Digital Divide

DD Discussion Group and the Ecuadorian experience

brecha-digital@yahoogroups.com

www.corpece.net

PublicFTAA.ecom/inf/110

October 25, 2001

Original: SpanishTranslation: FTAA Secretariat

The discussion group

• Created from the FTAA CEEC.

• Over 120 participants throughout the world.

• Purpose: To stimulate discussion grounded in the theme of the Digital Divide, generate working material, conclusions and recommendations to address the DD.

Expected Results• Definition of the digital divide.

• Nature of the digital divide.

Expected Results• Different views of the Divide.

• Preliminary conclusions and recommendations.

DefinitionThe Digital Divide

Substantive differences in the development, use, application and exploitation of Information, and Information and

Communications Technology

Definition1 Actors and 0 Actors.

The digital universe consists of 1s and 0s.

1s are information, 0s are absence of information.

0 Zone

1 Zone

0 Threshold

1 Threshold

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

1,1 Countries

-1,-1 Countries

-1,0 Countries

1,0 Countries

Capacity and Capability

Potential and Weaknesses

Deficiencies and Weaknesses

Deficient and Difficult

Characteristics• It exists.• It is not an isolated concept.. It is the

outcome of a complex set of social, economic, cultural, educational and political conditions.

• Several of its components are measurable (PCs per no. of inhabitants, Internet access, technical infrastructure, etc.)

Characteristics• It is tricky to overcome because it

often impinges on areas sensitive for 1 actors, such as state-of-the-art technology and various constraints of a legal, political or commercial

nature.

Characteristics• It relates not only to the capacity to

produce ICT goods and services, but also to the capacity to apply and benefit from them, and to be self-sufficient in ICT. It is not a question of technology.

Characteristics• It is not limited to the poorest countries. It

also exists among minorities in the rich countries. The difference lies in the availability of means to address it, and the degree of impact of the divide on overall development. These are the factors that differentiate 1 countries sharply from 0 countries.

Characteristics

• In the digital world imbalances increase more quickly over time, and every day they become harder to remedy.

Effects• It has a determining influence on

international relations among countries and regions. It creates further imbalances in international trade negotiations.

EffectsIn processes like the FTAA:

• It puts 1 countries at an advantage.

• It puts 0 countries at a disadvantage.

Effects• It impinges on several areas, such as the

social, commercial and educational spheres.

• It engenders a continuous and escalating imbalance in levels of access to and use of information. It is not a static condition, but grows exponentially in internet time.

Effects• It governs the level of development

and adaptation of countries to aspects of the new economy.

• It creates and intensifies vicious circles, such as: No investment in R+D for lack of resources, which in turn makes resources more scarce...

Effects

• It acts to potentiate already existing differences in levels of development.

Conclusions

• 1 countries are characterised by:– The divide exists in them.– They possess all the resources

necessary to address it.– They can control the impact of the

digital divide on their overall development.

Conclusions

• It cannot be addressed exclusively from the technological point of view, nor is it related to technology. It will have a determining influence on all aspects of trade negotiations and international relations.

Conclusions

• It is clear that the future will be determined by technology and the ability to use it and benefit from it. Biotechnology and Privacy and Security are the main challenges of the immediate future.We must be prepared to manage them adequately or risk losing the chance of profit for ALL in processes of negotiation.

Recommendations.

• The key points are:

1. It is not enough to build bridges across the digital divide. This does not eliminate or narrow it. It is only a means of avoiding it in specific places.

Recommendations.

• The key points are:

2. Genuine transfer of technology and support for education must be the priorities if we are to overcome the divide.

Recommendations.

• The key points are:

3. It calls for concerted actions: international community, government, universities, business, civil society.

Recommendations.

• Start with what is possible:1. Develop practical measures to

identify common and individual characteristics of the divide.

Recommendations.

2. Give effect to statements such as: a) FROM DIGITAL DIVIDE TO

DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY:A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION. July 22, 2000. Pres. Bill Clinton USA.

Recommendations.

2. Give effect to statements such as: b) "The challenge before us is to enable the currently excluded 4

billion of the world's population to participate in and benefit from the information revolution," states the report. It notes that harnessing the potential of ICT for development, the reduction of poverty and the empowerment of those who are currently marginalized is a "monumental" challenge. "At the same time, it is an extraordinary opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of the vast majority of people on the planet.“

A high-level panel led by the former President of Costa Rica that issued a strategy for the proposed United Nations Task Force on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which aims to bridge the "digital divide.“ February 2001.

Recommendations.

3. Motivate countries to develop processes (in keeping with their needs, resources, priorities, etc.) of:

• E-procurement. (Public purchasing by electronic means).• E-Government.(Provision of a variety of services by

electronic means).• Development of connectivity agendas.• Human development with ICT support.• Strengthening institutions that can contribute to reduction

or elimination of the divide, such as employers’ organisations, universities, NGOs, etc.

• Support for processes of genuine transfer of technology.• Investment in R+D.

Recommendations.

4. Solutions cannot come from outside. They must be indigenous. To fail to seek solutions is to maintain the divide. The dozens of extraneous solutions that have been proposed in this area, as in many others, are useless.

Recommendations.

5. Spread the word. Let countries know what each of the actors is doing. Motivate the actors (WITSA)

6. Pool resources. There are initiatives like Comunidad Eñe..

7. Support consumer and business participation in areas such as electronic commerce by providing

an appropriate legal framework.

Recommendations.

7. Solutions are not market solutions:

FREE PEOPLE. FREE MARKET.FREE PEOPLE. FREE MARKET.

Donald L. Evans. U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Before the Latin American/Caribbean.

E-Commerce Summit April 4, 2001 Buenos Aires, Ar http://www.mac.doc.gov/nafta/sp-apr5%231.htm

Recommendations.

8. MAKE COOPERATION PRACTICAL.

- WE ARE NOT EXPERTS IN WRITING APPLICATIONS.

- PLANNED ICT EVENT IN 1 YEAR NAMES OF PARTICIPANTS REQUESTED...

The Ecuador experience

TALK

TRAIN

TOOLS

TIME

TIMING

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

The Ecuador experience

TALK : To all levels. To government, universities, business, etc.

TRAIN : Stimulate potential. Education and specialised training. MICIP-World Bank

TOOLS : Proyecto PKI CORPECE-NNUU. CONATEL Multi-purpose telecentres , Connectivity Agenda, Universal Access, Flat Charge, FODETEL. ESPOL Technology Park, Internet education: Edufuturo.com, maestr@s.com, CONTRALORIA: Start talking about e-procurement. Legislation. PKI Banco Central.

The Ecuador experience

TIME : We have already started work on this. It can’t be put off till tomorrow. CORPECE since 1998.

TIMING : In synch. International Community, State, Business, Universities, Civil Society.

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY: Every project implemented must develop machinery for transfer of technology and facilitate R+D investment.

GET INVOLVEDGET INVOLVED.

• Brecha-digital@yahoogroups.com

• www.corpece.net

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