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The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) welcomes the opportunity to provide our input into the work of the Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation on Public Policy Issues Pertaining to the Internet (WGEC).
Our view is that enhanced cooperation should aim to improve and democratise the governance of the internet at all levels, not only to establish more equitable influence for and among sovereign states. Central to progress on this issue is recognition of the following:
1) There are real imbalances in the status quo of internet-related policy-making processes, with developing countries having less influence and access.
2) There is a difference between an approach to enhanced cooperation as more equal multilateral cooperation solely among states, and an approach which sees enhanced cooperation as more effective and inclusive policy making involving all stakeholders.
3) In spite of some ongoing challenges, the process of enhanced cooperation is progressing well, inspired in part by discussions and processes initiated at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and such progress should be taken into consideration by the WGEC.
Image by Teodoro S. Gruhl in PublicDomainPictures.net
