Community Networks and Connecting the Last Billion
Internet Society
Session 143
From Geneva to the Field: A Focus on Trade, Liberalization, International Regulatory and Policy Options, Development Assistance, and Community Network Collaboration to Connect People and Improve Local Circumstances
With roughly half of the planet unconnected, global trade and development organizations, the Internet technical community, and small local community networks are talking to each other about the importance of collaboration to connect the unconnected for sustainable socio-economic development. How do we benefit from the lessons-learned during the WTO Reference Paper discussions and Basic Telecoms Agreement negotiations (and beyond) to look at new paradigms to connect people? How can we work with Governments to look at innovative regulatory and policy changes to accommodate new connectivity models? How do we encourage better cross-border connectivity and liberalization with help from UNCTAD, ITU, WTO, and local partners? How do we bring experienced experts and the new scrappy local community networks together for sustainable development?
This panel brings a wealth of knowledge from the trade, development, communications, Internet, and community-network disciplines together to brainstorm on ways to collaborate for change. Please join us and some of most experienced experts from around the world.
Moderator
Internet Society, Jane Coffin
Speakers/Panellists
APC, Valeria Betancourt
ITU, Sofie Maddens
UNCTAD, Torbjorn Fredriksson
WTO, Lee Tuthill
Session's link to WSIS Action Lines
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C2. Information and communication infrastructure
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C6. Enabling environment
Session's link to Sustainable Development Process
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation