ICC/BASIS comments on draft programme and schedule for the IGF in Rio
The International Chamber of Commerce and members of its initiative, Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) submit these comments on the draft programme and schedule for the IGF in Rio, which have been posted for public comment by the IGF Secretariat. These comments supplement the Preliminary ICC BASIS input on the IGF Rio topics, which was submitted and distributed on 3 May 2007.
Introduction
ICC and BASIS members appreciate the efforts of the IGF Secretariat to provide stakeholders with a draft programme and schedule for comment ahead of the consultation on 23 May 2007. We believe that a well structured programme and schedule will enhance the substantive discussions and exchange at the IGF in Rio. Balanced formulations of the sub-themes will ensure focused productive exchanges. Building on the practical and substantive experiences of the IGF in Athens is essential, and the comments below seek to assist in this effort.
Rio meeting structure
> The Openness and Security main meeting sessions should be on one day because these are two sides of the same coin. The more openness, the more compromises there may be with respect to security. The more security, the more compromises there may be with respect to openness.
> Diversity and Access main meeting sessions should be on one day because diversity is a cherished characteristic in the world, and stakeholders should help to provide access to the diverse people in the world, many of which live in developing countries.
> The session on emerging issues should come at the end, rather than the beginning, after we have had the substantive discussions. It is also important to remember that while the Tunis Agenda paragraph 72(g) refers to “recommendations” in the context of the IGF identifying emerging issues, the IGF is not equipped to do this other than on an individual or group basis, which may lead to many contradictions.
International Chamber of Commerce
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16 May 2007 AH/apn
> We question how the proposed Main Session panel on “a topical issue in the area of Internet governance” will be integrated with other main sessions and the proposed panel on emerging issues. Presumably, recent events can be discussed as examples in the context of the topical panels. For example, the examples offered in the draft programme (the earthquake in the South China Sea and denial of service attacks on the root servers) are suited to discussion in the access or security sessions. This would allow panelists to ensure that their discussion is timely, relevant and thus valuable to all participants. Moreover, given the timing, it is not clear how the “topical issue” and the panelists would be chosen and it is not certain that proposed speakers could make travel arrangements if they are not aware well in advance of the event.
> It is vital that the best practice forums are integrated into the four main themes of the IGF, not treated separately, because greater priority on this approach was a clear outcome of the IGF in Athens. Such an approach is also critical to fostering meaningful exchanges.
> The idea of having “speed dialogue sessions” requires more information in order to reach a decision on the use of this format. Based on the current explanation in the paper, it is not clear how such a process could lead to meaningful discussions.
> We support the integration of the lessons learned from Athens regarding duration, relationship between main sessions and workshops, and having smaller panels for the main sessions.
Reporting
> It should be clarified that all the Dynamic Coalitions will present brief summaries, for a total of 90 minutes.
> It should also be clarified that the organizations involved in Internet issues that are presenting what they have done in the past year are doing so in one session.
Workshops
> Clarify how stakeholders can contribute to the organization of the 3 workshops identified as being organized by the secretariat.
> Setting a limit of 3 is useful. We suggest that if more than 3 proposals are received, then the Secretariat should ask all those who submit proposals to get together and produce 3 final proposals.
> It is unclear what ‘Open Workshops’ are as compared to the other workshops.
Meeting Point and Exhibition
> It is unclear what the difference is between Meeting Point showcases and an
Exhibition on a commercial basis. It is important to the business community that
its members be able to select either option.
Main Themes/Content Access
> It is important to discuss the roles of all stakeholders, and to highlight the key actions that governments can take to create the necessary conditions to improve access through an enabling environment for investment in ICTs, the promotion of competition and entrepreneurship. We suggest phrasing the first bullet point to focus the discussion in this manner.
> The access oriented discussion should also encompass access for the blind, disabled, elderly, non-literate and other groups that face challenges.
> We encourage a discussion based on the sub-themes suggested in ICC/BASIS’ previous input on the IGF Rio topics [see bullets below], with an emphasis on the governance related obstacles that people face in accessing the Internet and the necessary infrastructure.
The legal, policy and regulatory conditions that enable investment and innovation, promote competition and foster entrepreneurship which are essential to establishing the right enabling environment to promote access to infrastructure and the Internet.
Information and case studies regarding economies that have created successful enabling environments.
Concrete examples of local build out and case studies that promote the exchange of best practices and experiences regarding improving access for even more people.
Openness
> ICC/BASIS encourages the integration of the sub-themes identified in our previous
input on the IGF Rio Topics, which capture the key issues in a balanced manner.
The roles the Internet and ICTs play in promoting access to information and how governments, business, civil society, and other organizations can work together to maximize openness and the free flow of information on the Internet.
Build capacity and raise awareness about how existing intellectual property rights (IPR) regimes foster the free flow of information on the Internet, as well as consumer confidence and security.
The unique contribution of the IGF is an opportunity to explore key issues that may be controversial, from all perspectives. Thus to allow all angles to explored, the sub-themes should be described in a balanced manner.
The discussion should explore the demarcation line--- between differing approaches to freedoms in the world, what should guide it and where does that put the line.
Security> ICC/BASIS refers to the proposed sub-theme formulations in our previous input on the IGF Rio Topics:
The work ongoing in private and public sector bodies with substantial expertise in network security to improve practices in the area of security, with a special focus on work that is relevant to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and emerging economies.
Practical approaches to raising awareness of existing best practices for network security issues that exist, across all stakeholder groups.
The roles of governments, business and other stakeholders in adopting authentication technologies to promote trust online.
Private and public sector organizations that are actively working on privacy issues and improving the state of play and aspects of their work that may be made relevant to emerging economies and SMEs.
> The discussion about open and proprietary standards should be formulated in a manner that is less about advantages or disadvantages, and more about informed choices in shaping security solutions.
Diversity
> ICC/BASIS recommends formulating the discussion sub-themes in a more specific manner, and re-iterates the sub-themes proposed in our preliminary input on the IGF Rio topics.
The ability of the Internet and ICTs to enhance diversity with limitless capacity to transmit content.
The role that user-generated content (UGC) plays in advancing cultural diversity, and the exchange of best practices and experiences that promote UGC and its platforms, including profiling related work in other forums and organizations.
The promotion of cultural diversity through intellectual property protection.
The standards that facilitate the creation of new software applications and tools such as translation technologies.
Government and business initiatives to stimulate development of local content production and providers of online services for their local market including, for example, establishing seed funding, training, incubator services and the exchange of best practices and experiences.
Efforts underway to introduce internationalized domain names (IDNs).
Existing technologies that increase access to disabled communities, and thus increase the diversity of participants in the Internet and Internet governance issues.
> The sub-themes outlined above capture the key issues outlined in the preliminary draft programme on page 7, while highlighting more specifically what the discussion will focus on.
What is Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS)?
ICC created BASIS to serve as the voice of business in the global dialogue on the Information Society, following the two World Summits on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005). BASIS participates in UN-linked forums set up to continue the dialogue, such as the Global Alliance for ICT and Development the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the WSIS follow-up and implementation processes.
BASIS builds on the activities and network of the Coordinating Committee of Business Interlocutors (CCBI), which ICC formed to coordinate participation by world business in the processes leading up to and at the Summits in Geneva and Tunis.
To promote the environment in which global business will continue to thrive as an innovator of these technologies, BASIS will mobilize business to help shape the agenda and participate in these global discussions. The initiative aims to unite the business community, to raise awareness among the public, governments, civil society, intergovernmental organizations and technical authorities of what business requires to continue contributing to the development of the Information Society. BASIS will rely on policies developed in ICC’s Commission on E-business, IT and Telecoms (EBITT) as the foundation for its efforts.
For further information regarding BASIS, the founding partners, members and activities, please consult the BASIS website at: http://www.iccwbo.org/id7655/index.html
About ICC
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