Title: Qatar introduces ICT accessibility policy
Source: ictQATAR
Date (published): 29/11/2011
Date (accessed): 15/12/2011
Type of information: press release
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"ictQATAR Introduces National E-Accessibility Policy to make ICT more accessible for persons with disabilities.

The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) took a major step towards ensuring all of Qatar experiences the full benefits of technology today with the introduction of the Qatar’s first eAccessibility Policy.

The policy aims to ensure people with disabilities in Qatar have equal access to the technologies that can enrich their lives, and covers a range of e-accessibility issues, including websites, telecommunications services, handsets, ATMs, government services, access to assistive technologies and digital content. The policy is effective immediately and ictQATAR will oversee the implementation of the policy across sectors and monitor progress.

“For many people with disabilities, information and communication technology can be a tremendously empowering and enabling tool, however, if these technologies are not fully accessible, they may actually become tools of exclusion or isolation. Qatar’s eAccessibility Policy, which was developed in consultation with numerous stakeholder groups, will make Qatar one of the most progressive countries in the region in terms of bringing the benefits of technology to people with disabilities. The policy balances the needs of the disabled community here with practical implementation requirements, thereby allowing organizations and relevant government bodies to enact the policy without undue burden,” said Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, ictQATAR Secretary General.

The primary provisions of the eAccessibility Policy include:
* Requiring telecommunications service providers to provide accessible handsets, user interfaces, relay services, special rate plans, emergency services and accessible public payphones where appropriate.
* Requiring public sector organizations to develop websites and mobile content that can be accessed by persons with disabilities.
* Requiring all public sector organizations, including government owned banks, to implement service improvements that will ensure that public access terminals/kiosks and ATMs are available at strategic locations and usable by people with low vision blindness, deaf or hearing impairments, physical disabilities and reading problems.
* Requiring Qatar’s Assistive Technology Center (Mada) to establish a fund to improve access to assistive technologies (AT) and services, encouraging the wide spread procurement of ATs, spreading awareness of the available services and benefits of ATs and providing demonstrations, special training and evaluations.
* Calling to action all producers and distributors of digital media in Qatar to improve the accessibility of their content through accessible eBooks, online information and special captioning for video programming.

“The introduction of Qatar’s eAccessibility Policy is a major milestone for people with disabilities in Qatar. Mada is committed to working with ictQATAR and other organizations in Qatar to help in implementing this comprehensive policy. Mada will offer practical assistance to any company, ministry or organization that has a role to play in ensuring that the targets set in the plan are delivered. This is an exciting step forward for people with a disability in Qatar” said Maha Al Mansouri, Head of Training and Education at Mada. Mada was one of more than 30 organizations that provided input into the development of the policy, including government agencies, corporations and not-for-profit organizations serving people with disabilities.

Qatar’s eAccessibility Policy supports numerous national initiatives in Qatar, including the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-216 and Qatar’s General Family Strategy. The policy also supports Qatar’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, of which Qatar is a signatory.The full e-accessibility policy is available at this link."

Title: Report of the Uganda Internet Governance Forum 2011 : Harnessing Internet Development in Uganda
Pages: 6 pp.
Publisher: Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
Date (published): 27/09/2011
Date (accessed): 14/12/2011
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (doc)
Abstract:
"This report presents the proceedings and key issues that emerged from the Uganda Internet Governance Forum (UIGF) held on August 10, 2011 at Hive Colab Nakawa, Kampala. The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), in conjunction with Hive Colab and the Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), organised the Forum under the theme “Harnessing Internet Development.”
…
Issues Arising From the Online Discussions
* Following on from last year, there was a renewed call for investment in local content development and creating awareness of local content development.
* Broadband internet access in Uganda remains broadly undefined. It is unclear whether the nation reached the 256 Kbit/s mark. According to the Uganda Broadband Infrastructure Strategy 2009, National position paper, broadband in Uganda was estimated to be doubling from 256 Kbps in 2009, 512 kbps in 2010 and 1,024 kbps in 2011.
* Call for multi-stakeholder partnerships in the implementation of the recently effected cyber laws. There is a need for all parties to work with authorities to have these laws fully operational. Indeed, there are insufficient human, financial and technological resources to enforce these laws. The enforcement authorities should invest in a digital forensics lab and actively engage academia in cyber security research. Furthermore, the citizenry should be sensitized about the existence of these laws and their implications.
* Mobile phone security remained paramount in the discussions. Whereas some telecommunications providers have embarked on registering mobile phone subscribers with little clarity on the process, it was raised that Sim card registration should be integrated with a functional national ID system. Uganda does not have national IDs.
* There is lack of synergy in databases amongst different government ministries as it is not clear how the different personal data collected by different ministries is used.

Way forward
* The profile of the national IGF needs to be raised beyond just enthusiasts. It was suggested that a Uganda IGF website, newsletter and an IGF handbook detailing key issues and progress, should be developed. Given that IG issues are at the heart of NITA-U and MoICT, these institutions should contribute to the funding pool for national support IGF processes.
* All national Internet Governance recommendations should be implemented at the regional level.
* Remote participation in national, regional and the global IGF forums should be enabled. People who are unable to attend would benefit greatly from facilities such as live streaming and java chat windows."

Title: The Fiji government launches National Broadband Policy
Source: Fijilive
Date (published): 14/10/2011
Date (accessed): 15/10/2011
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"The Fiji government's National Broadband Policy will lay the foundation for the rapid extension of reliable and affordable ICT services on an equitable basis, says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

He made the comments as the first ever National Broadband policy was launched last night.

Under the policy, an initial level broadband service will be made available to people who are able to access it at an affordable price and the service will have a basic download speed of 256 kbps.

The policy also aims to provide all primary and secondary schools with broadband access by 2016.

Commodore Bainimarama said the policy was a result of two year collaboration between the Ministry of Communications, the public, the local telecommunications sector and the international telecommunications union.

“The policy will enhance and promote access to the internet which will in turn bridge the divide between communities of Fijians who would have otherwise been isolated,” said Bainimarama."

Title: Smart Thailand: Major push to achieve digital change
Author: Jirapan Boonnoon
Source: The Nation
Date (published): 09/09/2011
Date (accessed): 21/09/2011
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"IT infrastructure to cover 80% of country within four years
Government agencies are planning a major push to help the country achieve "Smart Thailand" status, involving the widespread use of information technology and the adoption of international standards, to prepare Thailand for implementation of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Anudith Nakornthap said Smart Thailand would involve smart connected community networks, smart digital government services and smart collaborative business support.

He said the ministry expected to lay down information-technology infrastructure to cover about 80 or 85 per cent of the country within the next four years. E-government services will be developed and provided at the same time.

He did not disclose how much the government expected to spend in laying down the ICT infrastructure.

He said the ministry aimed also to establish the use of smart ID cards as personal identification for accessing hospital services and e-government services, as well as in e-business transactions.

It is planning to use the Universal Service Fund, which is sponsored by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in order to provide equal access to IT services in remote areas of the country, and to ask service providers to give free Wi-Fi services to communities as a form of corporate social responsibility."

Title: Information policies in Asia: development of indicators
Author: Kavita Karan
Pages: 123 pp.
ISBN: 978-92-9223-362-4
e-ISBN: 978-92-9223-363-1
Source: UNESCO Bangkok Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
Publisher: UNESCO
Date (published): 26/07/2011
Date (accessed): 29/08/2011
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"The scope of information policy is broad. For the purposes of this report, information policy can be defined as the collection of policies and strategies that are designed to promote the development of a better-managed information society. These policies include, but extend beyond, those that are concerned with processes, management, promotion and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The need for building a knowledge-based society requires significant contributions from its stakeholders – governments, communities, businesses, civil society and international organizations among others. The role of policy makers is critical because it involves an ability to assess the demands of the stakeholders objectively, equitably and cost-effectively, and, above all, create systems of governance that ensure stability, predictability, rule of law, and fair competition that open up avenues for investments from the private sector and international organizations.
...
Across the Asia-Pacific region there has been a steady development in the information policiesthatsupporttheinformationsector.Thissectorisexpectedtogrow–incrementally in those countries that have been early starters, and exponentially among those who started later – if policies keep abreast of needs. As such, government initiatives are seen in the establishment of information/ICT ministries at the apex level and/or departments in others. In most of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, the acquisition of technology, creation of infrastructure and improving the quality of human resources are significant engagements, but a lot has yet to be achieved. Lesser-developed countries like Bhutan, Lao PDR, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan, among others, appear to be putting together blueprints for the development of information sectors.
It may be noted that despite low levels of socio-economic development and grappling with problems of widespread poverty, social unrest, political instability and economic distress, there appears to be a desire to build and expand information systems/networks in a majority of countries through concerted government policies, infrastructure development and international support.
This report focuses on assessing country information policies on seven broad dimensions in the context of achieving the goals of information-based societies. These cover (a) overall national policies; (b) telecommunications infrastructure and networks; (c) the content and delivery of information; (d) the information industries in the public and private sectors; (e) legal and regulatory frameworks; and (f ) the skills and competencies of human resources – providers and consumers.
...
The report is divided into two parts where Part I covers three sections. In the first section contains the objectives and methodology of the data; the second focuses on indicators contributing to information policies across seven dimensions; and the third section concludes the report. The report provides an organizing framework that can be adapted to the needs of information policy initiatives in any given national context. The significance and results of such an analysis provide a blueprint for state interventions to promote an information-rich environment, the efficient running of government and other development projects of the country. Part II is on implementing the indicators and some examples of measurement including a questionaire for household access to information given."
via zunia.org

Title: Draft ICT policy likely by Aug 15
Author: Kirtika Suneja
Source: The Financial Express
Date (published): 12/07/2011
Date (accessed): 24/07/2011
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"The draft National ICT Policy will be two pronged and based on ‘connected and unified government’ and ‘empowerment of citizens’. The strategy on connected and unified government includes mandating e-delivery of public services, development of shared platforms, public services, payment gateway, unique identifiers for persons, property and business, mobile enablement of services and standards and interoperability. On the other hand, the strategy of empowerment of citizens includes Bharat Nirman Common Service Centres in every panchayat, optical fibre network availability to every panchayat, collaboration for and promotion of content in local languages on education, health and agriculture and use of social media."

Title: Does your country have a National Information and Communication Infrastructure Plan?
Author: Wayan Vota
Source: ICTWorks
Publisher: Inveneo
Date (published): 22/07/2011
Date (accessed): 22/07/2011
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"National ICT plans, also known as National Information and Communication Infrastructure plans (NICI), are key to implementing the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) - an action framework that has been the basis for information and communication activities in Africa since 1996. AISI is not about technology. It is about giving Africans the means to improve the quality of their lives and fight against poverty.

Yet not all African countries have developed a NICI plan, formally accepted the plans as governmental policy, or enforced the policy through national action. In fact, do you even know if your country has a NICI, or it's status?"

Title: Updated: African Nations with Active National ICT Plans
Source: Online Africa
Date (published): 31/03/2011
Date (accessed): 01/04/2011
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"The successful implementation of a national ICT (NICT) plan, also known as national information and communication infrastructure (NICI) plan, requires a great deal of planning on the part of the government. National ICT plans face an array of challenges including costs, stubborn government leaders, lack of infrastructure (ie. electricity), and a limited number of trained consultants. The initial process of deciding to create a plan, researching the best options for a plan, collaborating with experts and leaders, and approving the plan often takes years in itself. At that time, the country is perhaps in a different social and economic state. Plus, the government may or may not have seen drastic shifts in power. Additionally, if a plan is enacted, it can lose government support, face corruption, or lack adequate funding.
...
Below you will find a list of African nations with relatively current and well-publicized ICT plans. Plans that are known to be current within the past 3 years have the greatest chance at still being effective"

Title: Delivering Coherent ICT Policies in Developing Countries
Authors: Richard Heeks, Ping Gao & Angelica Ospina
Pages: 4 pp.
Source: e­Development Briefing No. 14
Publisher: Centre for Development Informatics, University of Manchester
Date (published): 09/04/2010
Date (accessed): 14/07/2010
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
We could trace the origins of information and communication technology (ICT) policies in developing countries to the 1970s – for example in India – when there were a few focused on helping develop the local IT industry. Or one could go decades further back to find roots in policies on media and telecommunications. However, documents called "national ICT policy" only really started to be made in the 1990s and early 2000s.
What have they achieved?