Contributed by Frédéric Donck

The Internet Society (ISOC) is organizing a high level policy meeting on “Broad and equitable access to the Internet”, which will take place on 16 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 2008).

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 optimise the use of universal service funds, which can be instrumental in providing access to areas that are not typically attractive for commercial operators.

The meeting is expected to trigger high level policy discussions between the 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.

For additional information please contact Mr Dawit Bekele, Regional Bureau of ISOC via email [email protected] or phone +251 911 22 13 33, or visit the website.

Rupa Mohan, Editor, [email protected]
Internet Society (ISOC), www.isoc.org

ISOC’s key initiatives target the critical issues that affect all aspects of Internet development and growth. They embody ISOC’s philosophy that the Internet is for everyone and they provide the organization with a solid foundation from which to positively influence standards development, access, business practices, and government policies. www.isoc.org