<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Rachel</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">A pleasure to see an agency of government promptly respond in detail on queries by the community. Truly good winds of change are blowing. We really applaud this action.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Allow us to study the report and then revert back with questions/queries and suggestions.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Regards</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Ali
Hussein</font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Principal</font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><b>Hussein & Associates</b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"> </font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>T<font size="2">el: +254 713 60<font size="2">1113</font></font><br></span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Twitter: @AliHKassim</span><span></span></span></font></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">
</span></font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Skype: abu-jomo</span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>LinkedIn: <a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" target="_blank">http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim</a></span><a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"></span></a></span></font></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"></span></font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt">
</p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span><br><br><font size="1">Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.</font></span></span></font><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";font-size:11pt"></span><span style="font-size:11pt"></span>
<span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 4:27 PM, Alwala, Rachel <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Alwala@ca.go.ke" target="_blank">Alwala@ca.go.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style="word-wrap:break-word;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
<div style="font-size:14px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Dear Listers,</div>
<div style="font-size:14px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br>
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<div style="font-size:14px;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We appreciate the engagement and wish to provide the following clarifications regarding the Universal Service Fund. Please note that this is based on the questions raised and additional information
for your understanding.</div>
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<div>
<div>The Authority within the current FY 2015/16 contracted Intelecon Research Ltd of Canada to undertake an ICT Access Gaps Study whose objectives were: </div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">To engage the industry and other stakeholders / service providers to identify the gaps in the ICTs service provision. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> </span>Conduct an in-depth analysis of communication services in the country and map out access gaps in voice, data, broadcasting and postal &courier services at sub-location level across all counties in Kenya.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">To support implementation of initial USF network expansion projects, grouping gap areas and special projects (e.g. schools connectivity) into optimal lots for purposes of tendering.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> <span style="white-space:pre-wrap">
</span></span>Develop an interactive portal for regular updates and definition of the gaps for each service area giving GPS coordinates for selected USF clusters and other socio-economic characteristics.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> </span>Develop a 5 year USF Implementation Strategy based on projected funding<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Rev</span>iew the existing Operational Manual with a view of aligning it with relevant internal procedures of the Authority and procurement legislations.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<b>The progress made To-date<u></u><u></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
•<span style="line-height:normal"> </span>The consultants have delivered an acceptable Final Access Gaps report herewith attached; <span>Developed an interactive portal for regular updates by the Authority; </span><span>Are
currently reviewing the USF Operating Manual and thereafter develop the 5 year USF Implementation Strategy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<span><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<span>From the objectives of the ICT Gaps Study, it is clear the survey did not focus on the need to increase the USF levy amount neither did the study audit the use of USF funds. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<span><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<span>It should further be noted that even though the Act that created USF came into being in 2009, it was not until in the FY 2013/14 that the Authority issued the first USF invoices.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<span><br>
</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">As it awaited the legal framework to be in place and fully operationlize the Fund, the Authority undertook a number of preparatory activities for the implementation of USF. These include:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;line-height:17px">
<span style="text-align:justify">·</span><span style="text-align:justify"> Carrying</span><span style="text-align:justify"> out a number of studies to guide the implementation of the
Fund, these included the 1st National ICT Survey (2010/2011) and the ICT Access Gaps Study (2011); The Internet Market Study; the 2nd National ICT Survey (2016) targeting Public Sector and Business Enterprises covering all the 47 counties in Kenya. The National
ICT Survey has been undertaken in conjunction with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) with the objective of; establishing ownership, access and usage of ICTs in enterprises; measuring the use and access of ICTs by Government employees; measuring
availability of ICTs in enterprises and public sector institutions; measuring supply of e-Government services to citizens in Kenya and compute the e-Government development index. The data capture for the Public Sector and Business Enterprises has just been
concluded and a report will be shared with stakeholders.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;line-height:17px;text-align:justify">
<u></u><u></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:17px">The Authority also Implemented a number of Universal Access (UA) pilot projects whose lessons are instrumental in the implementation of USF projects. The
pilot projects include: 16 ICT Centers in Secondary Schools (2 in each province), 4 Community Centers, 8 ICT Centers schools for PWDs (covering all secondary schools for PwDs in Kenya), 56 e-Resource Centers within the Kenya National Library Service outlets,
E-health Project (implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Qualcomm Inc), Content Development that include the Digitization of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KCSE) Form I and II curriculum by Kenya Institute of Curriculum </span><span style="line-height:17px">Development</span><span style="line-height:17px"> (KICD);
developed a Web Portal for Persons With Disabilities (in partnership with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and United Disabled Persons of Kenya(NCPWD); supported the development of National Broadband Strategy (2012) </span><span style="line-height:17px">with
technical support from USAID’s Global Broadband Innovation (GBI) programme. A number of stakeholders supported the development of the National Broadband Strategy (NBS). These included the Ministry of Information Communications and Technology, the ICT Authority,
the then E-Government Directorate, Vision 2030 Secretariat and National Communications Secretariat and other stakeholders. This strategy is important in the realization of universal access to broadband services in Kenya. </span><span style="line-height:17px">These
projects have been fully funded by the Authority. </span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;text-align:justify">
<u></u><u></u></p>
<div>Universal Service Fund (USF) kitty has accumulated KES. 2.94 Billion from remittances by licensees while the Authority has contributed KES 1 Billion seed money to the fund putting the total collections at KES giving total collections to date at KES. 3.94
Billion. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The Access Gaps Study Report (attached) has<span style="line-height:18px;text-align:justify"> identified basic services and broadband gaps as the two priorities for USF investment in the FY 2016/17:</span></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<u></u><u></u></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-top:0cm">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
Infrastructure Projects: Closing the voice gaps in the identified 214 sub-locations. This will reduce the population coverage gap from 5.6% of the population to around half (2.8%) by 2018. The USF distributes Funds through subsidies. S<span style="line-height:normal">ince
USF subsidies will be distributed on a progressive basis as the awarded Lots are implemented, it is not expected that the USF will distribute more than 67% of the awards made in the first fiscal year of operation (2016/17), thus the final amount distributed
in 2016/17 on the voice service project will be approximately US$ 10 M (KES 1 billion).</span><span style="line-height:normal"> </span><u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
Broadband Connectivity in Secondary Schools in Kenya. The cost of braodband connectivity is estimated at KES. 500M.<u></u><u></u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
<u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18px">
These priority projects shall be implemented under the accepted guidelines of the USF and the existing procurement laws in Kenya which stress on transparency and competition in the distribution of funds.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 6pt"><b>USF Projects Implementation Plan<u></u><u></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify">The Schools Connectivity project will be designed to run in parallel with the ICT Infrastructure (Voice) Project. The schedule of USF implementation is as follows;</p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-top:0cm">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify">Project Design Report (scheduled for 27<sup>th</sup> May 2016)<u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify">Industry Workshop in the first week of June 2016.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify">Bidding Documents will be available at end of June 2016.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify">Awards of tender are expected to be made by early November 2016.<u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify">Implementation of the USF projects 2017</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<div>Kindly note that the Authority is the secretariat to the Univeral Service Advisory Council (USAC) and can provide any information required. The CA website is updated with news items, publications, so make effort to equally follow us on online platforms
and achievements to date. Lastly, we wish to clarify that the Universal Service Levy imposed under section 84J (3) of the Act is to be charged on all licensees offering communication systems and services on a commercial basis. The Act provides for the Levy
charged on licensees at an amount not exceeding one percent (1%) of the gross revenue of a licensee. However, the Authority's Board settled on 0.5% after due consultation with the industry. At no point has the Authority considered increasing the levy amount
since the ICT voice gaps has considerably reduced to 5.6%. Any changes in the percentage of contribution will be subjected to industry consultations. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Hope this gives you some insights that are helpful. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Regards, </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Rachel Alwala</div>
<div>Assistant Director/Communications and External Affairs</div>
<div>Communications Authority of Kenya </div>
<div>PO Box 14448</div>
<div>Nairobi 00800</div>
<div>Tel: +254 703 042000</div>
<div>Email: <a href="mailto:alwala@ca.go.ke" target="_blank">alwala@ca.go.ke</a></div>
<div>Website: <a href="http://www.ca.go.ke" target="_blank">www.ca.go.ke</a></div>
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<span style="font-weight:bold">From: </span>KICTAnet Discussions <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Reply-To: </span>KICTAnet Discussions <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Date: </span>Monday, April 18, 2016 at 14:27<br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">To: </span>Rachel Alwala <<a href="mailto:alwala@ca.go.ke" target="_blank">alwala@ca.go.ke</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Cc: </span>Ali Hussein <<a href="mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke" target="_blank">ali@hussein.me.ke</a>><br>
<span style="font-weight:bold">Subject: </span>[kictanet] CA BOOSTS FUND FOR BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE<br>
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<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">
<p dir="ltr"><font face="georgia,serif">See attached news clip. Couldn't find the online version. Good initiative. No doubt. </font></p>
<p dir="ltr"><font face="georgia,serif">However, I'm curious:-</font></p>
<p dir="ltr"><font face="georgia,serif">1. Why is it that the study only focused on need for more cash?</font></p>
<p dir="ltr"><font face="georgia,serif">2. I haven't seen the report but I'm hoping that it also includes an audit on how much has been spent since the fund was started, it's impact and challenges. Could whoever is on this list provide us with a link to review
this study?</font></p>
<p dir="ltr"><font face="georgia,serif">3. Why the Board, appointed to administer and execute this fund has been consistently missing in action on this list. Surely they don't have anything to hide do they? Silence speaks volumes. This forum isn't about just
criticizing but about engaging and contributing to the development of ICTs in this country. Be a part of it. You can't ignore us forever. </font></p>
<p dir="ltr"><font face="georgia,serif">4. Could the CA provide this forum and Kenyans at large a Performance Report on this very important component of our ICT development? </font></p>
<div><font face="georgia,serif">Regards</font></div>
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</span></span>
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</blockquote></div><br></div></div>