[Chapter-delegates] Press release: Leading policymakers and regulators address "Broad and Equitable Access to the Internet" at ISOC conference in Sénégal

[Gerard Ross]

Hello

For your information, here is a press release we shall be issuing  
shortly.


Kind regards
- Gerard

--
Gerard Ross
Senior Communications Manager
Internet Society
Email: ross at isoc.org


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Press release - for immediate distribution
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LEADING POLICYMAKERS AND REGULATORS ADDRESS "BROAD AND EQUITABLE  
ACCESS TO THE INTERNET" AT ISOC CONFERENCE IN SÉNÉGAL

Dakar, Sénégal; Reston, VA, USA; and Geneva, Switzerland - 24 November  
2008 - Questions of Internet access, infrastructure, and regulation  
attracted a strong audience of influential opinion leaders and  
decision makers to a recent Internet Society (ISOC) conference in  
Dakar, Sénégal.

The event, "Broad and Equitable Access to the Internet" (held, on 16  
October 2008 as part of ISOC's INET programme), drew more than 130  
participants, including senior managers from national regulatory  
authorities, policy makers, and government representatives, along with  
leading figures from civil society and the technical community in  
Africa.

A report on the event is now available on the ISOC web site,  
highlighting the major discussions and linking to all the event  
agenda, see:

http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/inet/08/docs/report-inet-dakar-20081016.pdf

This event was organised by ISOC in collaboration with ISOC Sénégal  
and the Agence de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes  
(ARTP) of Sénégal, following three days of regional meetings dedicated  
to Internet Governance and Development (13-15 October 2008).

"It was widely recognised throughout the event that the Internet  
requires a multistakeholder development model in order to foster  
access, innovation, and growth," explained Frédéric Donck, ISOC's  
Director of Public Policy. "There is certainly growing awareness that  
support of the Internet model should be a top priority for policy  
makers and regulators at the highest level."

"There are many highly respected 'champions' of the Internet at  
national and regional levels in Africa," added Mr Donck. "ISOC's  
activities are intended to build cooperation with these champions,  
strengthen their relationships, and catalyse action at regional level,  
especially in high level policy forums such as the United Nations  
Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union".

One of ISOC's fundamental principles is that the Internet can improve  
the lives of people everywhere and that, therefore, Internet  
development is a significant enabler for economic and social  
development.

"With the 'Broad and Equitable Access to the Internet' agenda, ISOC  
set out to achieve two objectives," said Dawit Bekele, ISOC's Regional  
Bureau Manager for Africa. "First, we wanted to address the regulatory  
challenges that African policy makers face in this new era of Internet  
and telecommunication infrastructure development, particularly in  
current African developments in wireless access, submarine cables, and  
universal service requirements."

"Second, we wanted to bring together the people who can leverage both  
the political commitments and technical expertise to address these  
issues," Mr. Bekele explained.

"Events such as the "Broad and Equitable Access to the Internet" are  
expected to trigger high level policy discussions on the issues that  
African heads of states, ministers, regulators, and other policy  
makers have identified as important for Internet development on the  
continent. These discussions will develop the dialogue from other  
forums and, through ongoing regional dialogue, will help progress the  
preparations for the African Heads of States summit that will focus on  
ICTs, planned to be held in Addis Ababa in 2010.

Full event details, are available on the ISOC web site:

  http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/inet/08/senegal.shtml



About the Internet Society
---------------------------
The Internet Society is an international, non-profit organisation  
founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards,  
education, and policy. With offices in Washington, DC, and Geneva,  
Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development,  
evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people  
throughout the world.


Further details
----------------
Scott Hoyt
Vice President, Strategic Communications and Business Planning
E-mail: hoyt at isoc.org
Telephone: +1-703-439-2120 x2142
1775 Wiehle Avenue
Suite 201
Reston, VA
20190-5108 USA

or

Gerard Ross
Senior Communications Manager, Internet Society
E-mail: ross at isoc.org
Telephone: +41-228-071-444 x2261
4, rue des Falaises
CH-1205-Geneva
Switzerland