[Kictanet] [Fwd: [APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e-Updates No.11]

Fri Jul 15 13:19:35 EAT 2005

FYI..

apologies for crossposting

N

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e-Updates No.11
Date: 	Fri, 15 Jul 2005 20:14:28 +1000
From: 	Africa ICT Policy Monitor Project <africa.rights at apc.org>
Reply-To: 	africa.rights at apc.org
To: 	africa-ir-public at lists.sn.apc.org

Dear all,

Here is the latest issue of the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor e-updates
No. 11, a selection of the latest content added to the Africa ICT Policy Monitor
Website chosen by our editors.

Editor

APC Africa Policy Monitor Website
http://africa.rights.apc.org/

//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - NEWS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/ 

  News > Access

 Community phones change the lives of farmers in Rwanda 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=281707>
11/07/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- 
Greedy middlemen used to pay dirt cheap prices for Rwandan farmer 
Cyprian Habumuremyi's potatoes grown around this lush northern hilltop 
village. Then a kiosk owner bought a wireless phone and Habumuremyi's 
fortunes changed. A quick call to his relatives in the capital Kigali 
and the 55-year-old knows what the middlemen are trying to hide -- how 
much potatoes are selling for in urban areas.

 Uganda Telcoms brings wireless Internet service 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=155896>
05/07/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug>) -- Uganda Telecom 
(utl) has introduced a high-speed wireless Internet service. The 
service, the first of its kind in Uganda, enables clients easily access 
Internet using mobile devices like laptops and PDAs (hand-held devices), 
Miriam Wanjohi, the brand manager of utl, said in a statement recently. 
. <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860s21849e_1>

  News > Telecommunications

 Cut your overheads or perish, Tanzania Telecom told 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=194256>
07/07/2005 (IPP Media <http://www.ippmedia.com/>) -- The financial woes 
of Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) are likely to take 
a turn for the worse unless immediate steps are taken to cut down the 
firms overheads, Celtel International Operations Officer, Omar Issa, has 
said.

<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877se_1>

 Uganda Telcoms brings wireless Internet service 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=155896>
05/07/2005 (NewVision <http://www.newvision.co.ug>) -- Uganda Telecom 
(utl) has introduced a high-speed wireless Internet service. The 
service, the first of its kind in Uganda, enables clients easily access 
Internet using mobile devices like laptops and PDAs (hand-held devices), 
Miriam Wanjohi, the brand manager of utl, said in a statement recently.

 Ghanaian ISP Launches African Version of Skype 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=155236>
03/07/2005 (Ghanaweb <http://www.ghanaweb.com>) -- Ghanaian ISP NCS has 
just launched its own version of Skype called Clicktel 
(www.clicktel.biz) to its own customers. It offers free PC to PC 
telephone commmunication and global PSTN calling.  

*News > E-Governance *

 Rwanda: Govt to constitute new ICT body 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_1&x=194393>
06/07/2005 (The New Times <http://www.newtimes.co.rw/>) -- As part of 
its wide information technology reforms, the government is soon set to 
replace the Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA) with the 
National Information Communication Technology (NICT) as the overseer in 
the execution of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) plan 
from 2006 to 2010.

  News > Freedom of Expression

 New Website Documents Extensive Free Expression Violations 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866ne_1&x=335580>
14/07/2005 (IFEX <http://africa.rights.apc.org/www.ifex.org>) -- 
International free expression groups today launched a new website 
detailing the state of free expression in Tunisia and challenged the 
government to end Internet blocking in the lead-up to the November 2005 
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). International 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866s30084e_1> | Freedom 
of Expression <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866se_1>

*
News> Internet Governance*

 Internet Governance report released 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ne_1&x=335582>
14/07/2005 (WGIG <http://www.wgig.org>) -- The United Nations 
Secretary-General today transmitted the Report of the Working Group on 
Internet Governance to the President of the Preparatory Committee of the 
World Summit on the Information Society, Ambassador Janis Karklins, and 
the WSIS Secretary-General, Mr Yoshio Utsumi.

 US Government To Retain Control of Internet 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ne_1&x=108051>
02/07/2005 (WashingtonPost <http://www.washingtonpost.com>) -- The U.S. 
government will indefinitely retain oversight of the main computers that 
control traffic on the Internet, ignoring calls by some countries to 
turn the function over to an international body, said Michael D. 
Gallagher, assistant secretary for communications and information at the 
Commerce Department.

  News > Intellectual Property

 WIPO Negotiators Tackle Proposals On Reform For Development 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21868ne_1&x=34448>
23/06/2005 (IP Watch <http://www.ip-watch.org/>) -- Negotiators at a 
20-22 June meeting to discuss possible reform of the World Intellectual 
Property Organisation to better address developing country needs began 
on the second day tackling the details of various proposals put forth by 
member governments.

  News > Laws and Regulation

 Kenya: Operators alarmed by slow ICT reforms 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=281819>
11/07/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net>) -- 
Reforms progress in the fast growing telecommunications sub-sector could 
suffer a major setback if plans by the Communication Commission of Kenya 
(CCK) to outlaw VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) are implemented. 
Last week industry sources indicated that CCK Director-General John 
Waweru was planning to restrict the provision of the popular Internet 
telephone service that has drastically lowered international call rates 
to one provider - a stance he has maintained since his days at Telkom 
Kenya.

  News > Media

 Zambia: Media freedom under threat says watchdog 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=155451>
04/07/2005 (IRIN News <http://www.irinnews.org/>) -- Zambian police are 
investigating charges of sedition and criminal libel against two 
journalists, raising concern that freedom of expression is under threat.

 Kenya: Give us broadcast policy and Bill 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=171220>
04/07/2005 (L. Muthoni Wanyeki - The East African 
<http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/>) -- The power of radio 
broadcasting in Africa has been noted time and time again. During the 
heydays of the African coup d'etat, the national broadcaster was always 
a primary target for whoever was trying to capture power, while 
independent broadcasters were often the subject of harassment by the 
state machinery.

  News > National ICT Strategies

 ICT policy has succeeded - says Rwanda Information Minister 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=261177>
08/07/2005 (The New Times <http://www.newtimes.co.rw/>) -- A lot has 
been realized in the social and economic spheres since Rwanda adopted 
the first phase of the ICT policy in 2001. This was disclosed by 
Information Minister Professor Laurent Nkusi, during the official 
opening of discussions on achievements, failures and the way forward for 
the ICT policy in the country. Rwanda 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873s21845e_1> | National 
ICT Strategies <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873se_1>

  News > Security and Privacy

 South Africa: No more phone spam, says mobile industry 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21875ne_1&x=193102>
07/07/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/>) -- 
Leaders in the South African mobile services arena (the South African 
Wireless Application Service Providers Association - WASPA) have signed 
a mobile service code of conduct designed to protect consumers from 
phone spam and hidden charges.

  News > Training and Education

 Ethiopia: State Minister calls for enhancement of ICT utilization 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21878ne_1&x=193344>
04/07/2005 (ENA <http://www.ena.gov.et/>) -- The Ministry of Capacity 
Building has indicated the need to facilitate ways for the expansion of 
education in Information Communication to enhance utilization of the 
Information Communication Technology in Ethiopia.

//\//\//\//\//\//\/ -*INFORMATION & RESOURCES *- //\//\//\//\//\//\/ 

  Laws and Regulation

 Regulatory Reform as a Tool for Bridging the Digital Divide 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=64609>
29/06/2005 -- This paper examines one narrow aspect of the digital 
divide, the effects of regulatory reform on telecommunication networks. 
While regulatory reform is only one part of the global digital divide 
problem,it can play a key role in helping telecommunication markets 
bridge some of the gaps on their own. It is therefore imperative that 
policy makers consider regulatory reform as a necessary but not 
sufficient step towards overcoming the digital divide.

 Time to end advance phone licence fees 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=39657>
27/06/2005 -- Growing competition in the telephone industry is 
characterised by targeted pricing of voice and data services. The level 
of competition depends upon the specific market conditions and the 
regulatory framework under which competition is introduced. The 
licensing framework should assist development of new and innovative 
services. However, regulatory and trade barriers in telecommunications 
constrain the diffusion of new services.

  National ICT Strategies 

 Rwanda: Fundamental public policy issues of information management 
systems <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=155598>
05/07/2005 -- One of the organizing themes for an urban/regional 
information systems management policy is expressed by the following 
objectives statement: Enhancing or expanding the ways, purposes, and 
extent to which better policy information and technology yield better 
policy information, better policy advice, better policy decision-making 
and better policy decisions.

 ICT Policy of Ethiopia 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=160675>
05/07/2005 -- Ethiopia has no coherent policy in place to support the 
growth of IT industry. The Government of Ethiopia has embarked on a 
major effort to put in place many of the building blocks required for 
developing a robust ICT sector in Ethiopia. Existing high import tariffs 
(40%) on computer and communications equipment make the widespread use 
of such systems rather expensive, particularly for smaller businesses 
and institutions.

*Telecommunications*

 A Draft Discussion Paper On Liberia Telecommunications 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=194653>
07/07/2005 -- This document presents the Government of Liberia's (GoL) 
policy for the telecommunications sector. It reflects the GoL's vision 
for the evolution of the sector and describes the main policy steps 
towards achieving that vision. This Policy establishes the framework for 
the evolution of the Liberian telecommunications sector, and the 
transformation of Liberia toward an information-based economy and 
society. The policy is based upon the following objectives and vision 
for the major elements of this framework.

   Privacy and Security 

 Wi-Fi Liability: Potential Legal Risks in Accessing and Operating 
Wireless Internet 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=155970>
05/07/2005 -- This paper explores several theories of liability 
involving both the accessing and operating of wireless Internet, 
including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, wiretap laws, as well as 
trespass to chattels and other areas of common law. The paper concludes 
with a brief discussion of key policy considerations.

  Internet Governance

 US Government wants to keep Internet control 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=155582>
05/07/2005 -- The United States government has kicked off another round 
of heated discussions about Internet governance. Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce Michael Gallagher on 30 June announced that his government 
clearly intends to keep the final control over the root zone file that 
lists all top-level domain entries. This move came a bit unexpected, and 
the experts are now discussing what the implications will be for the 
upcoming ICANN meeting and the release of the report of the WSIS Working 
Group on Internet Governance.

  WSIS

 Report of the African Civil Society Forum ; Abuja, Nigeria, July 1-4 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=he_1&x=338264>
15/07/2005 -- The African Civil Society on the Information Society held 
its Abuja Forum as a pre-event to the African Regional Preparatory 
Meeting (ARPM) of the World Telecommunications Development Committee 
(WTDC). This forum was made possible by the support of the people and 
the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through its Nigerian 
Communications Commission - NCC.

 African Youth Commitment on the Information Society 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=193342>
07/07/2005 -- We, the African youth of Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, 
Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, 
South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, gathered at Limpopo from 27 - 28 
June 2005, for the NEPAD Youth Conference on Information Society;

 Africa's civil society and WSIS 2 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=280373>
11/07/2005 -- Earlier this month, stakeholders in Africa's civil society 
met in Abuja for three days to discuss inequities in the global 
information system and the proper role of civil society at both 
international and national levels. This meeting was one of several 
regional forums to prepare the ground for Africa's effective 
participation in the second World Summit on the Information Society, 
WSIS 2, holding in Tunis in November. The first summit, WSIS 1, held in 
Geneva in December 2003.

Resources

 Campaigning for Freedom of Expression 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=re_1&x=336096>
A new IFEX campaigning handbook is a 120 page manual that provides a 
toolbox of tips, good practices case studies and resources for campaigning.

 The African Community Radio Managers Handbook 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=re_1&x=338155>
Across Africa, more and more people are becoming excited about this 
thing called community radio. The problem has always been trying to 
explain it in a way that makes sense to people, wherever they live. The 
handbooks is meant to describe the process of community radio as 
precisely as possible.
Produced by: AMARC

//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - *UPCOMING EVENTS* - //\//\//\//\//\//\/

*01/07/2005* - *30/07/2005*, Uganda 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21849e_1>
Telecentre Sustainability in Developing Countries (Jul 1-30 2005) 
<http://www.ugabytes.org/index_onlineconference.htm>
This online conference is designed to provide a platform to address 
issues of rural access to and use of information and communication 
technologies (ICTs) through telecentres, sustainability of these 
centres, and more. In addition, the conference shall document 
sustainability issues concerning; dimension, indicators, factors and 
constraints, approaches and models, and the role of networks in 
telecentre sustainability.

*09/07/2005- **21/07/2005*,, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Gender Research in Africa into Information and Communication 
Technologiess for Empowerment [GRACE] 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=138514>
The first capacity development workshop will be held in Durban, South 
Africa from 9-21 July 2005. An intensive two-week capacity building 
workshop aims to lay the foundation for the GRACE- members' continued 
learning process. The workshop will comprise research as well as ICT 
capacity building elements which will be integrated into one coherent 
design. This project aims to explore the ways in which women in Africa 
use ICTs to empower themselves, the external, structural barriers as 
well as the internal factors which prevent them from using ICTs to their 
advantage, and the strategies they employ to overcome these impediments.

*11/08/2005*, Tanzania 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21848e_1>
World Youth Development and ICT (WYDI 2005) Conference (Aug 11-12 2005) 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=34214>
This conference is being organised with a theme of "Young People 
Creating Global Culture". The conference aims to bring together more 
than 250 young professionals, community leaders, non-governmental 
organisation (NGO) leaders, university students, information and 
communication technology (ICT) professionals, among others.

*22/08/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Building Partnerships for the Information Society (Aug 22-27 2005) 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=34216>
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology, with the support of the 
Cape Town City, the Centre for e-Innovation in the Provincial Government 
of the Western Cape and the South African Department of Communications, 
will be organising and hosting the "Information Society" event.

*24/08/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN) 2005 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=29325>
The Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN) 2005 Conference is 
open to receive research, policy and praxis based papers around the 
major theme of 'partnerships'.

*31/08/2005*, Botswana 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21811e_1>
World Information Technology Forum (Witfor) 2005 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31388>
The Government of the Republic of Botswana, in collaboration with the 
International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) will host the 
second World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR) in Gaborone from 
August 31 to September 2, 2005. WITFOR is a state-of-the-art, high-level 
international forum, aimed at ICT policy-makers and practitioners.

*05/09/2005*, Cameroon 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21850e_1>
CTO Forum 2005 - Yaounde, Cameroon, 5 - 6 September 2005 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=136150>
Organised in partnership with the Government of Cameroon, the CTO will 
host this unique gathering of opinion leaders and decision-makers in 
response to the growing need for access to ICT in emerging markets in 
the Commonwealth and beyond.

*12/09/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Highway Africa Conference 2005 'Reinforcing journalism in the 
information society'** 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=33696>
The Highway Africa 2005 will explore the above issues and seek to assist 
in overcoming the challenges. Highway Africa's programme includes a 
unique mix of plenary and keynote presentations, panel discussions and 
hands-on workshops where delegates acquire practical skills and expertise.

*19/09/2005*, International 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s30084e_1>
PrepCom-3 of the WSIS Tunis phase to take place in Geneva 
<http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc3/index.html>
The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-3 of the Tunis 
phase) will take place in Palais des Nations, Geneva (Switzerland) from 
19-30 September 2005.

//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//

ABOUT APC

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international
network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and
supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of
information and communication technologies, especially internet-related
technologies. APC and its members in more than 30 countries pioneer
practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society. APC is an
international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and
related concerns, in both policy and practice.
APC: http://www.apc.org.

APC and ICT Policy Advocacy in Africa

APC's Communications and Information Policy Programme aims to contribute
to more enabling ICT policy environments through promoting inclusive
policy processes. In Africa APC is doing this through the Africa ICT
Policy Monitor project which aims to enable civil society organisations
to engage in ICT policy development to promote an information society
based on social justice and human rights.

APC's Africa ICT Policy Monitor: http://africa.rights.apc.org

The APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor is supported by HIVOS and the
International Research Development Centre (IDRC).

//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//

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//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//\//

-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna
Africa Policy Monitor Project 
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Email: africa.rights at apc.org or njenga at apc.org
Web: http://africa.rights.apc.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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