{"id":1166,"date":"2011-07-15T09:49:31","date_gmt":"2011-07-15T14:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=1166"},"modified":"2011-07-15T09:49:31","modified_gmt":"2011-07-15T14:49:31","slug":"what-are-your-wishes-for-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2011\/07\/what-are-your-wishes-for-the-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"What are your wishes for the Internet?"},"content":{"rendered":"
In anticipation of the Internet Governance Forum meeting in Kenya later in the year, this post encourages the reader to participate in the work that is being done on this critical subject.<\/em><\/p>\n Mainstream access to the Internet began about 20 years ago, and in recent years the platform has become increasingly powerful, since it can now support voice, data, video and even broadcasting. However, although the Internet has become global entity \u2013 without geographic boundaries \u2013 the rules and structures that govern it are still being developed.<\/p>\n Over the next few months, a number of preparatory meetings will be held in anticipation of the sixth annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, which will be held from 27 to 30 September in Kenya. The theme for the meeting is<\/p>\n \u201cInternet as a catalyst for change: access, development, freedoms and innovation\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n For the Caribbean region, the Fourth Regional Latin America and the Caribbean Preparatory Meeting for the Internet Governance Forum<\/em><\/strong>, will be held from 9 to 11 August in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Preceding that meeting, on 8 August, will be the 7th<\/sup> Caribbean Internet Governance Forum<\/em><\/strong>, also in Port of Spain. An overview of the two meetings can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society<\/a> put forward the following definition for Internet Governance (IG):<\/p>\n Internet governance is the development and application by Governments, the private sector, and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n While this definition might appear complicated, in a nutshell, IG speaks to the rules, principles and decisions that govern the development and use of the Internet. As a global medium, there must be international agreement on governance issues, but there is considerable scope for, and an expectation of, multi-stakeholder participation. As a result, there are numerous opportunities \u2013 such as at preparatory meetings, directly through the IGF website<\/a>, and in discussion forums \u2013 where the private sector, civil society and even the average citizen can participate in the policy formulation and development processes.<\/p>\n At the upcoming IGF meeting, there are approximately 75 proposals<\/a> that will be tabled at workshops scheduled during the event. The proposals have been categorised into six themes, as outlined in Table 1.<\/p>\nWhat is Internet Governance?<\/h3>\n
What are the current issues?<\/h3>\n