Session

Time

Wednesday, 4th November, 2020 (18:20 UTC) - Wednesday, 4th November, 2020 (19:50 UTC)

Room

Room 2

About this Session

The session will discuss the value of community networks to expand access and empower individuals and communities in times of emergencies, such as the covid19 pandemic. Participants will discuss concrete initiatives, present case studies and innovative approaches to foster meaningful connectivity, featured in the 2020 DC3 outcome report on “The Value of Internet Openness at Times of Crisis”.

Community Connectivity

Round Table - U-shape - 90 Min

Theme

Inclusion

Subtheme(s)

Access
Community Networks

Description

This session will discuss the importance of Internet access and the relevance of community networks as a credible strategy to expand access empowering people, at times of crises. As the recent Covid19 pandemic is tellingly demonstrating, connectivity is becoming increasingly essential for our social, economic, and political lives. Panellists will explore a variety of standpoints discussed by the authors of the DC3 annual outcome (developed in partnership with DCNN): the report on “The Value of Internet Openness at Times of Crisis” The session will have a tripartite structure featuring: 1) Presentations based on the contributions to the DC3 annual outcome report 2) Discussion of the latest community networking evolutions, highlighted by the covid19 pandemic 3) Identification of new challenges and cooperation opportunities to be considered by the future work of DC3

Relevance to IG

Over the past five years the work of DC3 has directly impacted the way in which stakeholders define shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. A clear example is the joint publication of the Community Network Manual by FGV, ITU and ISOC. https://bibliotecadigital.fgv.br/dspace/handle/10438/25696 The book consolidates best practices that shape establishment the evolution of community networks (that in turn shape the evolution of the Internet) and has already influenced national policy development. See the recent adoption (February 2020) of a community network definition by the Brazilian Telecoms regulator (ANATEL), explicitly mentioning and quoting the Community Network Manual. https://www.anatel.gov.br/setorregulado/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/528-redes-comunitarias

All DC3 outcomes and publications are available at http://www.comconnectivity.org/

Relevance to Theme

The proposal aims at discussing the value of community networks to expand access and empower individuals and communities in times of emergencies, such as the covid19 pandemic. This issue is considered highly pressing and timely in many internet governance and policy circles, well beyond the community network community. Participants will discuss concrete initiatives, case studies and innovative approaches to foster meaningful connectivity.

Organizers

Luca Belli, FGV

Speakers

Sonia Jorge, Alliance for Affordable Internet A4AI
Osama Manzar, DEF
Jane Coffin, ISOC
Rolf H. Weber, University of Zurich
Cynthia El Khoury, APC
Senka Hadzic, CyberBRICS / Research ICT Africa
Nicholas Echaniz, AlterMundi

Onsite Moderator

Judith Hellerstein, Hellerstein & Associates

Online Moderator

Luca Belli, FGV

Rapporteur

Judith Hellerstein, Hellerstein & Associates

SDGs

GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities

Reference Document

Report

1. Key Policy Questions and related issues

the importance of Internet access and connectivity

Creation of a new definition for connectivity called Meaningful connectivity and meaningful access. Also creating a way of measuring how this goal is met or can be met.

the relevance of community networks as a credible strategy to expand access, empowering people, and increasing connectivity.

2. Summary of Issues Discussed

Areas of broad support/agreement:

Alternative models of providing connectivity are necessary.
Community Networks are an efficient alternative to typical models of connectivity, especially for rural or neglected areas.
COVID19 has accentuated the importance of connectivity for the full enjoyment of personality and citizenship rights. The pandemic is a harsh reminder that without internet connection, people are estranged from opportunities and services. Half of the world still experiences this disconnect, because of a lack of infrastructure and appropriate policies.
Internet access is a basic right and a public good.
Community Networks require specific public policies in order to be feasible.
“Meaningful connectivity” requires more than the simple capacity to access the internet sporadically, under limited infrastructural and technical conditions or with a reduced scope.
When freeing up more spectrum or implementing spectrum sharing schemes, regulators should allow for the implementation of Community Networks.

Areas of no agreement/areas needing further discussion and development:

Talking about providing “access” to the internet fits into a conceptual framework that allows for disparities in the real capabilities of internet connectivity. This is due to the fact that “access” may refer to access to concentrated information silos. This means that it is also necessary to de-concentrate the internet, and Community Networks are an efficient way to do so, because they create little “portions” of the Internet connected to the greater whole - the way the Internet was actually meant to be.
There are context-specific characteristics to meaningful connectivity. For example, the choice of device - a smartphone or a desktop computer, for example - may significantly change from one context to another based on privacy considerations.

3. Key Takeaways

“Meaningful connectivity” is a new concept of connectivity based on four minimum technical thresholds: 1. at least 4G equivalent mobile broadband connection; 2. at a minimum, access to a smart device; 3. a fixed wired or wireless connection at home; and 4. that people can use the internet whenever they need, not sporadically. The Alliance for Affordable Internet is putting together guidelines on how to implement this concept of meaningful connectivity and how to measure the progress toward its realization in practice.
Community Networks are not seen as rogue initiatives anymore. There have been various successful implementations which have demonstrated their potential and sustainability.
Community Networks help in dealing with crises such as the COVID19 pandemic because they are more agile than traditional networks. They have been applied to bring communities information on COVID19 with significant success.
Access to the internet should be framed from a human rights point of view. It is instrumental to the right of access to information, which is particularly relevant in the context of a pandemic. In this context, too, access to data is fundamental and should be included in the scope of the right of access to information. Non-state actors should also comply with human rights legal instruments, given their horizontal effect.
Regulators should look to innovative spectrum regulations as a means to bridge the digital divide. When implementing spectrum regulations, the interests of the end-user should be taken into account and the preferable approach would be that which increases the variety of providers, especially by allowing Community Network arrangements.

6. Final Speakers

Sonia Jorge, Alliance for Affordable Internet A4AI

Osama Manzar, DEF

Jane Coffin, ISOC

Rolf H. Weber, University of Zurich

Cynthia El Khoury, APC

Senka Hadzic, CyberBRICS / Research ICT Africa

Nicholas Echaniz, AlterMundi

7. Reflection to Gender Issues

We need a renewed focus on Gender and women empowerment and what can be done to make them feel safe.

8. Session Outputs

The Value of Internet Openness in Times of Crisis

This volume explores “The Value of Internet Openness in Times of Crisis” and is the official outcome of the Coalitions on Net Neutrality and on Community Connectivity of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. This work stems from the consideration that the COVID-19 pandemic has harshly highlighted the fundamental importance of Internet access, and the total exclusion that the unconnected face in times of crises. Internet connectivity, has now emerged as the backbone of all social, political and economic interactions along with services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The current crisis brings to light that digital infrastructures play an essential role, shaping our development. The sustainability of such development relies on Internet openness and this book offers an ample range of perspectives exploring why it is more crucial than ever to guarantee that the Internet stays a smooth-running, open, and accessible common good.

THE AUTHORS OF THIS BOOK ARE (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE): Vint Cerf, Sébastien Soriano, Luca Belli, Osama Manzar, Sarah Farooqui, Dhanaraj Thakur, Teddy Woodhouse, Sonia Jorge, Frode Sørensen, Apar Gupta, Sidharth Deb, Smriti Parsheera, Rolf H. Weber, Senka Hadzic, Pablo Aguera, Alison Gillwald, Alejandro Pisanty, LocNet Team, Carlos Baca, Erik Huerta, Karla Velasco, Anna Orlova, Andrey Shcherbovich, Daniela Parra, Amali De Silva-Mitchell, Nikhil Pahwa, and Anriette Esterhuysen.

9. Group Photo

IGF 2020 Community Networks at Times of Crises and Pandemics

The Value of Internet Openness in Times of Crisis

Contact information