Community connectivity – empowering the unconnected – WS 03 2017

From EuroDIG Wiki
Revision as of 16:42, 12 May 2017 by MaaritP (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Programme overview 2017

WS 3: Community Connectivity: Empowering the Unconnected Consolidated programme 2018 overview

To follow the current discussion on this topic, see the discussion tab on the upper left side of this page


Final title of the session: Please send the final title until latest to wiki@eurodig.org. Do not edit the title of the page at the wiki on your own. The link to your session may otherwise disappear.

Session teaser

Many communities in Europe and globally continue to suffer from a lack of Internet connectivity or from unsatisfactory quality and affordability of their Internet connection. What can communities do when national broadband strategies and market-based approaches do not deliver an acceptable level of Internet connectivity? This workshop will explore different strategies, demonstrating how communities can take action and establish a sustainable Internet access model at local level.

Keywords

Internet access, connectivity, community networks, community hubs, Internet adoption, local content, empowerment

Session description

In Europe, there are still communities without Internet connectivity, and communities with unsatisfactory Internet connectivity in terms of quality and affordability. The level of connectivity does not necessarily depend on the average economic situation or the general state of development in any country – rather it depends on the prevailing policy environment, market conditions and on people’s awareness of the connectivity possibilities at community level.

In liberalized European telecommunications markets, private sector typically takes the lead in building access infrastructure and in providing connectivity to communities. If there is no interest to invest, European governments can use a variety of measures to promote Internet development ranging from public subsidies to tax incentives. However, sometimes these approaches are not enough. As a result, dozens of community networking projects and other local initiatives to boost Internet adoption have sprung up around Europe, showing the practicability of the “community connectivity” option.

Our objective is to analyze different examples of community networks and other local access initiatives, while debating the role of community networks for the European connectivity agendas. The aim of the session will be to analyze the recipes for success and reflect on the necessary elements of well-functioning community access initiatives.

Format

This workshop will feature key participants, who will share their insights on the topic to kick off the discussion. Following the introductory remarks, the two moderators will facilitate an interactive discussion with the audience.

Further reading

Until 30 April 2017. Links to relevant websites, declarations, books, documents. Please note we cannot offer web space, so only links to external resources are possible. Example for an external link: Main page of EuroDIG

People

Please provide name and institution for all people you list here.

  • Focal Point: Maarit Palovirta (ISOC)

Focal Points take over the responsibility and lead of the session organisation. Focal Points are kindly requested to observe EuroDIG's session principles. Focal Points work in close cooperation with the respective Subject Matter Expert (SME) and the EuroDIG Secretariat.

  • Subject Matter Expert (SME): Olivier Crepin Leblond (EURALO)

SMEs are responsible for the clustering of submissions into a thematic category they have an expertise in. They define subtopics and identify submissions which fall under this subtopic. The aim is to verify submissions which can be merged in one session. In the course of the session organising process SMEs will serve as a mentor for the respective category by supporting all Focal Points.

  • Key Participants (for workshop) or Panellists (for plenary)

Until 15 May 2017. Key Participants (workshop) are experts willing to provide their knowledge during a session – not necessarily on stage. Key Participants should contribute to the session planning process and keep statements short and punchy during the session. Panellist (plenary) will be selected and assigned by the org team, ensuring a stakeholder balanced dialogue also considering gender and geographical balance. Panellists should contribute to the session planning process and keep statements short and punchy during the session. Please provide short CV’s of the Key Participants involved in your session at the Wiki or link to another source.

  • Moderator

Maarit Palovirta, Internet Society

  • Remote Moderator

Fotjon Kosta

  • Organising Team (Org Team): Luca Belli, FGV Direito Rio; Ucha Seturi, Small and Medium Telecom Operator's Association of Georgia; Oliana Sula, Durres University, Mikhail Doroshevich, e-Baltic initiative; Marina Sokolova, Belarus; Stephen Wyber, International Federation of Library Associations; Elif Kuzeci, Max Planck Institute; Fotjon Kosta, Albanian Government
  • Reporter

Until 15 May 2017. The Reporter takes notes during the session and formulates 3 (max. 5) bullet points at the end of each session that:

  • are summarised on a slide and presented to the audience at the end of each session
  • relate to the particular session and to European Internet governance policy
  • are forward looking and propose goals and activities that can be initiated after EuroDIG (recommendations)
  • are in (rough) consensus with the audience
  • are to be submitted to the secretariat within 48 hours after the session took place

Please provide short CV of the reporter of your session at the Wiki or link to another source and contact the EuroDIG secretariat if you need help to find a reporter.

Current discussion, conference calls, schedules and minutes

See the discussion tab on the upper left side of this page. Please use this page to publish:

  • dates for virtual meetings or coordination calls
  • short summary of calls or email exchange

Please be as open and transparent as possible in order to allow others to get involved and contact you. Use the wiki not only as the place to publish results but also to summarize the discussion process.

Contact

Get in contact with the Org Team by sending an email.

Video record

Will be provided here after the event.

Transcript

Will be provided here after the event.

Messages

Please provide a short summary from the outcome of your session. Bullet points are fine.