the building of e-governance structures, public institutions would be enabled to deliver services effectively and the ‘free-rate’ has the potential to break the isolation of public institutions. The concession to incentivise SMMEs and cooperatives which are currently providing services government cannot, would contribute to the sustainability of these initiatives. _____ [1] The "digital divide" refers to this gap between those who can effectively use new information and communication tools, such as the Internet, and those who cannot. ------=_NextPart_001_007D_01C49CCF.4E261B20 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable SOUTHERN AFRICAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL