[GKD] ICT Policy in Kenya
Dear GKD Members, I am the Chairman of The Telecommunications Service Providers Association Of Kenya (TESPOK). We are a professional (not for profit) association representing the interests of ISPs and other value added Telecommunications Service Providers in Kenya. The association was set up in October 1999 and we have been very active in lobbying Government and The regulator on policy issues. Although we have achieved limited concrete results, we have at least managed to bring the issues into the public domain, and public support for deregulation is growing by the day. We are also now represented and participate in various public/private sector consultative processes, including the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, National Communications Secretariat Policy Revue Committee and various other smaller committees. A key objective on our agenda was the formation of an Internet Exchange Point in Kenya (KIXP). We approached the regulator who indicated at a meeting that this would not require licensing under the April 1998 Telecommunications Act. This view was corroborated by our legal council, who agreed that under the terms of the act, such an Exchange Point did not require a specific license. We subsequently levied fees from ISPs and obtained a donation of equipment from CISCO (through UNESCO). The KIXP was commissioned in November last year with 4 ISPs exchanging traffic. The growth was so dramatic that within 7 days all ISPs were forced to upgrade their links, while a further 6 ISPs applied to join the KIXP. At that point the regulator (under pressure from the monopoly PTT - Telkom Kenya Limited) closed down the KIXP, citing the fact that we should have applied for a license. We filed an appeal with the Appeals Tribunal (as layer down under the act). Through the mediation of the First Secretary Commercial from the British High Commission we agreed to try and negotiate a settlement without forcing the issue through the courts. A settlement was agreed whereby the regulator gave an undertaking that if we applied for a license, it would be granted. So as not to prejudice our TESPOK case with the tribunal (ie. that it does not actually require a license) we applied for a license using a separate entity. 3 weeks later a letter was received from the regulator refusing our license application. We subsequently went to the regulator and asked that the application be gazette, which they agreed to do. Telkom Kenya now have 60 days (from 21st March) to object to the license, something they have indicated they will do, at which point we believe the regulator will then refuse our application. The next course of action open to us is: 1. To proceed with the tribunal case on the basis that no license is required, failing which 2. To take this case to the high court if we fail at the tribunal, failing which 3. To take the refusal of the license application to the tribunal, failing which 4. To take this application to the high court if that fails, failing which 5. Ultimately to challenge the entire Telecommunications Policy in the high court at a constitutional level We did a lot recently in conjunction with DFID formulating policies to input to the G8 on how to tackle the Digital Divide in Africa (for the Dot Force initiative). Many ideas have been raised, but ultimately the biggest driver for change is going to be an enabling regulatory environment. Western lobbying is one thing, but a local lobbying group, which is truly representative of the industry (95% of licensed and operational ISPs are members of Tespok) is quite another. If we can pursue this thing through the courts and win, it will have far reaching implications, well beyond the creation of an Internet Exchange Point (both within and outside Kenya). The regulator is aware that we have limited resources to fight a court battle. My problem is money. ISPs have already contributed a lot to this project (US$ 3,000 each). Like the rest of the world ISPs are struggling as it is, they simply do not have the resources to fight a costly legal battle. In addition we are still incurring the costs of rent and personnel for the IXP, which is not generating any revenues. For us to fight through the courts we need to raise money. We have approached the British DFID. They were ready to give us a grant for the KIXP, but not until the legal issues are resolved. We have had a similar reaction from th US State Department, which although very supportive felt unable to provide any financial assistance. However, Multinational Industries, Corporations, and, Civil Rights Foundations and Associations may not be hamstrung by the same political considerations. I understand that there was a meeting in Seattle where several large US private sector corporations expressed a keen interest in making their contribution towards bridging the digital divide. Any ideas that any of you may have on where we could seek financial assistance for our struggle would be
[GKD] Technological Innovation in Rural India
THOUSANDS OF IDEAS BLOOM FROM THE MIDST OF IGNORED, RURAL INDIA From Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED] IN A COUNTRY of over a thousand million, there surely must be tens of thousands of bright minds churning out innovative ideas by the dozen. This is just the case, as is clear from the first national-level exercise for scouting 'grassroots technological innovations'. Some 96 persons were awarded a total of just over Rs 1.4 million (rpt Rs 14 lakh). The first three prizes given were of Rs 100,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 and nearly one thousand entries poured in from across the country. Organisers of this event said there were a total of 1637 innovations and outstanding examples of traditional knowledge which they received. This exercise was adjudged in June 2001. New cardamon plant varieties, arecanut de-husking machines, power-saving pumps, energy-conserving kerosene stoves, highly efficient low-wattage electric water heaters... these and an amazing number of ideas came forth in this competition. It was organised by the National Foundation of India. The mission of the NIF is to recognise, respect and reward unsung heroes of our society. NIF will not rest with only giving prizes. It will also protect their intellectual property, help in upgrading their technology, develop business plans and eventually help them (the innovators) to either license their technologies or become entrepreneurs themselves, said NIF executive vice chairperson Prof Anil K. Gupta of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. The NIF was set up in March 2000 by the Indian government. Its chairperson is India's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research director general Dr Raghunath A. Mashelkar. But the efforts also come out from the campaigning over long of people like Dr Gupta, who has been promoting the idea that even the humble villager can be very innovative. Dr Gupta has been coming out with a journal called 'HoneyBee' that looks at innovation from the village. In this contest, some 998 entries were received from 24 states and union territories. These, in all, comprised 1637 innovations and outstanding examples of traditional knowledge. The western Indian state of Gujarat topped with 496 entries. This is not surprising perhaps since this region has been at the forefront of trying to dig-up innovative among the common-man (and woman) through initiatives of various individuals and institutions based at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad. Many of the ideas that came up could have a lasting impact on the lives of rural dwellers. One was to create an arecanut dehusking machine. Arecanut currently requires labourous work in its dehusking process. A North Indian farmer, Ram Naresh Yadav, came up with a power-saving technical pump. Yet another rural dweller had a pulley with a stopper -- thus making it easier for millions of women drawing water from their local wells. Other prizes went to a 'rain gun' called the Chandraprabah Water Gun by Annasaheb Udgavi. Sudarshana from South India emerged as the first 'Idea Man'. He had over two-and-half dozen ideas or innovations to his credit. These included a small computer keyboard, hot-and-cold engine, transparent letter box, and even an idea for chopping onions without tears! Sudarshana's other ideas comprised an automatic gear for a bicycle, distilling water from the sea, and ideas to reduce the cost of gobar gas plants. He had a new design for a bullock-cart, and an easy-to-fill bucket. Steam can also be used as a weedicide, and Sudarshana's ideas demonstrate how. A.I. Nadakattan had ten innovations to his credit. Among these was tamarind cultivation under dry-land cultivation. Likewise, he also had special ideas on water harvesting techniques, energy-saving irrigation, a tamarind harvestor, tamarind slicer, seed-cum-fertilizer drill and a range of other innovations in the pre-harvest and post-harvest fields. To locate such innovation in a vast country such as India, the competition made use of 'scouters'. These persons or institutions scoured the country to find out bright ideas that could make a difference in the years ahead... specially for the commonman. Others who won consolation awards included a tamper-proof locking device. In the field of farm-implements, one Indian farmer came out with a special cart. Another found ways to create an edible perennial brinjal variety. On the front of crop-protection, something called the Mukkadaka decoction -- which is used to control hopper pests in paddy crop -- was among those gaining notice. So did another farmer's methods of controlling brown plant hopper in paddy and cotton crops. The Innovation Foundation says it is working on a 'national register' of grassroots green technological innovation. It also wants to build linkages among those excelling in the 'formal' and 'informal' science and technological systems. Ultimately, it hopes its efforts would help India become a global leader in sustainable
[GKD] Info-tech programmes to focus on poverty alleviation
Info-tech programmes to focus on poverty alleviation The News International Saturday June 30, 2001 http://jang.com.pk ISLAMABAD: The Information Technology Division has been undergoing an exercise of prioritizing those programmes which can contribute to poverty alleviation efforts in the country. Sources said that priority is being given to job-specific and need-oriented programmes and those programme will be focussed which can greatly contribute to poverty alleviation in the country. In this regard, Minister for Science and Technology Professor Atta-ur-Rehman has set up a subcommittee to come forward with new programmes based on national needs which have the potential to make maximum impact on society. The committee will submit its recommendations after making a survey of existing situation, further requirements in the field and after taking input from other related persons and organisations. As a result of human resource development programmes launched by the ministry in the year 2000-2001 supply side has been considerably strengthened, sources said and added that the required infrastructure is also in place. Now Pakistani companies are in a much better position to accomplish big foreign contracts. The civil society organisations are also showing interest in the area of IT and access of rural and poor community to it. An NGO with the name of E-Poor (Electronic Poor) has begun its work and was looking into various aspects like digital divide and demand side of the information technology and its applications. To realise the promises of IT for an equitable socio-economic growth for poverty alleviation and opportunity generation, it is required to balance and work on the demand side of IT needs, said an expert at E-Poor. It is interesting to note that sometimes the way development information portals categorise and classify information is not the way poor need, discuss, process and access information. What can be a very relevant suggestion here is to include the participatory role of community key informants. These key informants are perceived as reliable source of verbal information at the community levels and their potentials can be harnessed for community Information Points (IT kiosks), said Zubair Faisal Abbassi, project director of ePoor.org. -APP ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.globalknowledge.org
