[kictanet] Internet Should Be A Public Utility Service

Sun Apr 5 14:01:49 EAT 2020

Such a timely conversation. Pains to watch the country come to a standstill
when a good number of functions can continue online if only we had
prioritized the right things eg infrastructure before free laptops.

The Law Society of Kenya filed a case back in 2018 to have access to the
internet declared a basic right
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nation.co.ke/news/LSK-makes-case-against-internet-tax/1056-4787340-view-asAMP-3kasjoz/index.html.
This would have several effects. Most important- place a positive burden on
the government to ensure universal access. All the problems listed by Noah
can be solved at a policy level if the categorization of Internet
infrastructure and accessories changes (currently classified as a luxury).

A huge problem is about to arise in the judicial sector. Courts are closed
to physical traffic, hearings and judgements currently being carried out
online. What we’re saying is you can access education, justice, government
functions only if you have access to the internet. This has to change.

On Sun, 5 Apr 2020 at 13:47, Noah via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

>
>
>
> On Sun, 5 Apr 2020, 13:33 Dorcas Muthoni, <dmuthoni at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Mobile devices are battery powered. Internet infrastructure exists. The
>> problem is tariff structure and perhaps licencing. New licence categories
>> are desired.
>>
>
> The battery of the mobile device must be charged every day from the main
> grid.
>
> The main grid is supplied by fossil fuels, natural gases and hydro most
> commonly.
>
> Are we seriously considering other sources like solar with abundance of
> sun and what are the regulations around that.
>
> Nuclear is also an option but that is a stretch for our poor economies.
>
> Bottom line affordability of energy has direct impact on what you are
> advocating.
>
>
>
>> Bottled water Vs clean tap after. We need a vendor for everyone.
>>
>> Let's increase the abundance thinking space my brother.  This is
>> possible.
>>
>
> No doubt but you need affordability at layer 0 of the OSI model before
> layer 1, 2 and 3 can be universally accessible and affordable.
>
> I submit
>
> Noah
>
>
>> On Sun, 5 Apr 2020, 13:25 Noah via kictanet, <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Is stima aka electricity universally accessible and affordable to even
>>> the poor and most vulnerable?
>>>
>>> Like i said earlier, ICT infrastructure needs a lot of stima and for
>>> internet to be universally accessible and affordable the electricity needed
>>> to power up the silicon chips must also be universally accessible and
>>> affordable across each county and kitongoji.
>>>
>>> If folks and their kids in kitongoji are still using candles and other
>>> rudimentary sources of power  because they cant afford it or due to lack of
>>> it while folks in cities can easily access stima then the universality of
>>> internet becomes impossible if not discriminatory.
>>>
>>> Noah
>>>
>>> On Sun, 5 Apr 2020, 10:13 S.M. Muraya via kictanet, <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Muthoni,
>>>>
>>>> This also addresses the Senate query posted by Liz Orembo concerning
>>>> how our industry can help with emergencies such as the pathogenic one we
>>>> are in right now. Will try to summarize some thoughts in one *long*
>>>> paragraph :)
>>>>
>>>> Energy (to power the internet) is connected to water infrastructure
>>>> (cooling data centres). Data centres (even in a single container) require
>>>> physical planning (national & county level approvals always require
>>>> kickbacks). County offices have been burning (arson - evidence destruction/
>>>> data protection). Schools are under counties, therefore ward level internet
>>>> infrastructure (providers) also needs protection. Community policing
>>>> (public participation) is required. Technology to enable public
>>>> participation (including online learning) is not being prioritized until
>>>> now. Local radio stations may be the most important but are not enough.
>>>> Infrastructure to download recorded (digital) data should be available in
>>>> all public schools.
>>>>
>>>> https://www.govtech.com/em/safety/Arson-Homeland-Security.html
>>>>
>>>> Now think of all the on going criminal cases in Kenya relating to the
>>>> above, sure to be delayed/destroyed in our courts. In this decade, will we
>>>> "succeed"  like in the past 5 decades in fighting AGAINST (transparency,
>>>> education) in Kenya? Remember these 2012 threads? Bitange Ndemo at his
>>>> best!
>>>>
>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/2012-January/015115.html -
>>>> enjoy - over 10 pages - clicking  next "thread"
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 12:17 AM Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi John,
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for mentioning the other pioneers I may have missed. Big thanks
>>>>> to them too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards, Muthoni
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, 4 Apr 2020, 20:05 John Kariuki, <kariuki_jn at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Muthoni,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I agree with you on the need to consider Internet as a Public
>>>>>> Utility. It is not difficult to implement it. It is not expensive either.
>>>>>> Bundles will never fully meet users needs for internet service. Remember
>>>>>> the cost curve of ICTs. Regarding the beginning of internet in Kenya in the
>>>>>> early nineties, there was some work done by USAID (Leyland Initiative) lead
>>>>>> by John Mark though not often acknowledged. Even more work was done by
>>>>>> African Online. It is worth checking on it.
>>>>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>>>>>> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Apr 4, 2020 at 16:53, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet
>>>>>> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This is an article I wrote recently:
>>>>>> http://www.afchix.org/blog_post/internet-should-be-public-utility/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Happy to here your thoughts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The regulatory framework needs to be future looking. The COVID-19
>>>>>> situation is bringing us back to the table to revise what we otherwise
>>>>>> thought was reasonable use and penetration of the Internet in Kenya and
>>>>>> across Africa.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Good time to revive  like APC, KICTANET etc to revisit policy
>>>>>> advocacy on  universally accessible and affordable Internet access. Internet
>>>>>> should be considered as critical as other services like water, electricity,
>>>>>> sewerage etc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We all know the school calendar is in total jeopardy and talks on
>>>>>> having kids repeat 2020 on the table.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Universally accessible and affordable Internet access is what will
>>>>>> give us a continuity strategy for education and support telemedicine. These
>>>>>> are some of the areas where growth must happen.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards, Muthoni
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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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
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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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.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> SMM
>>>>
>>>> *"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than
>>>> one who takes a city." Prov 16:32*
>>>> _______________________________________________
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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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>>>
>>> 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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>
> 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.
>
-- 
*Mercy Mutemi, Advocate*.
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