[kictanet] Media To Snub Civil Society Congress Forum

Tue Jan 13 07:57:25 EAT 2009

Makali,
Do you speak for the entire Media fraternity when you say media stakeholders
have decided not to participate in these public discussions which have no
specific bearing??

I really do not see why Media should snub a civil society forum aimed at
making Mwananchi understand experiences from the two sides of the divide.

On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 7:37 AM, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists at gmail.com>wrote:

> Makali:
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> All:
>
> Kindly confirm the status of this event. I had extended invitations to
> ke-users (consumers) and skunkworks (techie) lists and I would like to
> update them, ASAP.
>
> Regards,
>
> Alex
>
> On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 7:01 AM,  <dmakali at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Alex, thank you.
> > No, I and as far as I can tell the other media stakeholders, decided not
> to engage in these public discussions which have no specific bearing on the
> objective of attaining a balanced law. As we confirmed at the kicc and
> yestday's serena so called stakeholder meetings, they are choreographed to
> bash the media and portray them as opposed to regulation,  which is a grand
> lie.
> > We raised very specific objections about particular clauses we need
> addressed but all the choruses going on are about the gud things in the law
> that won't cure the identified defects.
> > Our efforts are directed towards crafting the amendments, as directed,
>  which  we will finish and hand over to wako today for onward processing and
> transmission. Anything else is a distraction or futile academic posturing
> because I doubt anybody is listening, least of all the media.
> > Honestly.
> >
> > Sent from my BlackBerry(R) wireless device
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists at gmail.com>
> >
> > Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:02:56
> > To: <dmakali at yahoo.com>
> > Cc: kictanet<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Uganda consumers get ICT lobby]
> >
> >
> > Hello Makali,
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 11:44 PM,  <dmakali at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> Hi Waudo
> >> Would you rather belong to the ministry of science and technology?
> >>
> >> I don't quite buy the idea that having a ministry is a panacea for
> anything. I also don't quite get the rationale for this clamour for 'our'
>  ministry! Not with the many ict institutions, including ict board, already
> in place.  Actually, you guys can have the information and comm ministry. We
> wud actually be happy to separate the laws.  We in the media don't crave for
> much govt. For us the lesser govt the better bkos it doesn't add any value
> to our work nor do we depend on it. The framework for freedom of expression,
> the FOl, is all we need. And that isn't forthcoming soon despite dr ndemo's
> promises.
> >> Give us that and kenya will be a beautifu and prosperous place witht
> good govt.
> >> My thoughts.
> >
> > Three reactions:
> >
> > 1. We are in agreement in regard to saving public taxes by avoiding
> > creation of yet another ministry when 'convergence' has led into a
> > networked communications environment. Fortunately, some of the media
> > houses, for example NMG, would appear to have taken  cognizance and
> > taken steps toward it <http://www.nation.co.ke/editorialteam>
> >
> > 2. Whether broadcasters desire their "own" law, ministry, or
> > grievances framework, we must 'converge' at some point because you
> > deal with information and communicating it which needs regulation. An
> > example is UK's ('CCK') on broadcasting content regulation
> > <http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/broadtin> and BBC complaints
> > handling <http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/handle.shtml>
> >
> > 3. Yesterday the Minister for Information and Communications repeated
> > government's  commitment to fast enact FOI. It was good to note the
> > priority given given to this very important law that we do not have.
> > Fundamentally, FOI law is for all people (not just the media) have
> > access to information along the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
> > <http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html> thus everyone enjoys their
> > basic freedoms 'regardless of all frontiers.' Everyone is obligated to
> > uphold UDHR ....We agree here!
> >
> > You will be at today's Civil Society Public Forum, won't you?
> >
> > regards,
> >
> > Alex
> >
> > (Sent from my wireless device;)
> >
> >> Sent from my BlackBerry(R) wireless device
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: "waudo siganga" <emailsignet at mailcan.com>
> >>
> >> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:38:46
> >> To: <dmakali at yahoo.com>
> >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Uganda consumers get ICT
> lobby]
> >>
> >>
> >> Talking of Uganda I have just learnt that they have a separate ICT
> >> Ministry (headed by our good friend Mulira) and a completely separate
> >> Ministry of Information and NATIONAL GUIDANCE to regulate
> >> media/broadcast content etc. I still believe in the superiority of a
> >> distinct ICT Ministry model .
> >> Waudo
> >>
> >> On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:01:09 +0300, "alice" <alice at apc.org> said:
> >>>
> >>> http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-
> >>> <http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/->
> >>> /index.html
> >>>
> >>> ----------------------
> >>>
> >>> Uganda consumers get ICT lobby
> >>> By ESTHER NAKKAZI
> >>>
> >>> Posted Friday, January 9 2009 at 14:26
> >>>
> >>> Dissatisfied ICT consumers in Uganda can now seek redress from the
> >>> Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association, in case of bad service,
> >>> substandard products and general unscrupulous practices by data and
> >>> voice service providers.
> >>>
> >>> The new lobby, which starts work later this month, will particularly
> >>> address the issue of slow data speeds delivered by Internet service
> >>> providers that do not correspond with the bandwidth paid for;
> >>> overpricing of services and substandard mobile handsets sold at rock
> >>> bottom prices through product promotions.
> >>>
> >>> The lobby's agenda is to ensure that consumers get value for money;
> >>> act as an arbiter between consumers and service providers; be a
> >>> platform for redress; be a proactive independent body that will set
> >>> standards for service providers and also create an avenue for
> >>> educating the public on consumer rights.
> >>>
> >>> "We want to bring the different players together for the good of the
> >>> industry. Consumers will get to understand what the suppliers are
> >>> giving them and the service providers will in turn realise that they
> >>> cannot get away with poor service," said James Wire Lunghabo,
> >>> chairman of the lobby and an IT expert at Linux Solutions.
> >>>
> >>> Mr Lunghabo said the lobby is not out to antagonise service providers
> >>> but to hold them accountable and make them understand that "quality
> >>> of service in the ICT sector is a right, not a favour."
> >>>
> >>> The chairman of the Parliamentary ICT Committee Edward Baliddawa,
> >>> said, "The lobby is a good initiative that will create checks and
> >>> balances within the industry. It will go a long way in helping to
> >>> educate consumers, most of whom do not have the capacity to verify
> >>> quality of services offered."
> >>>
> >>> The lobby group will complement the regulator Uganda Communications
> >>> Commission, which is mandated by the government to do this work.
> >>>
> >>> But critics say that though the Commission is mandated to handle
> >>> consumer complaints, the fact that it is funded by the service
> >>> providers, it cannot not be a fair arbiter.
> >>>
> >>> The Commission is funded through licence fees paid by ICT operators,
> >>> the government, a 1 per cent levy from operators' revenue under the
> >>> Rural Communication Development Fund and other fees, which the lobby
> >>> group says should be accounted for by an independent body. The
> >>> Commission runs a consumer relations desk that has been accused of
> >>> being docile.
> >>>
> >>> Commission officials said the new lobby is free to ask it for funding
> >>> as funds for such activities are available, given that the issue of
> >>> consumer protection is too big to be handled by a single entity.
> >>>
> >>> "We welcome every initiative and will be glad to have civil society
> >>> and public collaboration. The issue of consumer protection calls for
> >>> concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the sector," said Fred
> >>> Otunnu, the Director of Communications and Consumer Affairs at the
> >>> UCC.
> >>>
> >>> However, some industry players have already expressed reservations,
> >>> saying that if the lobby is to be funded by the Commission, it will
> >>> be controlled by the government and so lose its independence.
> >>>
> >>> http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-
> >>> <http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/->
> >>> /index.html
>
>
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