[kictanet] IGF Week Day 2 Discussion - Digital Inclusion

Tue Jul 30 22:29:08 EAT 2019

Dear listers,
Thank you Kelvin for raising the concerns
I will try my best to respond satisfactorily

1. What are the government regulations on Community Networks

*The issue of government regulations on community networks is not as clear
since community networking is slightly a new concept but it sure is an
important issue....*

2. Are there any licenses required? Spectrum License or Operating License?

*There is no spectrum licensing - like in the case of Tunapanda, what is
used is the open spectrum which is a globally unlicensed spectrum*
*The same way NGOs are licensed to operate, community networks are required
to obtain an operational license*

I have also realized that KICTANet recently hosted the local Community
Network Global Inception Meeting, more here
https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?p=40352, any insights from those that attended?
How come our very own TunapandaNet did not attend?

 i attended the global inception meeting and several things stood out
Community networks are owned by the community and for the benefit of the
community
 Sustainability model where most community networks agreed that it is the
main area of concern considering the costs incurred and the huge amount of
labour required for the operation of community networks. The argument being
community members expect a stipend and if they agree to volunteer, they
never stay in the network for long hence leaving projects halfway.
in other cases, volunteers are given learning opportunities/ platforms by
the Community network but once they are knowledgeable they move on to
'greener pastures' then the community network has to start the process of
looking for volunteers and the cycle continues.

the solution to this was to use locally produced products to reduce
production costs and devising ways to motivate the volunteers to help grow
the network
 there was also a mango tree challenge which illustrated a typical mango
tree which has ripe, unripe and green mango fruits. The point was to
encourage the community networks to set goals that are SMART. The ripe
mango represented the things that needed to be done immediately while the
unripe represented the short term goals and the green represented the long
term goals.

 Tunapanda as a community network was not present since the 12 community
networks in attendance were grant recipients of the Association for
Progressive Communications Local Access Network (APC LOCNET). Applications
were made and the 12 community networks were selected for the grant.
However Josephine Miliza of Tunapanda was present. she is the African
coordinator on the  APC LOCNET project.

i'll be glad to give additional information.
regards.

On Tue, Jul 30, 2019, 1:32 PM Kelvin Kariuki via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Dear Listers,
> Thank you Victor for sharing this discussion with us, my focus on Digital
> Inclusion is on Access and Affordability: Community Networks might reduce
> this gap;
> From this discussion https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?p=37878 I found this:
> "Community networks represent a valuable alternative model that deserves
> to be explored to improve access to Information and Communication
> Technologies to underserved communities worldwide. "
>
> Some unanswered questions were also asked in that discussion:
> 1. What are the government regulations on Community Networks
> 2. Are there any licenses required? Spectrum License or Operating License?
> 3. Why has CA been silent on this topic?
>
> I have also realized that KICTANet recently hosted the local Community
> Network Global Inception Meeting, more here
> https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?p=40352, any insights from those that
> attended? How come our very own TunapandaNet
> did not attend?
>
> On Tue, Jul 30, 2019 at 11:31 AM Victor Kapiyo via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> Good morning listers,
>>
>> As we approach this year's Kenya Internet Governance Forum on 1 August
>> 2019, we would like to continue today's discussion in line with the theme One
>> Kenya. One Net. One Vision.
>>
>> Today's sub-theme is Digital Inclusion. Digital Inclusion is about both
>> identifying those with less or no access to the Internet (e.g. underserved
>> communities, marginalized groups, the minorities, people with disabilities
>> or people lacking digital literacy) and it is about activities related to
>> the achievement of an inclusive information society.
>>
>> We would appreciate your thoughts on the following:
>>
>>    - How can we tackle access and affordability issues, and what
>>    improvements need to be made?
>>    - How can we better utilize primary and secondary schools and
>>    tertiary institutions to promote and to deliver on digital literacy
>>    programmes?
>>    - How do we ensure that Internet governance processes are truly
>>    inclusive?
>>    - What needs to be done to enhance the capacity of different actors?
>>    - How do we ensure that these skills and employment opportunities are
>>    equitable to all on an equal footing?
>>
>> We look forward to hearing from you.
>>
>> Regards
>> *Victor Kapiyo*
>> Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP*
>> *Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi | **Web:
>> www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke> *
>> ====================================================
>>
>> *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig
>> Ziglar*
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>
>
> --
> Best Regards,
>
> Kelvin Kariuki
> Assistant Lecturer
> Multimedia University of Kenya
> Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
> Twitter Handle: @teacherkaris
> Alt email: kkariuki at mmu.ac.ke
> Mobile: +2547 29 385 557
>
> The Lord is my Shepherd
>
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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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