Universal Broadband: Option, Right or Obligation?

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Krishna Jayakar
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Broadband Access ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Consumer Sovereignty ◽  
Human Autonomy ◽  
Information And Communication

Efforts to encourage universal access to information and communication technologies have run into the problem that some individuals, for reasons of affordability, lack of awareness or preference, continue to be without subscriptions. This article examines the arguments commonly put forward in support of promoting broadband access, to determine whether they can justify universalizing access. It examines the ethical limits of government actions that encourage, enforce or coerce participation in socially beneficial programmes, while potentially overlooking consumer sovereignty and human autonomy. The conclusions address how policymakers can encourage universal access to broadband, while respecting the rights of citizens.

Telecentre-Based Community Wireless Networks

2013 ◽  
pp. 160-177
Author(s):  
Dorothy Okello ◽  
Julius Butime
Keyword(s):  
Wireless Networks ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Information And Communication

This chapter shares the experiences of the Community Wireless Resource Centre (CWRC) as it embarked on the journey to address affordable connectivity for four telecentres in rural and underserved Uganda via telecentre-based community wireless networks. Telecentres have long played a key role in availing access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and in supporting the provision of universal access. With falling prices and new technologies increasing individual access to ICTs, the telecentre-based community wireless networks need to continually innovate in order to remain relevant to both the telecentres and the partners that together comprise the community wireless networks.

Engendering Universal Access to ICT in Rural Areas

2011 ◽  
pp. 264-268
Author(s):  
Sonia N. Jorge
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Developing Societies ◽  
Historically Disadvantaged ◽  
Community Access

The concept of community access to information and communication technologies (ICT) has gained widespread attention as a strategically vital response to the perpetual lack of affordable access to ICT and ICT services in the developing world, particularly in rural and peri-urban1 poor areas. Community access is not in itself a new idea; however, it provides an encouraging policy approach to overcoming the wide disparities of access and, as such, to provide opportunities for developing societies and historically disadvantaged regions and populations to participate in the newly emerging social and economic orders. This article focuses on community access centers as essential to facilitate access to ICT for women in rural areas in the developing world.

Access to information technology of households and secondary school students in Turkey

2021 ◽  
pp. 026666692110089
Author(s):  
Nejat İra ◽  
Mehmet Yıldız ◽  
Gamze Yıldız ◽  
Eylem Yalçınkaya-Önder ◽  
Ali Aksu
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
School Students ◽  
National Education ◽  
Internet Connection ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Information And Communication

The aim of the study was to investigate secondary school students’ and teachers’ access to information technologies in Turkey by making interregional comparisons. Document analysis of the qualitative research methods was employed to analyze the reports issued by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results of the research revealed the importance of access to information and communication technologies for both students and teachers: 67.9% of the participating students were found to have Internet connection and 69.1% a computer in their homes, while 80.3% of the students were observed to use a computer outside the school, but 19.7% were not. The results also showed that 64.6% of the students have Internet connection in their classrooms, but 29.2% of these students do not use the Internet in the classroom, whereas 8.9% use it in the classroom all the time. The rate of students using a digital device for reading is 38.1%, while that of those not using one is 61.9%. Some 32.1% of secondary school students were revealed not to have Internet connection at home. Additionally, 77% of teachers were not trained in online teaching prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the findings, teachers can be suggested to develop projects – i.e., of TUBITAK, E-twinning, and Erasmus – which potentially encourage students to use information and communication technologies so that both teachers and students can benefit from them. It is also suggested that the Ministry of National Education should work on improving the information communication technology competencies of teachers and students. Besides, policies should be developed to eliminate regional differences in terms of access to digital resources and technology in terms of equal opportunities and opportunities.

Librarians, Records Managers, and E-Government

2012 ◽  
pp. 1148-1164
Author(s):  
Cathrine T. Nengomasha
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Traditional Role ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Government ◽  
Modern Technologies

Governments have turned to the use of information and communication technologies with the aim of improving service delivery, encouraging citizens in the decision making process, and enhancing accountability, transparency, and effectiveness. Effective inclusive participation of citizens in the government of their country requires access to information through modern technologies. Access to information is vital for transparency, accountability, participation, and the rule of law – all hallmarks of democratic governance. This chapter looks at the role of librarians and records managers in promoting e-government. Their traditional role of collecting, organizing, preserving, and disseminating information places them in a very significant position in e-governance implementation. However, in an electronic environment, they face a number of challenges which include economic, technological, and information literacy. The role played by these professionals, and the challenges each meet are discussed. Some recommendations are provided to enhance the role of these professionals in e-government implementation.

The Challenges of Using Zero-Rating (Free Basics) for Addressing the Affordability of ICT Access in Developing Countries

2020 ◽  
pp. 99-115
Author(s):  
John N. Walubengo ◽  
Sam Takavarasha Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Mobile Network Operators

As the body of evidence on the usefulness of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for poverty reduction and development continues to grow, mobile network operators (MNOs), development agencies, and regulators are employing various measures to increase universal access. These measures are motivated by corporate social responsibility, pro-poor ideologies, and regulatory requirements imposed by regulators. While regulators have employed price controls and infrastructure sharing, MNOs have employed free basics to provide internet access to those who could not afford it. The introduction of free basics seems plausible, but it is fraught with implementation challenges. This article discusses such challenges with a view to clarifying how the steps taken to foster affordability affect the conflicting interests of different stakeholders on the ICT data and voice eco-system.

scholarly journals Concentration of Access to Information and Communication Technologies in the Municipalities of the Brazilian Legal Amazon

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e0152655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Rossy de Brito ◽  
Aleksandra do Socorro da Silva ◽  
Adejard Gaia Cruz ◽  
Maurílio de Abreu Monteiro ◽  
Nandamudi Lankalapalli Vijaykumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Information And Communication

Users of ICT at Public Access Centers

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Gomez ◽  
Kemly Camacho
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
And Gender

Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés offer opportunities for wider public access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper presents findings of a global exploratory study on the landscape public access venues in 25 countries around the world. The goal of the project was to better understand the users of public access venues and their needs, this being one of several papers that result from the global study. This paper identifies profiles of the users of the different types of venues with respect to age, income, education and gender. While findings are not new, their value lies in the compelling evidence drawn from 25 countries and across different types of public access venues, which has never been done before. Results highlight the importance of strengthening public access venues in non-urban settings and to strengthen programs that reach out to underserved populations. The authors also point to special challenges faced by libraries and telecenters given the immense growth of cybercafés as public access venues in most of the countries studied.

Digital Language Divide in the European High North: The Level of Online Presence of Minority Languages from Northern Finland, Norway and Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Dymet
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Minority Languages ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Online Presence ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Unequal Access ◽  
Digital Language

One of the inequalities generated by the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the digital language divide, that is, differences in the online presence of languages and unequal access to information due to the lack of understanding of the available content. The digital language divide is particularly visible in the case of small languages with a low number of speakers. There is a large group of languages with non-existent or irrelevant online presence. This is often the case of the endangered minority languages. The number of language speakers or the level of knowledge of a given language is not sufficient to generate a vital online community. This article presents the current language situation in the European High North with a focus on minority languages: Sámi and Meänkieli languages in Sweden, Sámi and Kven languages in Norway, and Sámi languages in Finland. It also introduces the phenomenon of digital language divide. The article explores the current situation of the minority languages in the European High North in light of their online presence. It responds to the following questions: Is there online presence of the studied minority languages? Is there a need amongst the minorities’ members for more extensive presence? To conclude, the article discusses the possible effects of a language’s underrepresentation.

scholarly journals “Reprodução Proibida”: Financiamento público e direitos de cópia privados | Reproduction forbidden: public financing and private copyrights

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge A. S. Machado ◽  
Gisele da Silva Craveiro
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Investments ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
New Information ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Access To Knowledge

Resumo Esse texto apresenta um sumário das pesquisas realizadas pelo Grupo de Políticas Públicas para Acesso à Informação GPOPAI) desde 2006 sobre o financiamento público de conteúdos científicos. Os resultados apontam que, apesar do intenso investimento público no Brasil, o setor privado vem se apropriando e impondo barreiras ao acesso a livros técnico-científicos e artigos científicos – neste caso, em especial, as editoras estrangeiras. No que se refere ao software produzido na academia, os dados apontam para uma completa indiferença da comunidade e à ausência de políticas públicas para o seu acesso. De modo geral, os resultados indicam para a necessidade de uma reforma na lei de direitos autorais, de modo a atualizá-la face as novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação e a atender ao interesse público do acesso ao conhecimento que as tecnologias digitais proporcionam. Palavras-chave acesso ao conhecimento, direitos autorais, financiamento público, ciência Abstract This paper presents a summary of research conducted since 2006 on public funding of scientific contents by the Public Policy Group for Access to Information (GPOPAI). The results suggest that in the case of technical and scientific books and scientific articles, the private sector is creating and imposing barriers to access to knowledge, despite of intensive public investments in Brazil. In relation to software produced by universities, the community is completely indifferent and there is a lack of public policies for its access. Overall, the results indicate the need for a profound reform and update of copyright law regarding new information and communication technologies, considering the public interest in access to knowledge. Keywords access to knowledge, copyright, public investiment, science

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