[WSIS CS-Plenary] Invitation to APC event in Rio, Nov 10th

[karen banks]

hi all

As some of you will be soon making plans for your 
trip to rio, i wanted to inform you of a pre-IGF 
event APC will be organising on Nov 10th:

Password: EQUITABLE ACCESS - A One day event on 
Equitable Access to ICT infrastructure.

general information about the event is below, 
please don't hesitate to contact me for further 
information about the event - which will be 
preceeded by commissioning of papers in relation 
to the 4 main themes, and some facilitated on-line preparatory discussion..

we hope that some of you will be able to join 
us  - and i now invite others to update us on 
events they are planning for Civil society on Nov 11th!

thanks
karen

Password: EQUITABLE ACCESS
A One day event on Equitable Access to ICT infrastructure
10 November 2007, Rio de Janeiro

Universal access, freedom of expression and 
invoking the accountability of states are not 
possible without affordable, equitable access to 
communications infrastructure.

In a world where access and opportunities are 
unevenly distributed, many Information and 
Communication Technologies (ICT) enthusiasts are 
developing innovative new solutions to bring 
people inside the communications revolution, but 
many of these experiences are yet to be shared.

The Association for Progressive Communications 
(APC), in partnership with others, is organising 
a one-day event called Password: EQUITABLE 
ACCESS. This event aims to consolidate emerging 
lessons and knowledge on innovative access solutions.

Why this event? Access to infrastructure is about 
the innovative interplay between ICT policy and 
technology solutions that provide access to the 
global information and communications 
infrastructure. Access brings people together to 
exchange information, promotes new spaces for 
social inclusion and is fundamental to 
development processes in any society. However 
many of these innovative solutions are happening 
in isolation and APC’s event is offering a unique 
opportunity to learn from and share with each other.

This event will bring together innovative minds 
and experience in developing and implementing ICT 
policy and technology solutions for low-cost access and connectivity.

What this event will cover? The event will look 
at innovations, policy advocacy, lessons learned 
and what worked well for each of the following themes:

- Business Models
- Policy & Regulation
- Tools & Technologies
- People, network, capacities

Sessions will focus on community / national / 
regional issues and the event will also have 
hands-on training, demos and displays of innovative technologies.

What is the link to Internet Governance Forum 
(IGF)? Access is one of the main themes of the 
Rio IGF and will include a session which looks 
specifically at the relevance of these local access issues to the IG.

Who should attend? If you are interested in 
knowing how people have managed to overcome 
policy, technological, economic and social – 
including gender – challenges to bringing 
affordable and accessible communications 
infrastructure one step closer to the people - then this event is for you.

How can you contribute to the event? Do you have 
a story tell about people who have made 
differences in promoting equitable access? Do you 
know of any policy change that has improved 
access your community or country? Do you know of 
any innovative technological solutions?

Then please get in touch by contacting Karen Banks, karenb at gn.apc.org