[kictanet] Introducing Facebook Africa Public Policy Team to KICTANet (Net Neutrality/Zero rating Qtns)

Wed Dec 2 08:15:12 EAT 2015

GG,
This is great to bring on board the Facebook public policy crew.  I have actually been looking for them!  And with PS nominee for Broadcast and Telecommunications on board, FB answers to mine, Ali's and any other question may go a long way in charting the way forward on this important topic.
My seven questions follow below:

Anti-competitivebehaviour*Those against zero-rated content arguethat it is anti-competitive because it disadvantages content providers who arenot zero-rating their content: My questions follow:

 •    1.What is your response to this, is zero rating anti-competitive?

•    2.How do you ‘chose’ /discriminate whose content would be free or part of theFreeBasics package?

•    3.How do you ‘chose’/discriminate which operator to work with?

  PromotingUniversal Access/Statistics

*Those supporting zero-rated contentargue that they provide access to those who would otherwise not have ANY access- which is a good thing. They further argue that Free Facebook Access is onlyintroductory internet with users graduating later into Full-blown internetaccess. My question follows:

•    4.Can you share statistics of no  of users on FreeBasics in Kenya?

•    5.Can you then share statistics of  the % of these FreeBasics users who thenmigrated onto the Full blown internet in Kenya?

•    6.Are there other statistical and independent sources for the above data? 

 Regulatoryperspectives

*Zero-Rated content is part of the widerNet-neutrality debate with various regulatory options being suggested rangingfrom strict regulation where Operators are asked to treat data equally withoutblocking, throttling or interfering with it.  Other economies preferself-regulations while the rest prefer No regulation(market decides approach). My question follows:

 •    7.What would be Facebook suggestion on regulatory aspects of Net-neutrality ingeneral and Zero-rating in particular?

Look forward to the responses.
-walu.

      From: Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
 To: jwalu at yahoo.com 
Cc: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
 Sent: Tuesday, December 1, 2015 7:02 AM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Introducing Facebook Africa Public Policy Team to KICTANet

Grace This is a great initiative and I applaud the Facebook team for making themselves available for this discussion.1.Firstly my concerns about zero rating certain sites. Foremost of which is obviously Facebook. I'm really curious to understand the process that FB uses to choose these websites. Shouldn't the community that is being exposed to this 'closed garden' be given a say on which websites they would like to access in this 'free program'?2. In which countries and regions is Free Basics operational? Do the regulatory environments of the US, Canada, India and EU allow FB to operationalize Free Basics because I'm certain that Internet Penetration levels have not hit 100% in those regions.3. What are your comments on the recent re-jigging of Internet.org after a spate of bad press especially in India? Internet access is critical for development but we need to be sure that it's not skewed against our own burgeoning Internet Economy. 4. How can FB improve its image beyond that of seeking eyeballs for its core business - Advertising?
Ali Hussein 
Tel: +254 713 601113On Dec 1, 2015 12:07 AM, "Grace Githaiga via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

Dear Listers
Greetings. I hope your week has started well.
The topic of Net Neutrality has become an important global Internet Governance issue in the last two years, and has generated some interesting debates. 
In Kenya, Facebook has partnered with Airtel to offer users zero rated services, christened "free basics" which means that several websites have been selected (for lack of a proper word)  to participate in the platform, where users access these websites for free. However, the same users cannot access any other website unless they pay for the data.
Different positions depending on where their proponents stand have been shared.  Please find one here by Nanjira Sambuli http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/free-internet-freedom-create/-/620/2975634/-/f6hgvx/-/index.html and another by our own Mwendwa Kivuva http://www.circleid.com/posts/20151124_zero_rating_a_poisoned_chalice_for_the_developing_world/
Those for pro zero rated services have argued that it gives more users free access to the Internet, and that it is a genuine attempt to connect the unconnected. Those on the opposite side argue that zero rating stifles innovation, leads to customers lock-in, is anti competitive behavior, confuses the users on the true meaning of the Internet, denies users choice, and makes policy makers lazy in ensuring proper affordable internet is availed to the masses.
Facebook's Head of Public Policy, Africa Ebele Okobi, and the Public Policy Manager, Africa Akua Gwekye have graciously agreed to respond to any queries the community has on zero rated services. 
The Process
Please articulate your concerns and ask questions as we usually do when we have moderated debates. The facebook team will then look at the questions and respond to you on Wednesday Evening. Depending on how it goes, we can then see how to continue engaging with them. 
I think this is a great opportunity for the facebook team to unpackage free basics issue, and it is my hope that the debate will be exciting given the prominence members of the list have given the net neutrality debate. 
Over to you listers! And a very warm welcome to Ebele and Akua. 
WarmlyGrace 
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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.

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