[kictanet] We will not block free access to Facebook, says government

[Mwendwa Kivuva]

<snip>
“I do not think we should stop access to Facebook for those who cannot
afford just because someone else cannot provide the same service — it
is not fair,” said Mr Mucheru.

“If a hungry man has no food and a certain brand offers him bread,
shall we stop the provider since another brand cannot afford to offer
the same? That is ridiculous.”

Other small businesses and start-ups should instead find out how these
other ones are doing to offer their services. Policy is different from
stopping people with no access to get access to such services,” said
Mr Mucheru.
</snip>

At least for the first time, we have a government technocrat speak up
on Net Neutrality. After a relentless campaign that took us more than
5 years. Now, I am wondering if the CS statement is official
government position on Net Neutrality. After he has taken sides, will
this influence the direction of the debate when the policy is finally
drafted?

Way to go CS Mucheru on that 2006 GoK ICT policy. 11 years and nobody
saw the need to update it.

Regards.

On 11/02/2016, Nanjira Sambuli via kictanet
<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> Sure thing. And we can also have some of the people who've worked on the
> issue in India, who can join in virtually. I'll let you know once paper is
> published, as we need this to progress from an objective, evidence-based
> rather than emotive, opinion-based view point.
>
>
> Regards,
> Nanjira Sambuli
> Research Lead
> iHub <http://www.ihub.co.ke/> | Research <http://www.ihub.co.ke/research> |
> UXLab <http://www.ihub.co.ke/uxlab> | Consulting
> <http://www.ihub.co.ke/consulting>
> *Mobile:* +254722481566
> *Skype:* nanjirasambuli | *Twitter:* @NiNanjira
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 11, 2016 at 1:14 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Many thanks Nanjira,
>>
>> Maybe you could consider a soft launch for the paper to coincide with
>> with
>> a national stakeholder discussion on the same issue. Happy to help set
>> this
>> up. I agree with you the issue is not just facebook, there is more that
>> needs to be understood and unravelled.
>>
>> Regards
>> On Feb 11, 2016 1:07 PM, "Nanjira Sambuli" <nanjira at ihub.co.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> I am finalising a paper on this, extensive research on what the issues
>>> are. I'll be able to share the published version in the Journal of Cyber
>>> Policy by the end of the month.
>>> Highlights though:
>>> 1. Emerging markets need a different definition of NN. I shared a blog
>>> post by Prof Vishal Misra explaining why price discrimination needs to
>>> be
>>> part of the definition.
>>> 2. This is not just about Facebook. Their offering for zero rating is an
>>> issue! But alternative forms of zero-rating exist, and will share more
>>> examples of such, eg Mozilla's.
>>> 3. This is a critical discussion for us, and for it to happen, we need
>>> to
>>> delink the issues. I will also be on BBC World Service this evening
>>> talking
>>> about the problematic framing around the battle for net neutrality as
>>> denying the poor access to the Internet. It is a shame, that in this day
>>> and age, we can be told, or can believe that these aren't issues for us
>>> to
>>> consider or stand for.
>>>
>>> More soon.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Nanjira.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone.
>>>
>>> On 11 Feb 2016, at 12:47, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Nanjira,
>>>
>>> I think we need a sober discussion on this matter for it to be fully
>>> understood. Kictanet can take a lead on this.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> On Feb 11, 2016 11:27 AM, "Nanjira Sambuli via kictanet" <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The CS is cited as saying that we won't go the India route.
>>>>
>>>> I'm amazed at how reporting on the TRAI decision has been summarised to
>>>> banning Free Basics; the bigger picture and ruling relegated to the
>>>> back
>>>> seat...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/will-block-free-access-facebook-says-government/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Nanjira.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone.
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>>>>
>>>
>


-- 
______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
twitter.com/lordmwesh