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April 21, 2000: This message was distributed by Papyrus News, a free e-mail distribution list on the global impact of information technology on language, literacy, and education. Feel free to forward this message to others, preferably with this introduction. For information on Papyrus News, including how to (un)subscribe or access archives, see <http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/web/faculty/markw/papyrus-news.html>.
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We have prepared an expanded and updated version of the report,
"Bridging the Digital Divide: Internet Access in Central & Eastern
Europe." The report, supported by
a grant from the Open Society Institute and prepared in conjunction with GILC,
is available online at http://www.cdt.org/international/ceeaccess/
in both HTML and PDF versions.
The report addresses one of the most fundamental Internet policy issues -- the
challenge of affordable access. The
Internet offers the promise of a global, decentralized, and user-controlled
information society, but the democratizing potential of this medium will never
be realized if the Internet is available to only a few.
This is a challenge faced around the world. In every region, progress is being
made as governments, commercial entities, non-profits and grant-making bodies
strive to expand Internet connectivity.
However, there are concerns that the "digital divide" is
growing as the pace of change accelerates.
Focusing on the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, the report highlights
certain findings, which may have broader relevance:
* A major barrier to Internet usage
is the poor state of the underlying telecommunications infrastructure. Most
people, particularly residential users and NGOs, currently are dependent on
telephone dial-up connections to the Internet. Throughout the CEE region, teledensity rates are low, service
quality is often poor, and there are long waiting lists for installation of new
telephone lines.
* A second major barrier to Internet
usage is the practice of per-minute charges for local calls.
* In much of Central and Eastern
Europe, due to the influence of the European Union ("EU"),
telecommunications policy is focused on privatization and competition. It is
apparent that these are necessary but not sufficient conditions for the
expansion of access to both basic telecommunications and Internet services.
* Countries seeking accession to the EU must commit to universal service. Under
EU directives, the concept of universal service has been extended to Internet
access. This is an important lever over national governments, but so far has
not been reflected in concrete definitions of universal service or
"affordability."
* Given the rapid technological changes that are afoot and the global boom in
Internet development, there is an urgent need for the EU and other international
and regional bodies to adopt more effective measures to bring affordable access
to non-commercial users.
* A range of alternative access technologies, including wireless, fixed wireless,
satellite and cable modem, hold promise of leapfrogging infrastructure
deficiencies.
Many thanks to those who commented on the various drafts of the report. You
are welcome to link to it and to recirculate or repost this message in whole or
part. Please contact me if you would
like hard copies of the report by post.
Best regards to all,
Jim Dempsey
Center for Democracy and Technology
1634 I Street, NW Suite 1100
Washington DC, 20006
voice: 202.637.9800 fax:
202.637.0968
jdempsey@cdt.org
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