[kictanet] Net neutrality 'first world' problem?

[Paul Roy]

I think you jumped the gun here Ali. The CS's point is that we have a long
way to go in expanding internet access for now that we should not be
worried about net neutrality kind of discussions.

This doesn't mean that lobbyist and special interest groups that are
externally well funded should not express their ideas and opinions in
public forums, but to also acknowledge the effort the government is doing.

Back to your analogy of roads, If you have no roads you would not insist on
having a tarmac road as the only form of acceptable road. An all weathered
road will be better than no road at all. Of course you can always ask for
it's upgrade.

On public forum discussion - i totally agree on the need to have one
soonest.



On Sat, Feb 27, 2016 at 7:38 AM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Liz
>
> Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately I think that notion is too simplistic.
> Net Neutrality is not only a first world problem. And comparing it with
> bread and other foods is basically missing the point.
>
> Let's address it from an infrastructure point of view. Firstly the
> Internet is now so critical that this Balkanization that is happening is
> discriminatory. The likes of the Internet Giants who dole out a walled
> garden form of Internet access have zero motive for the good of the African
> people - they are after eyeballs. Plain and simple.  Eyeballs mean money.
>
> Secondly, the government has a responsibility to make the Internet
> affordable, and to make access free in marginalized areas and communities.
> That's why we have the Universal Access Fund.
>
> Thirdly, to say that Net Neutrality is a first world problem is to rubbish
> all the startups that are struggling to build content in Africa. They
> surely don't have the muscle of Google or Facebook to dole out 'Free
> Access'.  And if we allow this to happen they will have a snowball in hell
> getting their content read.
>
> Our CS is quoted as saying:-
>
> It’s like saying someone has no food, but if someone brings them bread we
> are not going to allow them to have the bread because they must have a
> balanced diet,” he said. “I don’t think that works for me.”
>
> I'll compare this statement with access to roads. So if we don't have
> access to roads we should accept potholed ones? Granted we may not have a
> choice but to use the potholed ones (as is the case). However it sure
> doesn't make it right! Someone is dropping the ball and they must be made
> accountable.
>
> One thing I'll concede is that Net Neutrality as defined by the first
> world is just not workable here. That's why we must define Net Neutrality
> from an African perspective.
>
> A National Forum is long overdue.
>
> *Ali Hussein*
> *Principal*
> *Hussein & Associates*
> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>
>
> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On 26 Feb 2016, at 9:43 PM, Liz Orembo via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>
> Interesting read.
>
>
> http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-02-24-africa-internet-access-more-important-for-africa-than-net-neutrality-which-is-a-first-world-problem/
>
> --
>
> Best regards.
> Liz.
>
> PGP ID: 0x1F3488BF
>
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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.
>



-- 
"Change is slow and gradual. It requires hardwork, a bit of
luck, a fair amount of self-sacrifice and a lot of patience."

Roy.
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