[Chapter-delegates] ISOC High-level Conference on " Broad and equitable access to the Internet" 16th October 2008, Dakar, Senegal

[Frédéric Donck]

Dear ISOC colleagues,

The Internet Society (ISOC) is organizing a high level policy meeting on
"Broad and equitable access to the Internet", which will take place on the
16th October 2008 in Dakar, Senegal. 

This event – which is specifically addressed to high level policymakers – is
organized by ISOC in collaboration with ISOC Sénégal and the Agence de
Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes (ARTP) of Senegal, following
three days of regional meetings dedicated to Internet Governance and
Development (13-15 October).

Broad and equitable access to the Internet is intended to address the
regulatory challenges that African policy makers face in this new era of
Internet and telecommunication infrastructure development. In particular, it
will feature discussions among key area specialists and decision makers
about the regulation of undersea cables as well as the new wireless
technologies that so many African countries are successfully deploying to
connect their rural zones. The meeting will also examine how to optimize the
use of universal service funds, which can be instrumental in providing
access to areas that are not attractive for commercial operators. 

The meeting is expected to trigger high level policy discussions between the
distinguished participants 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 recent fora, including Connect Africa in Kigali, the
Second Conference of African Ministers in charge of communication and
information technologies in Cairo, and the 9th Forum on Telecom/ICT
Regulation and Partnership in Africa in Dakar. 

If you, or any of your members, would like additional information please get
in touch with Mr Dawit Bekele, Regional Bureau of ISOC (bekele at isoc.org,
+251 911 22 13 33) or visit:
"http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/inet/08/senegal.shtml"


Best Regards

Frederic Donck
Director Public Policy
Internet Society

www.isoc.org