{"id":28443,"date":"2013-08-09T05:54:14","date_gmt":"2013-08-09T10:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=28443"},"modified":"2013-08-09T05:54:14","modified_gmt":"2013-08-09T10:54:14","slug":"fundamental-questions-caribbean-internet-governance-policy-framework","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2013\/08\/fundamental-questions-caribbean-internet-governance-policy-framework\/","title":{"rendered":"Fundamental questions on the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework"},"content":{"rendered":"
A preliminary discussion on the draft revised Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework that has been published by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union.<\/em><\/p>\n The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) has published for review and comment, the proposed amendments to the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework (CIGPF)<\/a>, which we highlighted a few weeks ago. (See: Have your say: shape the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework<\/i><\/b><\/a>). In this post we begin our discussion of the new CIGPF and continue to invite your comments, observations and concerns on same.<\/p>\n The CIGPF could be considered a subset of the Regional ICT for Development Strategy, which is also known as the Regional Digital Development Strategy (RDDS). As the name indicates, the CIGPF focuses on Internet Governance (IG), and not on all aspects that foster ICT for Development (ICT4D).<\/p>\n Having said this, there would still be considerable overlap, since the CIGPF does address Internet fundamentals, such as infrastructure and legal frameworks, which would underpin ICT4D-related initiatives. Moreover, in the RDDS the CTU is flagged as an important implementing agency for successful realisation of that strategy.<\/p>\n In the draft Issue 2.0 and as we also noted in our earlier post, the inaugural version (Issue 1.0<\/a>) of the CIGPF has been in effect since 2009. Hence, to varying degrees, the new Issue 2.0 should be a development of the previous version, and thus should:<\/p>\n Although the edits to Issue 1.0 are evident in the draft Issue 2.0, what is not clear is the extent to which the policies recommended in 2009 have been adopted four years later. \u00a0In both the current and proposed CIGPFs, provision has been made for measurement and monitoring of \u201cthe goal of achieving a Caribbean Information Society<\/i>\u201d and periodic reviews of the framework have been undertaken at least annually. However, no insights have been shared on the success of the policies recommended, such as:<\/p>\n If the CTU had shared the progress achieved with the recommended policies, we would be able to appreciate the extent to which individual countries, and the region as a whole, are committed to realising Information Societies. However, it is also important to understand the construct under which the CIGPF operates.<\/p>\n Unlike other regional groupings, such as the European Union, where systems exist to effect mandatory adoption across its member states, such a framework is absent in the Caribbean. Hence, as the CIGPF clearly states it is making policy \u201crecommendations\u201d to stakeholders, which they may, or may not, choose to adopt.<\/p>\n Hence, agencies such as the CTU, which is an institution of CARICOM that has lead responsibility for coordinating policy matters related to ICT in the region, can only encourage CARICOM member countries to adopt certain policies. As a result, there are no guarantees about whether or not, or the extent to which, the policies adopted will be consistent across the region, or that they will be adopted in a timely manner.\u00a0 Moreover, this lack of homogeneousness could thwart proposals to establish a region-wide ICT space<\/a>, unless or until there is a clearer commitment by Caribbean countries to become better aligned and to maintain even closer collaboration to achieve common Information Society-related goals.<\/p>\nHow is the CIGPF different from the Regional ICT for Development Strategy?<\/h3>\n
What has been the success of the CIGPF to date?<\/h3>\n
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How committed are the countries, and even the region, to foster IG?<\/h3>\n
Is the CIGPF really necessary?<\/h3>\n