APC announces a one-day event on equitable access to ICT infrastructure on 10 November 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Universal access, freedom of expression and invoking the accountability of states are not possible without affordable, equitable access to communications infrastructure.
In a world where access and opportunities are unevenly distributed, many information and communication technology (ICT) enthusiasts are developing innovative new solutions to bring people inside the communications revolution, but many of these experiences are yet to be shared.
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is organising a one-day event called EQUITABLE ACCESS to start a process of consolidating emerging lessons and knowledge on innovative access solutions. This will inform learning, research, policy interventions and access strategies.
Why this event? Access to infrastructure is about the innovative interplay between ICT policy and technology solutions that provide access to the global information and communications infrastructure. Access brings people together to exchange information, promotes new spaces for social inclusion and is fundamental to development processes in any society. However many of these innovative solutions are happening in isolation and APC’s event is a place where stakeholders working in the area of equitable can come together to share knowledge and experience and to discuss the issues.
This event is the start of a process to consolidate knowledge and contribute learning and ideas for those seeking to address the issue of equitable access to ICTs. It will bring together a range of experience in developing and implementing ICT policy and technology solutions for low-cost access and connectivity.
What will EQUITABLE ACCESS cover? The event will look at innovations, policy advocacy, lessons learned and what worked well for each of the following themes:
- Business models
- Policy & regulation
- Tools & technologies
- People, network, capacities
Sessions will focus on community / national / regional issues.
Is there a link to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)? Access is one of the main themes of the Rio IGF which starts just two days after EQUITABLE ACCESS and will include a session which looks specifically at the relevance of these local access issues to the IGF.
Who should attend? If you are interested in knowing how people have managed to overcome policy, technological, economic and social – including gender – challenges to bringing affordable and accessible communications infrastructure one step closer to the people - then this event is for you.
For more information contact APC’s networking coordinator Karen Banks karenb [at] gn.apc.org