[APCPress] Statement: APC welcomes Digital Solidarity Fund

[Karen Higgs]

STATEMENT: APC welcomes the inauguration of the Digital Solidarity Fund

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The Association for Progressive 
Communications (APC) welcomes the arrival of the Digital Solidarity Fund 
(DSF) launched in Geneva on March 14 2005. The DSF is based on the 
concept of 'digital solidarity' and is rooted in the pooled voluntary 
contributions of individuals, governments (in particular cities and 
local authorities) and the private sector.

APC is confident that the fund will develop into a valuable financial 
mechanism for ICT for development. It will play an important role 
alongside other financial mechanisms in maintaining the momentum towards 
ensuring digital inclusion for all and fostering the various 
development- and empowerment-enhancing uses of ICT that have long been 
on global and national agendas.

While market growth has expanded access to telecommunications 
dramatically, particularly to mobile telephony, this trend alone will 
not usher in an 'information society’ where everyone is included.

Providing access of isolated and poor people to the global information 
networks contributes to a global public good, but is only paid by the 
poor people themselves. The addition of more countries and users to the 
internet increases the value of the network for everybody, and in 
particular for ICT industries in the North that gain news markets for 
devices, software and connectivity, both among the newly connected as 
well as among the already connected that communicate with them.

"Big industries are 'free riders' that benefit without paying, and a 
global tax on microchips or on domain names would be justified and 
provide reliable resources for developing countries to connect their 
people," argues Roberto Bissio, director of the Third World Institute 
(ITeM), an APC member organization doing research and advocacy.

APC believes that there is an urgent need for innovative approaches such 
as those the DSF has the potential to provide that can build capacity 
and partnerships that can enable countries, sectors and individuals, to 
link to and benefit from global information and communication networks.

This is particularly important in areas that are under-served by markets 
or “development zones” (as opposed to market zones).

In development zones a range of technologies, including new wireless 
technologies, is needed to deliver open-access ICT infrastructure, 
content and services, operated by multiple providers who are not 
encumbered by high entry barriers, or gate-keeping by either public or 
private monopolies.

Development of regional and national infrastructures is important in
laying the foundations for more cost-effective access and delivery of
services. It is on those networks, if access to them is open and not 
subject to monopoly or excessive rents and charges, that integration 
into the national and global economy depends.

Equally important is ensuring that citizens are able to make use of 
network infrastructure with the secure knowledge that they have the 
right to free expression.  Without human rights there can be no truly
inclusive information society.

The DSF -with its focus on cities and the local level- has a vital role 
to play in mobilising partnerships and resources, and directing 
attention to the importance of bridging the information gap between the 
global and the local.

APC pledges its full support to the Digital Solidarity Fund as it begins 
its task to bring the most marginalised into the information society.

For more information about the Digital Solidarity Fund:
http://www.digital-solidarity.org
secretariat at dsg-fsn.org

For more information on the Association for Progressive Communications 
(APC): http://www.apc.org

Source: http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31307