Issue papers

Networking communities in the South -- challenges for diverse actors: Remittance, microfinance and technology
Networking communities in the South -- challenges for diverse actors: Remittance, microfinance and technology 11 December 2007 Scott Robinson

In 2003 a Pew Hispanic Center survey found that 40% of the adult, foreign-­born Latino population in the United States, some 6 million people, send money home on a regular basis. This paper deals with the issue of the high cost to migrants of sending money back to their families at home, i.e. international money transfers and who controls them, and discusses opportunities of creating an alternative system. 

African participation in WSIS: Review and discussion paper
African participation in WSIS: Review and discussion paper 06 December 2007 David Souter

This paper presents a review of African participation in the first phase WSIS process (i.e. the Geneva summit held in December 2003 and the preparatory process leading up to it). It is not intended as a comprehensive analysis, but to stimulate discussion about ways in which African participation – particularly that of African civil society – can be more effectively structured during the second phase of the summit.

Internet governance and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
Internet governance and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 06 December 2007 Adam Peake

The purpose of this paper is to describe our current understanding of the debate about internet governance in WSIS, and to examine the main policy issues that are being considered in that discussion. It also suggests opportunities for developing nation stakeholders to contribute to the processes that are defining the internet governance landscape. The key message is that there are opportunities...

Financing the information society in the South: A global public goods perspective
Financing the information society in the South: A global public goods perspective 06 December 2007 Pablo Accuosto and Niki Johnson

This paper sets out to look at the question of financing the provision of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the South, within the context of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society, and advocates adopting a “global public goods” perspective on the issue. The paper first examines how the question of ICT financing has been debated during the WSIS prepa...

The centrality of e-strategies in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) plan of action
The centrality of e-strategies in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) plan of action 06 December 2007 Willie Currie

The term ‘e-strategies’ has gained widespread use over the last few years in the debates on the role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for development, following the United Nations Millennium Declaration in 2000. E-strategies have been defined as “plans based on the selection of scenarios and options for applying ICTs to national development” . A similar definition s...

Interconnection costs
Interconnection costs 30 November 2007 Mike Jensen

This paper produced by South African Mike Jensen covers increasing North-South inequities (“paying both ways”) and proposed strategies for minimising the disparities in interconnection rates, accelerating the restructuring of the communications sector, supporting the establishment of national and international internet exchange points, and building local demand for national and internationa...

E-waste challenges in developing countries: South Africa case study
E-waste challenges in developing countries: South Africa case study 30 November 2007 Alan Finlay

This discussion paper, commissioned by the APC, aims to raise the profile of e-waste issues in developing countries so that the implications of information and communications technology (ICTs) for development initiatives can be better understood – particularly in the context of the increasing flow of old technology from developed to developing countries.

World Summit on the Information Society: APC's recommendation on internet governance
World Summit on the Information Society: APC's recommendation on internet governance 30 November 2007 APC

APC has participated extensively in the internet governance process at the World Summit on Information Society. Out of this participation and in collaboration with other partners, including members of the WSIS civil society internet governance caucus, APC has crystallized a set of recommendations with regard to internet governance ahead of the final summit in Tunis in November 2005.

Digital television and radio: Democratisation or greater concentration?
Digital television and radio: Democratisation or greater concentration? 15 November 2007 Gustavo Gómez Germano

Digitalisation of media is an approaching reality for Latin American countries. This technologic paradigm shift promises more democratic and diverse access to radio and TV frequencies. However, there is also a great risk of reproducing the same inequalities and power relations that exist in the “analogical” world and thus of media being in the hands of a few. This paper by Gustavo Gómez Ge...

Whose information society? Developing country and civil society voices in the World Summit on the Information Society
Whose information society? Developing country and civil society voices in the World Summit on the Information Society 05 November 2007 David Souter

This paper summarises a study of developing country and civil society participation and influence in WSIS that was commissioned by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). As well as analysing participation, the study looked at the impact of WSIS on international ICT decision-making in general and makes recommendations to all main actors about how future decision-making might becom...

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