[kictanet] ITU Internet Takeover Conspiracy Not real.

Wed Jun 13 16:15:09 EAT 2012

Ali Hussein,
To be honest about this, the best route will be through the African
Telecommunications Union (ATU). We do not have the muscle to have our own
opinion on controversial global issues.  In Africa I think it is only
South Africa that can do this simply because they are self reliant in many
ways.

Regards

Ndemo.

> Chip
>
> Thanks. I basically agree with you. And it just goes to reconfirm the fear
> of many on the lack of transparency that is related to this process.
>
> What I like about your email is the drilling down on certain specifics
> from
> a technical and user perspective. I think that not many of us would pick
> up
> the nuances and the implications of some of the proposals unless you are a
> keen player in the space.
>
> Again I reiterate the fact that if we continue engaging in this process
> the
> way we have then we will have no surprises come December.
>
> Lastly I also agree with you that as a country, Kenya must make its
> position known. (Daktari Ndemo, sorry but even if our position is grey,
> not
> black and white then we must know what it is. Hence the process that I
> hope
> will start tomorrow with an online discussion is critical as sometimes we
> forgot that Government is us not 'them. :-) )
>
> Regards
>
> Ali Hussein
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 1:13 PM, Hascall Sharp <chsharp at cisco.com> wrote:
>
>> Ali,
>>
>> Sorry, this email grew beyond the short reply I was planning. :-)
>>
>> I mostly agree with the main message of the story.
>>
>> In my opinion, the argument over whether the UN or ITU is taking over
>> the
>> Internet is a distraction from the proposals at WCIT that *will* affect
>> the
>> Internet in a substantive manner.
>>
>> The UN and ITU can't make proposals to modify the International
>> Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), only countries can.  So it is
>> really
>> the countries that are making proposals into WCIT.  I'm not naive enough
>> to
>> think that the ITU staff can't make suggestions or influence the
>> process,
>> but a country still has to make a proposal.
>>
>> There are proposals of great concern to the operation of the Internet
>> though, for example:
>>  * Routing:  A proposal to allow countries to specify what routes its
>> traffic takes or to know the end-to-end routes of its traffic.  This is
>> framed in the context of voice calls, but there is nothing precluding
>> the
>> provision from being applied to the Internet.
>>  * IPv6 address allocation: This proposal would oblige the ITU to
>> allocate
>> IPv6 addresses. It isn't clear how this would work with the RIR system.
>>  * Internet Interconnection:  There are a couple of proposals regarding
>> Internet interconnection, basically getting governments involved in the
>> negotiation of interconnect agreements and potentially imposing a
>> telephony
>> style settlements and accounting regime.
>>  * A change in wording from "Registered Operating Agency" to "Operating
>> Agency".  This seemingly small change could greatly expand the scope of
>> the
>> ITRs to entities and organizations not previously under its mandates,
>> e.g.,
>> ISPs, private lines, multinational companies, VPNs, amateur radio
>> operators
>> (ham radio), etc.
>>  * A proposal to add the word "processing" to the definition of
>> telecommunications.  This would bring computing and information systems
>> (e.g., IT) under the ITRs.
>>  * Spam:  A proposed definition of spam and obligations for governments
>> to
>> take action.  While we all hate spam (well except for the people making
>> money off it), adding a definition and mandates to a treaty is a bad
>> idea.
>>  There are too many opportunities for unintended consequences and
>> treaties
>> are very difficult to revise (we lived with the last one for over 20
>> years).
>>  * Cybersecurity:  Various mandates and proposals related to
>> cybersecurity.
>>  * VoIP:  Delegates in the Council Working Group on WCIT have made it
>> clear that they plan to apply the ITRs to VoIP.  This could severely
>> affect
>> the ability to use VoIP over the Internet in different countries.  There
>> are various proposals on misuse of numbering, fraud and Origin
>> Identification.  Remember that misuse and fraud in one country might be
>> seen as competition or ingenuity in another country.
>>  * etc.
>>
>>  Countries like Sweden, Canada, USA, Hungary, UK, Finland, Australia
>> have
>> argued for a more open process and could be proposing a more open
>> process
>> in the very near future.  It would really be helpful if they could get
>> some
>> support from other countries (e.g., Kenya).  If there is a way for any
>> on
>> this list to talk to their national delegations then it might help.
>>
>> The WCITLeaks web site has a proposed draft of the revised ITRs with all
>> proposals included (but without attribution).
>>
>> http://files.wcitleaks.org/public/T09-CWG.WCIT12-120620-TD-PLEN-0064MSW-E.pdf
>>
>>
>> Chip
>>
>> On Jun 13, 2012, at 10:41 AM, Ali Hussein wrote:
>>
>> > Alice
>> >
>> > Very balanced story. It doesn't still answer the question as to why
>> these
>> > proposals by different governments aren't public knowledge..It just
>> gives
>> > new meaning to the swahili word - Siri Kali (For those on the list
>> that
>> may
>> > not understand the swahili words its a play on the words Serikali,
>> swahili
>> > for Government. So Siri Kali then means loosely Deep Secrets)  :-)
>> >
>> > What I am glad about though is that this whole debate has put focus on
>> the
>> > important issues and that whoever has ulterior motives has been
>> 'outed'.
>> I
>> > am also glad that we have a forum like Kictanet that allows us to talk
>> > about such issues.
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> > Ali Hussein
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 10:31 AM, <alice at apc.org> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/technology/debunking-rumors-of-an-internet-takeover.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > *Ali Hussein|Managing Partner*
>> >
>> > *
>> > *Telemedia Africa
>> > Azania Technology Group
>> >
>> > Chaka Court, Argwings Kodhek Road
>> >
>> > P O Box  14556-00100
>> >
>> > Office: +254 737 751409
>> >
>> > Cell:     +254 773/713 601113
>> >
>> > *Nairobi, Kenya*
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Twitter: @AliHKassim
>> >
>> > Skype: abu-jomo
>> >
>> >
>> > "You generally hear that what a man doesn't know doesn't hurt him, but
>> in
>> > business what a man doesn't know does hurt.". - E. St. Elmo Lewis,
>> member,
>> > Advertising Hall of Fame
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>> >
>> > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>> platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>> >
>> > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>> do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> *Ali Hussein|Managing Partner*
>
> *
> *Telemedia Africa
> Azania Technology Group
>
> Chaka Court, Argwings Kodhek Road
>
> P O Box  14556-00100
>
> Office: +254 737 751409
>
> Cell:     +254 773/713 601113
>
> *Nairobi, Kenya*
>
>
>
>
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
>
> "You generally hear that what a man doesn't know doesn't hurt him, but in
> business what a man doesn't know does hurt.". - E. St. Elmo Lewis, member,
> Advertising Hall of Fame
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>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
> development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.